Kyle Spangler (schooner) facts for kids
Kyle Spangler wreck
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | Kyle Spangler |
| Operator | B. L. Spangler Co. |
| Builder | William Jones |
| Launched | May 12, 1856 |
| Completed | 1856 |
| Fate | Sunk in collision November 5, 1860 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 349 tons |
| Length | 130 feet |
| Beam | 26 feet |
| Depth | 11 feet |
| Decks | 1 |
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KYLE SPANGLER (schooner) Shipwreck Site
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lake Huron, 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of Presque Isle |
| Built by | William Jones |
| Architectural style | shipwreck site |
| NRHP reference No. | 14001098 |
| Added to NRHP | August 22, 2016 |
The Kyle Spangler was a wooden sailing ship called a schooner. It sank in 1860 in Lake Huron. The place where it sank was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. This means it's an important historical site.
Contents
History of the Kyle Spangler
Basil L. Spangler was a businessman from Cleveland. He owned a company that sold dry goods. In 1856, Mr. Spangler asked William Jones to build a ship. William Jones was a shipbuilder from Black River, Ohio (which is now Lorain).
The ship was named Kyle Spangler after Basil's son. It was launched on May 12, 1856. Just two days later, it left Cleveland carrying a load of coal.
Life as a Cargo Ship
The Spangler was a typical cargo schooner from the mid-1800s. It carried many different goods across the Great Lakes. It also sailed to ports on the East Coast. Some of the things it hauled were:
- iron ore
- salt
- coal
- corn
- wheat
Ship Incidents and Accidents
Like many ships of its time, the Spangler had several accidents.
- In May 1856, it hit a reef in Lake Huron. This tore a hole in its bottom.
- In 1857, it started leaking in Lake Michigan. The crew had to run it aground (beach it) near Sleeping Bear Bay to stop it from sinking completely. It took almost a year to get the ship floating again.
- In 1858, the ship lost its masts in a storm.
- Later that same year, it crashed into another schooner in the Straits of Mackinac.
- In 1859, the Spangler sailed into the Atlantic Ocean with lumber. It returned the next spring.
Final Voyage
On November 5, 1860, the Spangler was sailing on Lake Huron. It was a dark night and the ship was carrying corn. It crashed into another schooner called the Racine. The crash badly damaged the Spangler's front (bow). The ship sank, but luckily, all the crew members were saved.
The Wreck Site
The sunken Kyle Spangler was found in 2003. A diver named Stan Stock discovered it. He was actually looking for a different ship, the Choctaw.
Documenting the Wreck
For the next few years, Stan Stock and a team studied the wreck. They were from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. In 2008, they decided to share the wreck's location with everyone. Now, it's a popular spot for scuba divers.
Condition of the Wreck
The Kyle Spangler sits upright in 185 feet (about 56 meters) of water. Most of the wreck is in great shape, except for the damaged front. The cold, fresh water of Lake Huron has helped keep it very well preserved. The ship looks much like it did in the 1850s. Both of its tall masts are still standing upright, including their crosstrees. The wreck leans a little to its right side.
The ship's wheel, steering parts, and rudder are still there. You can also see two bilge pumps and the main winch and capstan (machines used for lifting). The inside of the cabin is mostly intact. However, the wooden parts have fallen, making it hard to see small items. The covers for the cargo hold are moved, so divers can easily look inside.
Images for kids
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Kyle Spangler nameboard
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Winch
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Anchor
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Kyle Spangler photomosaic
