Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Libbie Nau
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1867
- Builder: John Gregory
- Dimensions: Length: 129 ft (39.3 m); Beam: 26.6 ft (8.1 m); Depth of hold: 10 ft (3 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 231.54 tons
- Location: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
- Official Number: 14808
- Original Owners: G.N. Nau, Mark English, Nau & Peterson, Niels Nelson, W.D. Hitchcock, Thomas Williams, Peter Halverson et al.
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Libbie Nau was a two-masted wooden schooner designed for transporting bulk goods such as lumber, grain, and coal across the Great Lakes. Like many schooners of her time, she later transitioned to service as a barge, reflecting the gradual decline of sail-powered freight as steam power became dominant in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Description
The Libbie Nau was constructed in 1867 by John Gregory in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The vessel measured 129 ft (39.3 m) in length, with a beam of 26.6 ft (8.1 m) and a depth of 10 ft (3 m). She had a gross tonnage of 231.54 tons and a net tonnage of 219.97 tons. The hull was made of wood, and she featured a single deck.
History
• 1867: The Libbie Nau was enrolled in Milwaukee on June 5, 1867, soon after her construction.
• 1870s: Ownership transitioned to Mark English and later to Nau & Peterson of Green Bay, Wisconsin.
• 1872: The vessel was involved in a collision with the schooner White Squall in Lake Huron. The collision, which occurred 10 miles off Fish Point and 7 miles north of Tawas, Michigan, resulted in the sinking of the White Squall and the tragic loss of seven out of eight crew members aboard the White Squall. The Libbie Nau survived the incident, highlighting her robust construction.
• 1874: The vessel received a new deck, a significant overhaul aimed at prolonging her service life.
• 1876: On June 8, the Libbie Nau became waterlogged off Menominee, Wisconsin. She was subsequently towed to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and placed in dry dock by the tug Kitty Smoke on June 15 for repairs.
• 1880s to 1890s: The schooner changed ownership multiple times, being operated out of Chicago, Illinois, under owners such as Niels Nelson, W.D. Hitchcock, and Thomas Williams. During this period, the vessel underwent general repairs and received new masts in 1880.
• 1900s: By 1908, the Libbie Nau was owned by Peter Halverson et al in Chicago. The vessel was eventually converted into a barge by Thomas Isbell in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, in 1913, marking the end of her sailing career.
Significant Incidents
• Collision with White Squall (1872):
Date: September 30, 1872
Location: Lake Huron, 10 miles off Fish Point, 7 miles north of Tawas, Michigan
Details: While being towed alongside other vessels by the tug Prindiville, the Libbie Nau collided with the schooner White Squall during a storm when the tow broke apart. The collision caused the White Squall to founder, and while the crew attempted to escape in a yawl, seven out of eight crew members perished when their small boat capsized near shore. The Libbie Nau survived the incident, continuing her service for decades afterward.
Final Disposition
In 1917, after 50 years of service, the Libbie Nau was abandoned in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Her abandonment reflects the broader decline of wooden sailing vessels on the Great Lakes, as steel-hulled steamships and motorized freighters became the standard.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no specific navigational warnings related to the Libbie Nau, though the Sturgeon Bay area is known for its rich shipwreck history and remains a popular site for maritime exploration.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”libbie-nau-us-14808″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Libbie Nau‘s 50-year service life reflects the evolution of Great Lakes shipping from the schooner era to the age of steam. Built in 1867 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, she not only survived the 1872 collision with the ill-fated White Squall but continued to operate under various owners until being converted into a barge in 1913. The vessel’s eventual abandonment in 1917 symbolizes the decline of wooden sailing vessels on the Great Lakes as technological advancements rendered them obsolete. The Libbie Nau remains a testament to the durability and importance of schooners in the history of Great Lakes commerce.
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