Shipwreck Report: Schooner Lucerne

Identification & Site Information

• Name(s): Lucerne
• Registry: United States
• Official Number: 15914
• Vessel Type: Schooner
• Year Built: 1873
• Year Sank: 1886
• Hull Material: Wood (iron-framed)
• Dimensions Length: 194.9 ft (59.4 m) Beam (Width): 33.4 ft (10.2 m) Depth: 13.8 ft (4.2 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 727.9
• Net Tonnage: 691.55
• Capacity: 50,000 bushels

Vessel History

The Lucerne was a large, two-masted schooner designed for hauling heavy bulk cargo across the Great Lakes. Built by Parsons & Humble in Tonawanda, New York, she was launched on April 23, 1873. Initially owned by N.C. Winslow of Buffalo, the Schooner later came under the ownership of J.S. Corrigan of Cleveland, Ohio. Over the years, she played a critical role in the grain and iron ore trades, navigating routes between Duluth, Minnesota, and Buffalo, New York.

Throughout her service, the Lucerne encountered several mishaps:

• 1875: Collided with the Schooner Adams in Chicago, Illinois.
• 1881: Repaired after general wear and damage.
• 1885: Experienced significant repairs, including a new Deck and hatch combings, following extensive use in the grain trade.
• 1885 (June): The mizzen topmast was shattered by lightning while in service.

Final Voyage & Loss

On November 15, 1886, the Lucerne departed Ashland, Wisconsin, carrying 1,200 tons of iron ore bound for Cleveland, Ohio. The vessel was captained by a skilled crew, who anticipated a routine journey. However, Lake Superior’s notorious weather patterns had other plans.

On November 17 or 18, a sudden and violent snowstorm struck the vessel near Long Island in Chequamegon Bay. The ferocity of the storm proved too much for the Schooner to withstand. After battling for survival, the Lucerne Foundered and sank, claiming the lives of all 10 crew members. When the wreck was discovered shortly after the storm, three crew members were found lashed to the rigging, frozen solid and covered in ice—a chilling testament to their desperate final hours.

Wreck Site Information

• Location: Near Chequamegon Point, approximately 10 miles from Washburn, Wisconsin, in Lake Superior.
• Depth: 20 ft (6 m)
• GPS Coordinates:
  • 46° 43.377′ N, 090° 46.021′ W  or
  • 46° 43.389′ N, 90° 46.035′ W
• State/Province: Wisconsin

Site Description

The Lucerne wreck is relatively intact, though largely buried beneath shifting sands. Key features include:

• Bow, Stern, and Starboard Sections: The bow and Stern are mostly buried, with portions of the forward starboard side still visible.
• Forecastle Deck: Intact into the 1990s but now mostly gone, leaving only Deck beams.
• Anchor Windlass & Capstan: Both remain intact on the Forecastle Deck. The starboard chain stop was returned to the site as part of a Put-It-Back project by GLSPS/WHS.
• Centerboard Trunk: Originally intact, but the upper sides are now missing, exposing the Centerboard.
• Hull: The port side of the Hull is broken and mostly buried, though the degree of exposure changes with shifting sands.
• Deck Knees & Hawse Pipes: Visible on the forward starboard side.
• Transom: Only about four feet of the Stern is visible above the sand.

In the 1970s, a Deck Capstan was present at the site but was illegally removed in the late 1970s. As well artifacts from the Lucerne were excavated by amateur archaeologist Monte Florenze and later displayed at the Duluth Visitor Center.

Final Disposition

The Lucerne wreck was discovered shortly after the storm in November 1886 by the search vessel S.B. Barker, dispatched from Bayfield, Wisconsin. The shipwreck was later listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, acknowledging its historical and cultural importance.

Located By & Date Found

• Discovery: November 1886
• Historic Registration: 1991

Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) & Advisories

While no current NOTMARs are specifically issued for the Lucerne wreck, mariners are advised to exercise caution when navigating Chequamegon Bay due to unpredictable weather patterns and sudden storms—the very conditions that led to the Schooner’s demise.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Ships Database
• Wisconsin Shipwrecks – Lucerne
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• National Register of Historic Places – Lucerne Shipwreck
• 3DShipwrecks – Lucerne
• Wikipedia – Ashland WI Chequamegon Bay

3D Model

Lucerne by 3DShipwrecks on Sketchfab

Conclusion

The Lucerne was more than just a vessel; it was a symbol of the bustling maritime trade that defined the Great Lakes region in the late 19th century. Its tragic end in the icy waters of Lake Superior serves as a stark reminder of the perils faced by mariners navigating these treacherous inland seas. Today, the wreck of the Lucerne lies quietly beneath the waves, a historic monument to the sailors who lost their lives and the industry that helped build the Midwest.

Keywords

Great Lakes shipwrecks, Lake Superior schooners, Lucerne shipwreck, Chequamegon Bay maritime history, Wisconsin shipwrecks, 19th-century maritime trade, iron ore schooners, Lake Superior storms, shipwreck preservation, National Register of Historic Places.