Hattie Hutt (formerly F.B. Stockbridge) C112190

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #

The Hattie Hutt, originally named F.B. Stockbridge, was a wooden schooner built in 1873 at Saugatuck by J. Martel. The vessel was classified as A2, indicating it was a well-built ship suitable for deep-sea voyages. Over its operational life, the schooner underwent several ownership changes and name changes, reflecting its long service on the Great Lakes.

HISTORY #

The schooner began its life as F.B. Stockbridge, owned by F.B. Stockbridge of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The vessel was valued at $13,000 and had a tonnage of 295 tons. It was renamed Hattie Hutt on December 28, 1881, and by 1892, it was owned by Louis Hutt of Chicago, with a recorded value of $9,500.

In January 1892, the vessel was sold to Ole Hansen of Manitowoc for $4,500. The Hattie Hutt continued to serve on the Great Lakes, experiencing several incidents typical of the era. In 1887, it sprang a leak during a squall, a common hazard for wooden vessels in the often unpredictable weather of the Great Lakes. The ship also had to return to port on another occasion to replace its canvas sails, which had been damaged while carrying a cargo of grain.

Ownership of the Hattie Hutt changed hands multiple times, with the vessel being owned by the Ottawa Transportation Co., Ltd. in 1888, and later by Frank Granville from Chatham, Ontario, in 1910. The schooner’s final owner was James Oliver of Kingston, Ontario, who owned the vessel in 1927.

The Hattie Hutt met its final fate in 1929 when it was destroyed by fire in Kingston Harbor, below the LaSalle Causeway. The wreck was later moved to the Nine Mile Point graveyard, also known as the Wolfe Island Graveyard, by Sincennes McNaughton tugs and was scuttled there in 1937.

FINAL DISPOSITION #

The Hattie Hutt now lies in the Wolfe Island Graveyard, scuttled in 1937. The wreck is located approximately 100 meters northeast of the Sanor wreck, connected by a temporary mooring made from rail wheels, an area known as John’s Run.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #

The wreck of the Hattie Hutt is accessible to divers, lying at a depth of 98 feet. The site is part of the Wolfe Island Graveyard, a well-known area for the scuttling of retired vessels. Divers exploring the site should be aware of the potential for debris and the presence of other wrecks in the vicinity, such as the Sanor. The temporary mooring made from rail wheels helps mark the location and connect the wrecks for exploration.

RESOURCES & LINKS #

• Divehub.ca Dive Site Information: Information for divers interested in exploring the Wolfe Island Graveyard, including the wreck of the Hattie Hutt.
• Historical Collections of the Great Lakes (HCGL): Historical data and ship histories, including details on vessels like the Hattie Hutt.
• Queens University Video Tape Holdings POW Photo Project 1998: Archival footage and photographs documenting the wrecks in the Wolfe Island Graveyard.
• Vlada Dekina Photogallery 2002: A photographic archive that may include images of the Hattie Hutt wreck.

KEYWORDS #

• Hattie Hutt
• F.B. Stockbridge
• Wolfe Island Graveyard
• Lake Ontario shipwrecks
• Great Lakes schooner
• Kingston maritime history
• Nine Mile Point graveyard
• John’s Run

ANALYSIS #

The Hattie Hutt is a prime example of the wooden schooners that once plied the Great Lakes, playing a vital role in the region’s maritime economy. Built in 1873, the vessel had a long and eventful service life, marked by multiple ownership changes and a series of maritime incidents. The schooner’s final demise in a fire and subsequent scuttling in the Wolfe Island Graveyard is indicative of the fate of many older vessels as they were phased out in favor of newer, more modern ships.

The wreck of the Hattie Hutt offers divers and maritime historians a unique opportunity to explore a piece of Great Lakes history. Its connection to the Sanor wreck via John’s Run adds an interesting dimension to the site, making it a notable location for underwater exploration. The preservation of such wrecks in the cold waters of Lake Ontario allows for ongoing study and appreciation of the region’s rich maritime heritage.