Identification & Site Information

• Name: NEWELL HUBBARD
• Other Names: None reported
• Official Number: 18473
• Date Built and Launched: 1867
• Builder: S. Lancaster, Detroit, Michigan
• Original Owner: Not documented
• Vessel Type: Scow-schooner (wooden sailing vessel designed for cargo transport)
• Hull Materials: Wood
• Number of Decks: 1
• Power:
• Number of Masts: Not specified (likely 2, typical for scow-schooners)
• Measurements: Length: 76 ft (23.2 m) Beam: 20 ft (6.1 m) Depth: 5 ft (1.5 m)
• Tonnage (Gross): 56 tons
• Tonnage (Net): 53 tons
• Owner & Master at Time of Loss: Captain John Denstead (Detroit, Michigan)

Vessel Type

The NEWELL HUBBARD was a wooden scow-Schooner, a flat-bottomed sailing vessel designed for transporting bulk cargo such as gravel, lumber, and stone in shallow waters. These vessels were common on the Great Lakes in the 19th and early 20th centuries, as they could navigate rivers, shallow harbors, and coastal areas that larger ships could not access.

The vessel operated out of Detroit, frequently carrying gravel and other materials between Lake Erie, the Detroit River, and local ports.

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History

The NEWELL HUBBARD was in service for an impressive 45 years before being lost in 1912.

Key Events in the Vessel’s History:

• 1867: Built by S. Lancaster in Detroit, Michigan and launched as a scow-Schooner.
• 1867-1912: Transported gravel, lumber, and other bulk materials on the Great Lakes and Detroit River.

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Final Disposition

The NEWELL HUBBARD was lost on September 25, 1912, while traveling between Bar Point and Bois Blanc Island (Bob-Lo Island) in the Detroit River.

The Disaster

• The vessel was bound from Pelee Island to Detroit, carrying a cargo of gravel.
• Suddenly, the Hull began to leak, likely due to structural failure from years of service.
• The ship Foundered in 25 feet of water, sinking quickly.
• The entire crew escaped safely.

Aftermath

• The wreck was stripped of valuable parts and towed closer to the Canadian shoreline by October 7, 1912.
• Four days later, the remains were blown up to prevent navigational hazards in the Detroit River.

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Located By & Date Found

Nil return. Given that the wreck was intentionally destroyed, no remains are believed to exist.

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NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil return. No modern navigational hazards related to this wreck are reported in the Detroit River, Bar Point, or Bob-Lo Island areas.

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Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File

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Conclusion

The NEWELL HUBBARD was a workhorse of the Great Lakes, serving in the gravel and cargo trade for over four decades before meeting its end due to Hull failure. Its sudden sinking in the Detroit River reflects the age-related risks of wooden vessels, many of which outlived their intended service life.

Its destruction by explosives was a common practice at the time, as wrecks in busy waterways were often removed to prevent hazards to navigation.