Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: H. B. Steele
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: circa 1858
- Builder: Chicago
- Dimensions: 51 ft × 16 ft × 5 ft; ~33 tons gross
- Registered Tonnage: ~33 gt
- Location: Holland Harbor, Lake Michigan
- Original Owners: Ole Johnson
- Number of Masts: Two-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A small wooden schooner, likely built circa 1858, registered out of Chicago, owned and sailed by Ole Johnson.
Description
The H. B. Steele was a wooden two-masted schooner measuring approximately 51 feet in length, 16 feet in beam, and 5 feet in depth. She had a registered tonnage of around 33 gross tons.
History
The vessel was built around 1858 in Chicago and was owned by Ole Johnson. The H. B. Steele had a service history typical of mid-19th century small freight schooners, which were often vulnerable to late-season storms.
Significant Incidents
- A prior incident in November 1859 left the H. B. Steele heavily damaged on Lake Erie and stranded near Sturgeon Bay, where she was expected to break up. The vessel survived that event but was clearly weakened.
Final Disposition
The H. B. Steele was declared a total wreck after being driven ashore during a storm on October 30, 1870, while attempting to enter Holland Harbor. The vessel broke apart, but all crew members survived.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is unknown, as it was declared a total loss and irrecoverable following the incident.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”h-b-steele-c1858″ title=”References & Links”]
The H. B. Steele’s career underscores the cumulative effects of storm trauma on wooden vessels and the hazards that small schooners faced in late-autumn harbor approaches.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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