Identification & Site Information

• Name: Hanover
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: 11142
• Date Built & Launched: 1852
• Builder: C. Stevens, Silver Creek, NY
• Measurements: 237 tons
• Major Repairs: 1865
• Date Lost: November 7, 1867
• Place of Loss: Fish Creek, Green Bay, Lake Michigan
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Loss of Life: None mentioned
• Cargo: Light

Vessel Type

The Hanover was a wooden schooner, a common type of sailing vessel used for transporting cargo across the Great Lakes in the mid-19th century.

Description

Schooners were the workhorses of Great Lakes shipping, with their multiple masts and fore-and-aft rigging making them well-suited for maneuvering in the unpredictable lake winds. Built in 1852 by C. Stevens in Silver Creek, NY, the Hanover had a tonnage of 237 tons, placing it among the medium-sized schooners of its time.

History

The Hanover spent 15 years navigating the Great Lakes, carrying various goods between ports. By 1865, it had undergone significant repairs, suggesting it had already endured the harsh conditions typical of lake shipping. Like many schooners of its era, it was heavily reliant on wind power and was particularly vulnerable to sudden storms.

On November 7, 1867, the Hanover encountered a severe storm while navigating Green Bay on Lake Michigan. The vessel ran aground near Strawberry Reef, close to Fish Creek, Wisconsin. Though no lives were lost, the Schooner was deemed a Total Loss. The crew salvaged what they could before abandoning the ship the following day. Over time, the name of the wreck site became Hanover Shoal, a lasting reminder of the ship’s fate.

Final Disposition

Declared a Total Loss after stranding on the reef, the Hanover was stripped of valuable components and Abandoned. There are no known records of salvage attempts beyond the initial stripping. The remains of the vessel likely deteriorated over time or were reclaimed by the lake.

Located By & Date Found

There is no confirmed modern discovery of the Hanover wreck, but the location remains known as Hanover Shoal, a navigational hazard for vessels.

NOTMARs & Advisories

• Hanover Shoal remains a recognized obstruction in Green Bay, Lake Michigan.
• The reef is marked on navigational charts, warning mariners of potential grounding risks.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Maritime Database – Bowling Green State University
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The Hanover is a classic example of the many schooners that met their end in the unpredictable waters of the Great Lakes. Though no lives were lost in its wrecking, its name lives on in the geography of Green Bay, marking the dangers that have long challenged sailors in the region.

Suggested Keywords & Categories

• Keywords: Hanover shipwreck, Hanover Shoal, Schooner wrecks, Great Lakes shipwrecks, Lake Michigan wrecks, Green Bay maritime history
• Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Michigan History, 19th Century Schooners, Maritime Disasters
• Glossary Terms: Schooner, Reef, Green Bay, Great Lakes Navigation, Ship Stranding