KYLE SPANGLER

The two-masted schooner KYLE SPANGLER was built in 1856 at Black River (now Lorain), Ohio by William Jones (1808-1888). William Jones was a member of the famous Jones shipbuilding family, who were responsible for some of the most successful Great Lakes vessels built during the wooden shipbuilding era. Augustus Jones (1762-1841), the patriarch of the family, was one of the first two professional ship carpenters to build vessels along Ohio's north shore. William was one of Augustus' five sons - all of whom were shipbuilders - who continued to build vessels in his father's yard at Lorain after Augustus died. The yard was in operation from 1828 through 1868. William was superintending his own construction as early as 1833.

The KYLE SPANGLER was first enrolled at Cleveland on May 15, 1856 with the following dimensions: 130'7" x 26'1" x 11'1" and 349.56 gross tons. The vessel was operated by the B.L. Spangler Company in 1856 and 1857. On October 2, 1857, the vessel was reenrolled at Cleveland in the name of Smith, Mott and Company, with Basil L. Spangler as managing owner. During this period the vessel reportedly went ashore at Sleeping Bear, on Lake Michigan, but was returned to service.

The owners decided to send the SPANGLER to the Atlantic coast with lumber in 1859. The vessel was reported fitting out for Boston in August. Little is known about the trip, but it appears that ownership changed while the schooner was on saltwater. This is indicated by the reenrollment of the vessel at New York City on September 30, 1859.

In 1860 the vessel returned to the Great Lakes. While upbound on Lake Huron on November 7, 1860, the KYLE SPANGLER collided with the downbound schooner Racine between Middle Island and Thunder Bay, and sank. At the time, the vessel was valued at $9,000 and had an insurance rating of A1, the highest a vessel could obtain. The remains of the SPANGLER have not been located.

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