Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Preble (1842)

Explore the wreck of the Preble, a mid-19th-century cargo schooner lost in a storm on Lake Erie. Discover its history and current condition.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Preble
  • Type: Schooner
  • Year Built: 1842
  • Builder: Bidwell & Banta
  • Dimensions: 98 ft (29.9 m); Beam 26 ft; Depth of hold 9 ft
  • Registered Tonnage: 166 tons
  • Location: Off Long Point, Lake Erie
  • Original Owners: Out of Buffalo
  • Number of Masts: Two-masted

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

A robust wooden two-masted schooner, originally brig-built, commonly used for bulk freight on Lake Erie. The conversion to schooner rig indicates versatility and adaptation for changing cargo needs. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Description

The Preble was constructed in 1842 and initially rigged as a brig before being converted to a schooner. This adaptation allowed it to better serve the demands of bulk freight transport on Lake Erie. The vessel measured 98 feet in length, 26 feet in beam, and had a depth of hold of 9 feet, with an estimated registered tonnage of 166 tons.

History

The Preble underwent significant modifications, being rebuilt and enlarged in 1866 and again in 1868. On November 2, 1874, while seeking shelter under Long Point during a violent storm, the vessel was overwhelmed by heavy seas and broke up on the shoals. Fortunately, all crew members were successfully rescued by the nearby steamer St. Paul, which provided immediate assistance.

Significant Incidents

  • November 2, 1874: The Preble broke up on the shoals while seeking shelter during a storm.
  • Crew Rescue: All crew members were rescued by the steamer St. Paul.
  • Aftermath: The vessel was declared a total loss, and enrollment was closed by Port Huron on November 5, 1874.

Final Disposition

The Preble was destroyed by structural breakup on the shoal, with no salvage of the hull reported. Likely remains include scattered wood debris, fasteners, and cargo remnants in shallow coastal shoals off Long Point. No archaeological survey or site documentation is currently known.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck site is located near Long Point Shoal in Lake Erie, typically under 15-20 feet of freshwater. Portions of the hull or cargo may lie buried or scattered across the shoal. Side-scan sonar and magnetometer sweeps could locate structural remains, and diver reconnaissance may reveal fastening materials or fragmented hull elements.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”preble-1842″ title=”References & Links”]

The Preble exemplifies mid-19th-century Great Lakes cargo schooners—purpose-built, repeatedly updated, and ultimately vulnerable to sudden storms. The rescue of her crew by St. Paul adds a notable maritime narrative to her story. A targeted remote-sensing survey, followed by diver assessment, could recover data about builder practices, rigging layout changes, and storm damage mechanisms in 19th-century wooden vessels.

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.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Built: 1842 at Buffalo, New York by Bidwell & Banta (initially as a brig, later rigged as a schooner)
  • Estimated Dimensions: 98 ft length × 26 ft beam × 9 ft depth; approximately 166 tons (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Final Location: Broke up off Long Point, Lake Erie
  • Loss Date: November 2, 1874
  • Prior Home Port: Out of Buffalo

Vessel Type & Construction

A robust wooden two-masted schooner, originally brig-built, commonly used for bulk freight on Lake Erie. The conversion to schooner rig indicates versatility and adaptation for changing cargo needs. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Operational History & Incident Chronology

Final Disposition & Site Status

  • Preble was destroyed by structural breakup on the shoal; no salvage of the hull was reported
  • Likely remains include scattered wood debris, fasteners, and cargo remnants in shallow coastal shoals off Long Point
  • No archaeological survey or site documentation is currently known

Site Security & Archaeological Opportunities

  • Geography: Near Long Point Shoal, Lake Erie — typically under 15–20 ft of freshwater
  • Potential Presence: Portions of the hull or cargo may lie buried or across the shoal
  • Survey Opportunity: Side-scan sonar and magnetometer sweeps could locate structural remains; diver reconnaissance may reveal fastening materials or fragmented hull elements

Research Gaps & Next Steps

  • Registry & enrollment records (NARA RG 26): To confirm schooner’s official specs and ownership history
  • Newspaper archives (e.g., Buffalo Express, Port Huron Courier): For contemporaneous storm and rescue reports
  • U.S. Lifesaving or Customs records: Logs of rescues performed by St. Paul may provide crew names and precise circumstance
  • Underwater site survey analysis: Assessment feasibility under regional heritage or renewable projects (wind, dredging)

Conclusion

Preble exemplifies mid-19th-century Great Lakes cargo schooners—purpose-built, repeatedly updated, and ultimately vulnerable to sudden storms. The fact that her crew was rescued by St. Paul adds a notable maritime rescue narrative to her story. Though broken apart in 1874, Preble likely left tangible material trace off Long Point. A targeted remote-sensing survey, followed by diver assessment, could recover data about builder practices, rigging layout changes, and storm damage mechanisms in 19th-century wooden vessels.

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