Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Guy Spangler
- Type: Wooden-hulled sailing schooner
- Year Built: Circa 1876
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Lake Superior or Lake Huron
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled sailing schooner.
Description
Description
The Guy Spangler was a wooden-hulled schooner built around 1876, likely used for carrying grain, a common bulk cargo of the era.
History
History
The Guy Spangler was built circa 1876 and primarily operated in the Great Lakes region. Specific details about its ownership and service history remain unclear.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- Lost during a gale on October 11 (year unspecified), driven ashore and broken up by waves, resulting in a total loss.
- No casualties were documented.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
The wreck of the Guy Spangler was reported to be on a sandy shoreline, destroyed by surf. Its exact location remains unidentified.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is unknown, and it may be buried or dispersed along the shoreline.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”guy-spangler” title=”References & Links”]
Summary
The Guy Spangler, a grain-carrying schooner built around 1876, was lost in a gale on October 11 of an unspecified year, driven ashore and broken apart by surf. The wreck file notes ‘grain?’ but lacks specifics. No casualties were reported. Its precise identity, construction details, and wreck location remain unidentified, making this a strong candidate for archival digging and maritime archaeology.
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.
Identification & Construction
- Type: Wooden-hulled sailing schooner
- Year Built: Circa 1876
- Cargo: Grain (?) — likely one of the typical bulk cargos of the era (e.g., wheat, corn)
Final Voyage & Loss Details
- Date: October 11 (year unspecified, likely early 20th century)
- Incident: During a gale in open water while downbound, the Guy Spangler was driven ashore and broken up by waves, making her a total loss
- Cargo: Possibly grain (uncertain)
- Casualties: None documented
Incident Location
- Loss reported from Lake Superior or Lake Huron (common routes for downbound schooners), likely near a sandy shoreline where she was grounded and destroyed by surf
Sources & Archival References
- Listed in Great Lakes Shipwreck Files with notes: “storm/grain? Downbound, she went ashore and was broken up in a gale” on Oct 11 (facebook.com, thunderbaywrecks.com, divernet.com, en.wikipedia.org, people.com)
Research Gaps & Investigation Suggestions
| Focus Area | Approach |
|---|---|
| Official Documentation | Check National Shipping Registers, U.S. Customs ledgers, or Canadian enrollment lists for Guy Spangler (c.1876), including Official Number and tonnage |
| Weather & Cargo Reports | Explore meteorological logs and ship movement data for October storms during that period |
| Newspaper Coverage | Search contemporaneous newspapers along downbound routes, particularly from port towns like Duluth, Milwaukee, or Chicago |
| Shore Surveys | Use drone mapping of sandy beaches where early 20th-century schooners may have been wrecked |
Summary
The Guy Spangler, a grain-carrying schooner built around 1876, was lost in a gale on October 11 of an unspecified year, driven ashore and broken apart by surf. The wreck file notes “grain?” but lacks specifics. No casualties were reported. Its precise identity, construction details, and wreck location remain unidentified, making this a strong candidate for archival digging and maritime archaeology.
guy-spangler 1876-10-11 16:32:00