SHIPWRECK REPORT: H.C. SPRAGUE / RELIANCE / LYON, NELLIE

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Name(s):

• Original: H.C. SPRAGUE

• Later Names: RELIANCE, LYON, NELLIE

• Type:

• Initially: Wooden-hulled Barge

• Later: Two-masted Schooner-Barge and screw-propelled sand Dredge

• Built: 1880

• Builder: Captain Peter Smith, South Rockwood, Michigan

• Final Location: North Channel, St. Clair River, near Algonac, Michigan

• Coordinates: Exact coordinates not provided

• Depth: Wreckage visible at the surface, partially submerged

VESSEL DESCRIPTION

• Original Dimensions (1880):

• Length: 145.4 ft (44.3 m)

• Beam: 29.9 ft (9.1 m)

• Depth: 9 ft (2.7 m)

• Gross Tonnage: 316 tons

• Net Tonnage: 300 tons

• Modified Dimensions (Post-1905):

• Length: 146 ft (44.5 m)

• Beam: 30 ft (9.1 m)

• Depth: 9.3 ft (2.8 m)

• Gross Tonnage: Increased to 480 tons (later reduced to 384 tons)

• Propulsion:

• Converted to screw-propelled sand Dredge in 1905.

HISTORY

Construction and Early Use (1880-1905):

The H.C. SPRAGUE began as a wooden Barge built for Milan & Sprague of Toledo, Ohio. Its initial purpose was general cargo transport in the Great Lakes. In 1892, it was converted into a two-masted Schooner-Barge at Toledo, Ohio.

Conversion and Renaming (1905-1911):

• 1905:

• Ownership transferred to H.D. Clow of Duluth, Minnesota.

• Converted into a screw-propelled sand Dredge by William Nicholson.

• 1906: Renamed RELIANCE and registered in Duluth.

Incidents and Reconstruction:

• December 10, 1909: Damaged by ice and sank in the St. Clair River.

• Salvaged: Retrieved by Oscar E. Fleming and repaired at S. Jenkins Shipyard, Windsor, Ontario.

• Canadian Registration: Renamed LYON, NELLIE with registration number C126229.

Final Incident (April 9, 1911):

• While operating near Algonac, Michigan, the LYON, NELLIE caught fire and was completely destroyed.

FINAL DISPOSITION

• Wreckage Condition:

• The remains lie sideways across the North Channel of the St. Clair River near Algonac, Michigan.

• The top half of the propeller and rudder are visible above the waterline.

• Discovery:

• Located in 2005 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) during a search for lake sturgeon habitat.

DIVE SITE DESCRIPTION

• Depth: Shallow wreck with visible portions at the surface.

• Access:

• Can be observed from boats or the shoreline near Algonac.

• The site is navigable but requires caution due to submerged wreckage posing a hazard.

• Features:

• Remains of the Hull structure.

• Partially visible propeller and rudder.

• Marine Life: Wreckage provides habitat for local fish species, including sturgeon and other aquatic life.

SIGNIFICANCE

The H.C. SPRAGUE / RELIANCE / LYON, NELLIE exemplifies the evolving utility of Great Lakes vessels during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its multiple conversions and long service life illustrate the adaptability required for survival in a competitive maritime industry. The vessel’s remains offer historical and ecological value, contributing to both maritime history and lake habitat studies.

REFERENCES & LINKS

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Reports

• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Lake Sturgeon Studies

• David Swayze Shipwreck File

CONCLUSION

The story of the H.C. SPRAGUE reflects a dynamic maritime history shaped by innovation, resilience, and eventual tragedy. The wreck site near Algonac remains a tangible link to this vessel’s storied past and an enduring artifact of Great Lakes commerce and navigation.

KEYWORDS

#GreatLakes #Shipwrecks #HCSprague #Reliance #LyonNellie #MaritimeHistory #LakeStClair