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.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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