Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: H. C. Lawrence
- Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
- Year Built: Records unknown; rebuilt in 1881
- Builder: Sebewaing, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Not currently documented
- Location: Port Huron, Michigan
- Official Number: Not currently documented
- Original Owners: Not documented
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The H. C. Lawrence was a wooden two-masted schooner, a common vessel type used for cargo transport on the Great Lakes during the late 19th century.
Description
Details regarding the specific dimensions and design of the H. C. Lawrence are not documented. The vessel was rebuilt in 1881 at Sebewaing, Michigan, but further specifications remain unknown.
History
The H. C. Lawrence’s service history is sparse. The enrollment document was surrendered at Port Huron on June 14, 1897, annotated simply as ‘Wrecked.’ There are no records indicating loss of life associated with the vessel.
Significant Incidents
- Loss Details: Not specified; likely occurred shortly before June 14, 1897, given the formal surrender of her enrollment.
- Wreck Status: Classified as ‘wrecked,’ but no further details—no date, location, cause, or weather noted.
Final Disposition
The final disposition of the H. C. Lawrence remains unclear due to the lack of detailed records. The vessel was officially marked as wrecked, but specifics surrounding the incident are not documented.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current conditions of the wreck site are unknown, and accessibility for divers has not been documented. Further research is needed to locate the wreck and assess its condition.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”h-c-lawrence” title=”References & Links”]
Little beyond the formal surrender of her enrollment at Port Huron is known about H. C. Lawrence. The lack of registry details and absence of surviving records suggests documentation, but not media or inquiry. To uncover her story, a targeted archival search is recommended—starting with Port Huron’s enrollment logs and local newspapers in spring 1897. After identifying specifics (e.g., location, cause), we could investigate potential wreck sites via side-scan sonar or field reconnaissance.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Vessel Name: H. C. Lawrence
- Built: Records unknown; rebuilt in 1881 at Sebewaing, Michigan (Manitou Islands Archives, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Official Number: Not currently documented
- Type: Wooden two‑masted schooner
- Registry Activity: Enrollment document surrendered at Port Huron on June 14, 1897, annotated simply as “Wrecked” (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Casualties: None reported (document shows no mention of loss of life)
Incident Overview
- Loss Details: Not specified; likely occurred shortly before June 14, 1897, given the formal surrender of her enrollment
- Wreck Status: Classified as “wrecked,” but no further details—no date, location, cause, or weather noted (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Research Gaps & Recommended Actions
| Area | Next Steps |
|---|---|
| Registry & Vessel Specs | Inspect Port Huron enrollment records (1881–1897) for official number, tonnage, registry owner, master details |
| Local Newspapers | Review Port Huron Times-Journal and Detroit Free Press from early–mid‑1897 for wreck reports referencing “H. C. Lawrence” |
| Marine Weather Records | Analyze meteorological logs (Great Lakes weather) for significant events in spring 1897 |
| Insurance/Salvage Records | Explore underwriters’ files in Port Huron or Detroit for hull-loss claims |
| Enrollment Surrender Context | Investigate other vessels whose enrollment was similarly surrendered (e.g., schooner George Carpenter 1893) to infer standard practice (NOAA Institutional Repository, Wikipedia, NPGallery) |
Conclusion
Little beyond the formal surrender of her enrollment at Port Huron is known about H. C. Lawrence. The lack of registry details and absence of surviving records suggests documentation, but not media or inquiry. To uncover her story, a targeted archival search is recommended—starting with Port Huron’s enrollment logs and local newspapers in spring 1897. After identifying specifics (e.g., location, cause), we could investigate potential wreck sites via side‑scan sonar or field reconnaissance.
h-c-lawrence 1897-06-14 11:16:00