Ebenezer US 26168 (Watts Sherman)

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

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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.