Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: J. B. Newland
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1870
- Builder: G. Henderson
- Dimensions: 111 × 26 × 8 ft; approx. 158 gross / 150 net tonnage
- Registered Tonnage: 158 gross / 150 net
- Depth at Wreck Site: 3 m / 10 ft
- Location: East of South Manitou Island, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 75366
- Original Owners: U.S. and later Canadian interests
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden Two‑Masted Schooner – Lake Michigan, East of South Manitou Island
Description
The J. B. Newland was a mid-sized, two-masted wooden schooner typical of Great Lakes coastal service vessels in the late nineteenth century. Built in Manitowoc in 1870, she primarily carried lumber and bulk freight, particularly in the Michigan and Wisconsin trades. Her modest dimensions made her maneuverable for shoal waters but vulnerable to sudden storms or heavy weather.
History
On 8 September 1910, J. B. Newland encountered heavy fog and blizzard conditions east of South Manitou Island. The vessel struck bottom and was driven ashore. Although initially declared a probable total loss, she was subsequently salvaged by the U.S. Revenue Cutter Tuscarora and returned to service under new registry in Canada (Canadian registry no. 103820) in 1914. Her registry was officially closed in March 1922; her hull was towed and scuttled off Kingston, Ontario in 1929.
Significant Incidents
- Loss Date: 8 September 1910
- Cause of Loss: Wrecked in fog and blizzard conditions; went ashore
- Casualties: None among six aboard
Final Disposition
Although the vessel was initially declared lost in 1910, she was salvaged and re-registered under Canadian registry (103820) in 1914. Removed from the Canadian shipping list in 1922, she was subsequently towed to deep water off Kingston, Ontario, and scuttled in 1929.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Visible in shallow water: her remains lie in a 10-foot-deep scour surrounded by roughly 4 ft of lake water on North Manitou Shoal—a shallow, diver-accessible site ideal for snorkelers and beginning divers. The site was noted in 1994 to have zebra mussel colonization; current conditions may differ.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”j-b-newland-c-103820-us-75366″ title=”References & Links”]
The J. B. Newland, a wooden schooner built in 1870 in Manitowoc, WI, was driven ashore in fog and blizzard conditions on 8 September 1910 east of South Manitou Island. Although initially deemed a total loss, salvagers rescued her; she was later registered under Canadian ownership and served until being scuttled in 1929. Her remains lie in a shallow 10-foot scour—an accessible and preserved wreckage site noted by dive authorities. No lives were lost in the incident.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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