IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

•Vessel Name: Hattie L. Johnson

•Type: Wooden Schooner-Barge

•Built: 1872, by S. Johnson in Clayton, New York

•Dimensions & Tonnage: 227 tons

•Registered Port: Ogdensburg, New York

•Final Resting Place: Off the harbor entrance at Oswego, New York, Lake Ontario

•Coordinates: Not specified

•Depth: Stranded ashore

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The Hattie L. Johnson was a wooden Schooner-Barge built in 1872. Schooner-barges like this one were often used as consorts to larger vessels, towed by steam tugs to transport bulk cargo such as coal. Their design was practical, with large storage capacities and minimal crew requirements. These vessels played a crucial role in Great Lakes commerce during the late 19th century.

HISTORY

Construction and Early Career

The Hattie L. Johnson was constructed in Clayton, New York, by S. Johnson. The vessel was primarily employed in transporting coal, a vital commodity for heating and industrial use during the era. It was registered in Ogdensburg, New York, a key port on the St. Lawrence River, facilitating its integration into the regional shipping network.

Previous Incidents

•1880: The Hattie L. Johnson suffered a significant wreck on Lake Michigan, leading to extensive damage. The vessel was salvaged and underwent substantial repairs in 1881, restoring it to service.

•1885: After its repair and return to operation, the vessel continued its coal transport duties until its fateful wreck near Oswego, New York.

FINAL VOYAGE AND WRECK

On October 3, 1885, the Hattie L. Johnson, laden with coal, was being towed by the Tug Proctor in Lake Ontario. Amid deteriorating weather conditions, the captain attempted to seek shelter at Oswego harbor. However, strong winds and rough waters caused the Barge to break free from its tow. Adrift and uncontrollable, the vessel grounded near the lifesaving station at Oswego.

Aftermath

•Crew Survival: All six crew members aboard the Hattie L. Johnson managed to safely reach shore without assistance.

•Abandonment: Following the grounding, the Barge was stripped of valuable components and Abandoned on the shoreline.

•Legacy: Despite its repair after a previous wreck in Lake Michigan, the vessel’s final wreck underscores the challenges faced by Schooner-barges on the unpredictable waters of the Great Lakes.

CONNECTION TO THE TUSCARORA

The Hattie L. Johnson shares historical ties with another vessel named Tuscarora. While specific details of this connection are unclear, the association may stem from common ownership, operational overlap, or involvement in shared incidents during their operational lifetimes.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

The Hattie L. Johnson was Abandoned near Oswego’s harbor, and any remnants of the vessel likely lie buried or have deteriorated due to exposure and time. The site is not marked as a diving location, and the shallow, coastal conditions where it grounded may render the wreck inaccessible or obscured.

RESOURCES & LINKS

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Comprehensive resource for vessel histories.

•David Swayze Shipwreck File: Details and historical accounts of Great Lakes shipwrecks.

•Oswego Maritime Historical Society: Local archives that may hold additional information on the wreck.

•Library and Archives Canada: Records related to vessel registrations and incidents.

CONCLUSION

The Hattie L. Johnson epihttps://shotlinediving.com/wp-content/uploads/52895851813_b64678c0f7_c.jpgizes the operational challenges of 19th-century Great Lakes shipping. Though built as a durable and reliable coal carrier, the vessel’s history of wrecks highlights the harsh conditions that Schooner-barges and their crews endured. Its final grounding at Oswego reflects the region’s maritime history, where storms frequently determined the fate of even the most robust vessels.

KEYWORDS

•Hattie L. Johnson

•Schooner-Barge

•Lake Ontario Shipwreck

•Oswego Harbor

•Tug Proctor

•Coal Transport

•Ogdensburg, New York

•19th Century Shipwrecks