Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: STANLEY L. NOBLE
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1846
- Builder: Erastus Lockwood
- Dimensions: Length: 96.6 ft (29.4 m); Beam: 20 ft; Depth of hold: 7 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 126.56 gross tons
- Location: Clay Banks, Wisconsin
- Official Number: 23103
- Original Owners: Honeywell & Becker, James Howard, Thomas Ellery
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The STANLEY L. NOBLE was a wooden, single-deck schooner, originally built in 1846 and later rebuilt in 1851, increasing its tonnage and dimensions.
Description
The vessel was constructed of wood and featured two masts. After its rebuild in 1851, it measured 96.6 feet in length, 20 feet in beam, and had a depth of hold of 7 feet.
History
Enrolled at Cleveland, OH from 1846 to 1863, the STANLEY L. NOBLE underwent significant events during its service, including a rebuild in 1851 that increased its tonnage to 126.56 tons. It faced challenges such as jettisoning cargo during a gale in 1858 and being declared a total loss after grounding at Bar Point in 1860, although it was later recovered. Ownership changed several times, with the final owners being James Howard and Thomas Ellery in 1867.
Significant Incidents
- 1858: Jettisoned 3,000 staves during a gale on Lake Erie.
- Nov 1860: Driven ashore at Bar Point, Lake Erie; declared a total loss but recovered.
Final Disposition
The STANLEY L. NOBLE was driven ashore by a gale on November 16, 1868, near Clay Banks, Wisconsin, where it broke apart and was declared a total loss. No casualties were reported, and the wreck is believed to have dispersed in the surf, with no known intact hull remains.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of now, there are no known intact remains of the STANLEY L. NOBLE. The wreck site is dispersed, and accessibility may be limited due to the nature of the loss.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”stanley-l-noble-us-23103″ title=”References & Links”]
The STANLEY L. NOBLE exemplified a mid-19th-century wooden schooner that endured multiple severe incidents across Lake Erie before its final wreck on Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shore in November 1868. Despite its robust service and rebuild, it succumbed to a powerful storm that drove her ashore near Clay Banks. While no physical wreck remains, the event is well-documented in Great Lakes vessel registers.
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.
STANLEY L. NOBLE (Official No. 23103) — 1846 Schooner
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: STANLEY L. NOBLE
- Official Number: 23103
- Built: 1846, Fairport, OH — by Erastus Lockwood
- Hull: Wood, single-deck schooner
- Masts: Two
- Dimensions (post-1851 rebuild):
- Main: 96.6 × 20 × 7 ft → 126.56 gross tons
- Original: 78 × 20 × 7 ft → 103.54 tons
- Final Loss: November 16, 1868 — driven ashore & wrecked near Clay Banks, Wisconsin (Lake Michigan)
- Last Cargo: Cordwood
- Casualties: None reported
Operational History & Chronology
- 1846–1863:
- Enrolled at Cleveland, OH (1846–1863)
- Rebuilt and lengthened in 1851 — tonnage increased to 126.56 tons
- 1858: Jettisoned 3,000 staves during a Lake Erie gale
- Nov 1860: Driven ashore at Bar Point, Lake Erie — declared a total loss but recovered
- 1860–1868:
- Owned by Honeywell & Becker, Cleveland (1860)
- Repaired extensively in 1862
- Re-measured at 88.4 gross tons (1865)
- Ownership changed to James Howard, Port Huron, MI (1866) and Thomas Ellery, Port Huron (April 1867)
- Nov 16, 1868:
- Final wreck during a storm; grounded north of Gillilland’s Pier (Clay Banks area) and broke apart, resulting in total loss (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Disposition
- Loss Type: Driven ashore by gale, wrecked and broken up
- Casualties: None
- Site Fate: Wreck dispersed in surf near Clay Banks; no known intact hull remains
Archival Sources
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files entry under “S. L. NOBLE” – confirms official number, build/Renaming, loss location (Clay Banks, WI), loss type, cargo, and lack of casualties (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- The schooner’s prior wreck at Bar Point (Nov 1860) and rebuild are also recorded in the same database (NPS History).
Research Gaps & Suggested Archive Follow‑Up
- Newspaper Coverage
- Milwaukee Sentinel, Racine Journal, Chicago Tribune for November 1868 could offer storm context, eyewitness accounts, or cargo/captain details.
- April/May 1858 and November 1860 papers likely mention the staves jettison and the Bar Point grounding.
- Enrollment & Registry Records
- U.S. enrollment records (NARA Region 5) may document masters, owners, rebuild certificates, and enrollment changes.
- Harbor Logs & Marine Records
- Port Huron, Cleveland, and Bar Point harbor logs—particularly logs of salvage, survey, or official inquiries.
Quick Reference Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Built/Enrolled | 1846, Fairport, OH |
| Rebuilt (Lengthened) | 1851 → 96.6 ft, 126.56 GRT |
| Notable Incidents | 1858 (jettisoned staves), 1860 grounding |
| Final Wreck | 16 Nov 1868, Clay Banks, WI |
| Cargo at Loss | Cordwood |
| Loss Conditions | Gale-driven grounding; total loss |
| Casualties | None reported |
Conclusion
The STANLEY L. NOBLE exemplified a mid-19th-century wooden schooner that endured multiple severe incidents across Lake Erie before its final wreck on Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shore in November 1868. Despite its robust service and rebuild, it succumbed to a powerful storm that drove her ashore near Clay Banks. While no physical wreck remains, the event is well-documented in Great Lakes vessel registers.
stanley-l-noble-us-23103 1868-11-16 20:43:00