Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Plover
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1857
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Specific hull dimensions and tonnage unknown
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Near Superior, Lake Superior
- Original Owners: Unknown; presumed Great Lakes-based owner, possibly Duluth or Buffalo interests
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Identification & Profile
- Name: Plover
- Year Built: 1857
- Vessel Type: Schooner
- Hull Material: Wood
- Decks: 1
Description
Final Disposition
- Date of Loss: 12 October 1871
- Location: Near Superior, Lake Superior
- Cause: Stranded and broken apart in a storm
- Cargo: Grain
- Crew: Initially believed lost; later confirmed safe
History
Operational History
- Functioned as a grain-carrying lake schooner, active in the Lake Superior to Lake Erie grain trade
Significant Incidents
Incident Notes
- The Plover was en route from Duluth to Buffalo, fully laden with grain
- Stranded during a severe storm and was destroyed
- Initial news reported the crew as lost; later reporting confirmed all crew survived and reached safety
Final Disposition
Historical Context & Significance: The loss of the Plover highlights the navigational hazards of early grain transport on Lake Superior, especially during fall storms. Her demise, though overshadowed by the crew’s fortunate survival, marks a notable incident in the risks faced by wooden schooners of the pre-steel era.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility: The wreck site is located in Lake Superior, near Superior, Wisconsin. Accessibility may vary based on weather conditions and local regulations.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”plover-1857″ title=”References & Links”]
Keywords and Categories: Region: Lake Superior, near Duluth/Superior; Vessel Type: Schooner; Cause of Loss: Storm, stranding; Cargo: Grain; Material: Wood; Period: 1857–1871; Survivors: All crew survived.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Vessel Identification & Profile
- Name: Plover
- Year Built: 1857
- Vessel Type: Schooner
- Hull Material: Wood
- Decks: 1
Dimensions & Ownership
- Specific hull dimensions and tonnage unknown (requires archival confirmation)
- Original Owner and Location: Unknown; presumed Great Lakes-based owner, possibly Duluth or Buffalo interests
Operational History
- Functioned as a grain-carrying lake schooner, active in the Lake Superior to Lake Erie grain trade
Final Disposition
- Date of Loss: 12 October 1871
- Location: Near Superior, Lake Superior
- Cause: Stranded and broken apart in a storm
- Cargo: Grain
- Crew: Initially believed lost; later confirmed safe
Incident Notes
- The Plover was en route from Duluth to Buffalo, fully laden with grain
- Stranded during a severe storm and was destroyed
- Initial news reported the crew as lost; later reporting confirmed all crew survived and reached safety
Historical Context & Significance
The loss of the Plover highlights the navigational hazards of early grain transport on Lake Superior, especially during fall storms. Her demise, though overshadowed by the crew’s fortunate survival, marks a notable incident in the risks faced by wooden schooners of the pre-steel era.
Keywords and Categories
- Region: Lake Superior, near Duluth/Superior
- Vessel Type: Schooner
- Cause of Loss: Storm, stranding
- Cargo: Grain
- Material: Wood
- Period: 1857–1871
- Survivors: All crew survived
Archival Sources & Notes
- Casualty reports from 1871
- Regional newspaper articles (Superior & Buffalo)
- Marine lists and insurance bulletins (pending deeper archive search)
- Further identification of official number and dimensions pending cross-reference with U.S. Enrollment records and Buffalo maritime registries