IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION: The LUCY AUCHARD was a wooden schooner, a type of sailing vessel commonly used in the mid-19th century for cargo transport across the Great Lakes. Originally built on the hull of the DANIEL WEBSTER, an older schooner from 1849, the LUCY AUCHARD was adapted for the transport of telegraph poles—a critical resource during the expansion of communication networks across North America.
HISTORY: The LUCY AUCHARD was launched in 1860 in Henderson, New York, constructed by the shipbuilder R.J.W. Morgan. It served various roles throughout its operational life, most notably for transporting telegraph poles, an essential task during the burgeoning era of telegraphic communication.
The vessel was prone to accidents, experiencing several incidents throughout its service. In 1862, it was struck by lightning twice—once while in the Welland Canal on Lake Ontario and again near Niagara, Ontario. That same year, the schooner was involved in a collision with another vessel, the schooner A. BRONSON, near Port Dalhousie on Lake Ontario.
On October 15, 1871, the LUCY AUCHARD met its demise during a storm while en route from New River to Sandusky, Ohio. The schooner, under the command of Captain Arthur Hemigen, was driven ashore near Port Albert, Ontario, on Lake Huron. The vessel was heavily laden with telegraph poles at the time of the wreck. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported. The severe damage sustained during the storm led to the vessel being declared a total loss.
The LUCY AUCHARD was last owned by Falconer McKivern of Algonac, Michigan. Following the wreck, the official documents of the vessel were surrendered at Port Huron on December 16, 1878, with a notation indicating its loss in 1871.
FINAL DISPOSITION: The LUCY AUCHARD was wrecked and driven ashore by heavy gales on October 15, 1871, near Port Albert, Ontario, on Lake Huron. The vessel was carrying a cargo of telegraph poles at the time. After being declared a total loss, the wreck was abandoned, and its registration was officially closed in 1878.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES: There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) specifically related to the wreck site of the LUCY AUCHARD. The site is historically significant, and those exploring the area should take care not to disturb any remnants of the vessel.
LOCATED BY & DATE: The wreck site of the LUCY AUCHARD has been known since the time of its loss in 1871. It remains near the shores of Port Albert, Ontario, on 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 shipwreck.
CONCLUSION: The LUCY AUCHARD represents a classic example of the wooden schooners that were a vital part of Great Lakes shipping in the 19th century. Despite the vessel’s robust construction and significant rebuild on the hull of an older schooner, it could not withstand the violent storms of Lake Huron. The schooner’s wreck in 1871 near Port Albert serves as a poignant reminder of the perilous nature of maritime transport during that era. Today, the story of the LUCY AUCHARD stands as a testament to the challenges and dangers faced by sailors navigating the Great Lakes.
