Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: NEWELL HUBBARD
- Type: Scow-schooner
- Year Built: 1867
- Builder: S. Lancaster, Detroit, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length: 76 ft (23.2 m); Beam: 20 ft (6.1 m); Depth of hold: 5 ft (1.5 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Gross: 56 tons; Net: 53 tons
- Location: Between Bar Point and Bois Blanc Island (Bob-Lo Island), Detroit River
- Official Number: 18473
- Original Owners: Captain John Denstead (Detroit, Michigan)
- Number of Masts: Not specified (likely 2)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The NEWELL HUBBARD was a wooden scow-schooner, a flat-bottomed sailing vessel designed for transporting bulk cargo such as gravel, lumber, and stone in shallow waters. These vessels were common on the Great Lakes in the 19th and early 20th centuries, as they could navigate rivers, shallow harbors, and coastal areas that larger ships could not access.
The vessel operated out of Detroit, frequently carrying gravel and other materials between Lake Erie, the Detroit River, and local ports.
Description
The NEWELL HUBBARD was in service for an impressive 45 years before being lost in 1912.
History
The NEWELL HUBBARD was built by S. Lancaster in Detroit, Michigan and launched as a scow-schooner in 1867. It transported gravel, lumber, and other bulk materials on the Great Lakes and Detroit River until its loss in 1912.
Significant Incidents
- 1867: Built by S. Lancaster in Detroit, Michigan and launched as a scow-schooner.
- 1867-1912: Transported gravel, lumber, and other bulk materials on the Great Lakes and Detroit River.
Final Disposition
The NEWELL HUBBARD was lost on September 25, 1912, while traveling between Bar Point and Bois Blanc Island (Bob-Lo Island) in the Detroit River.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck was stripped of valuable parts and towed closer to the Canadian shoreline by October 7, 1912. Four days later, the remains were blown up to prevent navigational hazards in the Detroit River.
Given that the wreck was intentionally destroyed, no remains are believed to exist.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”newell-hubbard-us-18473″ title=”References & Links”]
The NEWELL HUBBARD was a workhorse of the Great Lakes, serving in the gravel and cargo trade for over four decades before meeting its end due to hull failure. Its sudden sinking in the Detroit River reflects the age-related risks of wooden vessels, many of which outlived their intended service life.
Its destruction by explosives was a common practice at the time, as wrecks in busy waterways were often removed to prevent hazards to navigation.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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