Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Ebenezer
- Type: Three-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1847
- Builder: Buffalo, New York
- Dimensions: ~103 ft (31.4 m) × 24 ft (7.3 m) × 10 ft (3 m)
- Registered Tonnage: ~158 gross tons
- Location: Reported near Holland, Michigan or Pine Lake (Lake Charlevoix)
- Coordinates: 42.79° N, 86.11° W (estimated)
- Official Number: 26168
- Original Owners: Not confirmed
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Ebenezer was a three-masted wooden schooner, typical of the mid-19th century Great Lakes fleet. Its design was suited for hauling bulk goods such as lumber, grain, and general trade along Michigan’s coastal and inland waters.
Description
The Ebenezer was a wooden schooner typical of the mid-19th century Great Lakes fleet. Its three-mast rig and modest tonnage suited it for hauling bulk goods such as lumber, grain, and general trade along Michigan’s coastal and inland waters. By the 1880s, it had been renamed and placed into service on Lake Michigan and Lake Charlevoix routes.
History
Launched in 1847 at Buffalo, New York, the schooner likely served in ore, lumber, and grain traffic on the upper lakes. In 1883, registry records note a name change to Ebenezer. The vessel remained active in Michigan’s coastal trade until its final loss in 1903.
Significant Incidents
- On 14 October 1903, the Ebenezer was lost in a storm. Archival sources conflict, with some placing the wreck near Holland, Michigan, while others suggest Pine Lake (now Lake Charlevoix).
- No lives were reported lost.
- The vessel was declared a total loss by late 1903 and struck from registry.
- No salvage attempts or wreck remains are documented.
Final Disposition
On 14 October 1903, the Ebenezer was lost in a storm. Archival sources conflict, with some placing the wreck near Holland, Michigan, while others (Runge File notes) suggest Pine Lake (now Lake Charlevoix). No lives were reported lost. The vessel was declared a total loss by late 1903 and struck from registry. No salvage attempts or wreck remains are documented.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Not confirmed. No known modern survey or dive documentation exists. If in Pine Lake, shallow remains may be present but unrecorded.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”ebenezer-us-26168-watts-sherman” title=”References & Links”]
The Ebenezer remains a mystery of the Great Lakes, with its exact location and condition still uncertain. Further archival research is recommended to uncover more about this lost vessel.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Lead Image
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
Description
The Ebenezer was a wooden schooner typical of the mid-19th century Great Lakes fleet. Its three-mast rig and modest tonnage suited it for hauling bulk goods such as lumber, grain, and general trade along Michigan’s coastal and inland waters. By the 1880s, it had been renamed and placed into service on Lake Michigan and Lake Charlevoix routes.History
Launched in 1847 at Buffalo, New York, the schooner likely served in ore, lumber, and grain traffic on the upper lakes. In 1883, registry records note a name change to Ebenezer. The vessel remained active in Michigan’s coastal trade until its final loss in 1903.Final Dispositions
On 14 October 1903, the Ebenezer was lost in a storm. Archival sources conflict, with some placing the wreck near Holland, Michigan, while others (Runge File notes) suggest Pine Lake (now Lake Charlevoix). No lives were reported lost. The vessel was declared a total loss by late 1903 and struck from registry. No salvage attempts or wreck remains are documented.Located By & Date Found
Not confirmed. No known modern survey or dive documentation exists. If in Pine Lake, shallow remains may be present but unrecorded.Notmars & Advisories
No official notices. Wreck location remains uncertain; presumed lost in Lake Michigan unless further documentation emerges.Dive Information
Access: Unknown; unconfirmed wreck site. Entry Point: If Holland – Lake Michigan near harbor. If Pine Lake – Charlevoix. Conditions: Unknown. Depth Range: Unknown (Pine Lake shallow; Lake Michigan variable). Emergency Contacts: USCG Sector Lake Michigan. Permits: Required if located in Michigan underwater preserves. Dive Support: Holland and Charlevoix marinas/charters.Crew & Casualty Memorials
No fatalities recorded. Crew identities unconfirmed. Further archival research recommended in Holland Sentinel, Petoskey News, and Charlevoix Courier newspapers, October–November 1903.Documented Statements & Extracts
Conflicting reports list the schooner’s final loss location either at Holland on Lake Michigan or on Pine Lake, indicating possible misreporting or confusion with another vessel. — Runge File Notes (archival reference)
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
US Registry No. 26168; renamed Ebenezer in 1883. Vessel disappears from registry records after October 1903. Insurance or customs manifests have not been located.Site Documentation & Imaging
No site survey or imaging currently available.Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – Ebenezer Entry
- Michigan Underwater Preserves
- Runge File Notes – Charlevoix archive reference
- Charlevoix Historical Museum archives
References
- Runge File archival notes (conflicting Pine Lake reference).
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Ebenezer entry.
- Local newspaper archives (Holland Sentinel, Charlevoix Courier, Petoskey News, Oct–Nov 1903).