John B. Wright (1854)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: John B. Wright
• Type: Three-Masted Wooden Schooner
• Year Built: 1854
• Builder: Quayle & Martin, Cleveland, Ohio
• Dimensions: Length 139 ft (42.4 m); Beam 26 ft (7.9 m); Depth of hold 11 ft (3.4 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 384 (Tonnage Old Style)
• Location: 2 miles south of Pentwater, Michigan
• Official Number: None (Pre-registration era)
• Original Owners: Handy, Warner & Co., Cleveland, Ohio
• Number of Masts: Three

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The John B. Wright was a three-masted wooden schooner, designed for bulk cargo transport, a common vessel type in the mid-19th century Great Lakes economy.

Description

The John B. Wright was built in 1854 by Quayle & Martin in Cleveland, Ohio. She measured 139 feet in length, 26 feet in beam, and had a depth of 11 feet. The vessel was constructed of wood and had a registered tonnage of 384 (Old Style).

History

The John B. Wright was owned by Handy, Warner & Co., a Cleveland-based shipping company. She was intended to transport a mixed cargo of coal, nails, rivets, preserved beef, and grindstones from Cleveland to Chicago. Unfortunately, her operational history was brief, lasting only a few weeks before her loss on her maiden voyage.

Significant Incidents

• The John B. Wright went ashore about 2 miles south of Pentwater, Michigan, for unknown reasons.
• Despite being stranded in only 7 feet of water, she could not be freed.
• The crew was rescued by local residents before further damage occurred.
• Subsequent storms completely destroyed the vessel before any salvage could take place.

Final Disposition

Most of the ship’s hull was lost, but cargo items remained scattered across the lakebed and shoreline. In 1884, salvagers recovered many kegs of nails and rivets, but nails from the wreck still occasionally wash ashore in the area.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wooden hull was destroyed by storms, meaning little structural wreckage is likely left. Some cargo remnants, such as nails, rivets, or grindstones, may still be buried in sand or scattered on the lakebed. Iron fastenings or metal components from the ship could still exist underwater.

Resources & Links

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The John B. Wright was lost on its maiden voyage, highlighting the unpredictability of sailing on the Great Lakes. The remnants of her cargo continue to serve as reminders of this unfortunate shipwreck.