Identification & Site Information

•Name: LUCY AUCHARD (often misspelled as ANCHARD)

•Original Name: DANIEL WEBSTER (1849)

•Type: Wooden Schooner

•Built: 1860, Henderson, New York by R.J.W. Morgan

•Hull Material: Wood (Rebuilt on the Hull of the Schooner DANIEL WEBSTER)

Hull Dimensions

•Length: 80 feet (24.4 meters)

•Beam: 21 feet (6.4 meters)

•Depth: 8 feet (2.4 meters)

•Gross Tonnage: 86 tons

Final Location

•Resting Place: Near Port Albert, Ontario, Lake Huron

•Status: Wrecked and declared a Total Loss in 1871

Vessel Type Description

The LUCY AUCHARD was a wooden Schooner, a common design for mid-19th-century cargo vessels on the Great Lakes. It was originally constructed using the Hull of the older Schooner DANIEL WEBSTER (built 1849). The Schooner was designed for transporting goods, and its later years were notable for carrying telegraph poles, a critical resource for the expansion of communication networks across North America.

History

The LUCY AUCHARD had a service history marked by incidents and an eventual tragic loss:

•1860: Launched in Henderson, New York, by shipbuilder R.J.W. Morgan.

•1862: Struck by lightning twice—once in the Welland Canal on Lake Ontario and again near Niagara, Ontario. It was also involved in a collision with the Schooner A. BRONSON near Port Dalhousie, Lake Ontario, the same year.

•Cargo Role: The vessel transported various goods during its career but became known for carrying telegraph poles in its later years.

•1871 Wreck: On October 15, 1871, while en route from New River to Sandusky, Ohio, the Schooner was caught in a storm. Under the command of Captain Arthur Hemigen, the vessel was driven ashore near Port Albert, Ontario, Lake Huron. Despite carrying a heavy load of telegraph poles, the crew managed to escape unharmed. The Schooner was declared a Total Loss due to severe structural damage.

•Final Ownership: Owned by Falconer McKivern of Algonac, Michigan, at the time of its loss.

The Schooner’s official documents were surrendered at Port Huron on December 16, 1878, noting its loss in 1871.

Final Disposition

•Date of Loss: October 15, 1871

•Cause: Driven ashore during a gale while carrying telegraph poles.

•Outcome: Declared a Total Loss and Abandoned near Port Albert, Ontario.

NOTMARs & Advisories

There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the wreck site of the LUCY AUCHARD. The wreck is of historical significance, and any exploration near Port Albert should avoid disturbing possible remnants of the vessel.

Located By & Discovery Date

The wreck site has been known since the time of its loss in 1871. It remains near the shores of Port Albert, Ontario, in Lake Huron.

Resources & Links

•Great Lakes Ships – LUCY AUCHARD / DANIEL WEBSTER

•David Swayze Shipwreck File

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes

Keywords

•LUCY AUCHARD

•DANIEL WEBSTER

•Schooner

•Lake Huron Shipwreck

•Port Albert

•Great Lakes Maritime History

•19th-Century Shipwrecks

Conclusion

The story of the LUCY AUCHARD represents the resilience and challenges of Great Lakes shipping in the 19th century. Though Rebuilt on the Hull of an older Schooner, the vessel was unable to withstand the fierce storms of Lake Huron, leading to its final wreck near Port Albert in 1871. The Schooner’s history, marked by lightning strikes, collisions, and its ultimate loss, underscores the perils of maritime transport during this era. Today, the wreck of the LUCY AUCHARD serves as a historical reminder of the risks and contributions of wooden schooners to the development of trade and communication in North America.