Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: H.C. THATCHER (also seen as H.C. THACHER)
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: 42560
• Type at Loss: Scow-Schooner, Wood
• Builder: Unknown, built in Toledo, Ohio
• Year Built: 1879
• Specifications:  Length: 74 ft (22.56 m)  Beam: 19 ft (5.79 m) Depth: 5 ft (1.52 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 44 tons
• Date Lost: July 25, 1884
• Cause: Fire
• Place of Loss: Toledo Harbor, Ohio
• Waterbody: Lake Erie
• Cargo: Light load (specifics unknown)
• Loss of Life: 3 fatalities

Vessel Type

The H.C. THATCHER was a scow-Schooner, a flat-bottomed vessel commonly used for bulk cargo transport in shallow waters. Scow-schooners were popular on the Great Lakes due to their ability to carry heavy loads of timber, coal, stone, and other bulk materials, particularly in ports and rivers with limited Draft.

Description

Built in 1879 in Toledo, Ohio, the H.C. THATCHER was a modestly sized scow-Schooner designed primarily for inland and nearshore work. At 74 feet long and with a beam of 19 feet, she was well-suited for transporting cargo through the shallow waters of Lake Erie and its connecting waterways.

Interestingly, her official number (42560) corresponds to an unrigged Barge, suggesting that she may have been initially constructed as a Barge and later rigged as a Schooner. This was a common practice at the time, as owners modified vessels to meet changing commercial demands.

After her loss in 1884, she was recovered, converted to a propeller-driven vessel, and continued in service until she disappeared from records by 1894.

History

The H.C. THATCHER operated during a period when Toledo was a bustling port city, central to the shipment of grain, coal, timber, and other goods across the Great Lakes. Scow-schooners like the THATCHER were essential to this commerce, serving as workhorses for transporting materials between larger freighters and smaller inland ports.

By the 1880s, the rise of steam-powered vessels was rendering many traditional schooners obsolete. It was common for owners to convert older sailing vessels into steamers or barges to extend their usefulness, as eventually happened with the H.C. THATCHER after her recovery.

Final Voyage & Loss

On July 25, 1884, the H.C. THATCHER was docked in Toledo Harbor, likely preparing for another run of bulk cargo. At some point during the day, a fire broke out aboard the vessel. The circumstances of the fire remain unclear, but such incidents were common due to the combination of wooden construction, combustible cargo, and the frequent use of open flames or coal-fired equipment on docks and ships.

The fire spread rapidly, consuming the Schooner and eventually causing her to sink in the harbor. Tragically, three lives were lost in the blaze. It’s possible these victims were crew members trapped below Deck or caught off guard as the fire escalated.

Despite the severity of the damage, the vessel was later recovered, raised from the harbor, and converted into a propeller-driven vessel. This Conversion likely included the installation of a steam engine, eliminating the need for sails. She remained in service for nearly a decade after the fire but had disappeared from records by 1894, suggesting she was either scrapped, lost again, or Abandoned.

Final Disposition

• Declared a Total Loss: July 25, 1884
• Cause of Loss: Fire and subsequent sinking
• Location: Toledo Harbor, Ohio
• Coordinates: Not officially recorded
• Recovery: Raised and converted to a propeller-driven vessel post-1884

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Vessels Database
• Library and Archives Canada
• David Swayze’s Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The H.C. THATCHER represents a typical example of the versatile but vulnerable wooden schooners that populated the Great Lakes in the late 19th century. Her story highlights both the risks faced by mariners—including the ever-present threat of fire—and the adaptability of the maritime industry, which frequently repurposed vessels to meet evolving economic needs.

While her initial career ended in tragedy, her subsequent recovery and Conversion to a propeller vessel illustrate the resilience of Great Lakes shipping operations during this transformative era.