Identification & Site Information

• Name: H.P. Baldwin
• Former Names: None
• Official Registration Number: 11199
• Date Built and Launched: Built in 1866 by James M. Jones, Detroit, Michigan
• Measurements: Length: 177.6 ft (54.1 m) Beam: 33 ft (10 m) Depth: 12 ft (3.7 m)
• Tonnage (Old Style): 656 tons
• Gross Tonnage: 494.92 tons
• Net Tonnage: 470 tons
• Date Lost: August 27, 1908
• Place of Loss: 1 mile north of Indiana Shoals, near Chicago, Lake Michigan
• Lake: Lake Michigan

Vessel Type

The H.P. Baldwin was a wooden-hulled Barkentine, later converted into a three-masted Schooner and eventually Rebuilt as a Barge. Her versatility reflected the evolving needs of Great Lakes maritime industries over several decades.

Description

Launched in 1866, the H.P. Baldwin began as a Barkentine—a three-masted vessel with square rigging on the foremast and fore-and-aft rigging on the other masts. Over time, she underwent several modifications, including conversions to a Schooner and later a Barge. These changes highlight the adaptability of Great Lakes vessels as shipping demands shifted.

History

The H.P. Baldwin had a long and eventful career on the Great Lakes, marked by multiple incidents, ownership changes, and rebuilds.

• Early Service and Collisions:

Just two months after her launch in 1866, the H.P. Baldwin collided with the Schooner Wings of the Wind near Chicago. Both vessels were upbound but on opposite tacks on a dark night. The H.P. Baldwin, being the larger vessel, crushed the side of the Schooner, causing it to sink. Fortunately, the Schooner’s crew escaped in a Yawl and were later rescued by the Baldwin.

Another significant collision occurred on July 10, 1870, when the Baldwin collided with the Schooner Marquette off Old Mackinaw Point, Lake Huron. The Marquette sank, though its crew was saved.

• Modifications and Ownership Changes:

The vessel underwent a series of repairs and modifications throughout her life:

• 1872: Received a new Deck.

• 1883: Ran ashore at Kelly’s Island, suffering extensive damage that required a new Keel, garboard strakes, and bottom planking. Rebuilt as a Barge later that year.

• 1887: Top masts were restored, returning the vessel to a three-masted Schooner configuration.

Ownership of the vessel passed through several hands:

• 1871: Owned by Hudson & Co., Detroit, MI.

• 1876: Owned by A. English, Chicago, IL.

• 1881: Sold by H.S. Halsted to L.P. & J.A. Smith for $16,000.

• 1884: Sold at a Marshall’s sale in Cleveland, OH.

• 1888-1897: Owned by L.P. & J.A. Smith Tug Line, operating as part of a fleet that included 11 tugs and 2 barges.

• 1907: Owned by Cleveland Dredge, Dock & Construction Company.

• 1908: Owned by the Great Lakes Dredge Company of Chicago, IL.

• Later Incidents and Final Loss:

The H.P. Baldwin experienced several more incidents:

• 1891: The vessel was libeled for salvage after being Abandoned by her crew on Lake Michigan and subsequently towed by two Manistique fish tugs.

• 1904: Ran ashore at Kelley’s Island, Lake Erie.

On August 27, 1908, the H.P. Baldwin capsized and Foundered in a gale approximately one mile north of Indiana Shoals near Chicago, Lake Michigan. One life was lost in the incident. By this time, the vessel was over 40 years old and had been extensively modified and repurposed throughout her career.

Final Disposition

The H.P. Baldwin capsized and sank in Lake Michigan near Chicago on August 27, 1908. The vessel was considered a Total Loss, and no significant salvage efforts were recorded.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No specific navigational warnings or obstructions related to the H.P. Baldwin have been issued.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Maritime Database

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes

• David Swayze Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The H.P. Baldwin was a testament to the durability and adaptability of wooden-hulled vessels on the Great Lakes. Over her 42-year career, she served as a Barkentine, Schooner, and Barge, enduring numerous collisions, groundings, and rebuilds. Her final loss in 1908 marked the end of a vessel that had been a persistent presence on the Great Lakes during a transformative period in maritime history.

Suggested Keywords: H.P. Baldwin, Lake Michigan shipwrecks, Barkentine shipwreck, Great Lakes schooners, Chicago maritime history, vessel collisions on the Great Lakes.

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan, 19th Century Great Lakes Vessels, Maritime Collisions and Disasters.

Glossary Terms: Barkentine, Three-Masted Schooner, Capsizing, Lake Michigan Gales, Great Lakes Dredge Company.