Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: L. B. Nichols
- Type: Scow Schooner
- Year Built: 1853
- Builder: Jason Lathrop
- Dimensions: Length: 73 ft (22.3 m); Beam: 21 ft (6.4 m); Depth: 6 ft (1.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 80 old-style tons (1865: 64.28 gross tons)
- Location: North of Sheboygan Harbor, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 48195
- Original Owners: Simmons & White; Freeman & Co.
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The L. B. Nichols is classified as a scow schooner, a type of vessel designed with a flat-bottomed hull suitable for coastal lumber transport.
Description
Constructed in 1853, the L. B. Nichols was built primarily for the transportation of lumber and cedar posts. Its wooden hull and flat design allowed it to navigate shallow waters effectively.
History
The L. B. Nichols was first enrolled in 1854 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Throughout its operational history, it faced several incidents, including grounding in 1856 and sustaining damage during a gale in 1859. Ownership changed hands in 1860 to Freeman & Co., and it continued to operate predominantly in lumber transport until its loss in 1868.
Significant Incidents
- 1854: First enrollment, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
- 1856, April 12: Grounded at Milwaukee while carrying a cargo of cedar posts; later released.
- 1859, October 20: Suffered damage during a gale while at Milwaukee; extent not specified.
- 1860: Ownership transferred to Freeman & Co., Kenosha, Wisconsin.
- 1865: Tonnage recorded as 64.28 gross tons; used predominantly for lumber and log transport along western Lake Michigan.
- 1868, November 20: Final loss occurred when vessel went ashore during a gale north of Sheboygan; declared a total loss.
Final Disposition
The L. B. Nichols was destroyed when driven ashore in heavy weather north of Sheboygan Harbor. The vessel was fully laden with lumber and cedar posts at the time. No human casualties were recorded. Due to its wooden construction and small tonnage, no part of the vessel is believed to have survived, and no known salvage operation is recorded.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of now, there is no known wreckage of the L. B. Nichols available for diving or exploration.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”l-b-nichols-us-48195″ title=”References & Links”]
The L. B. Nichols serves as a reminder of the vital role scow schooners played in the lumber economy of the Great Lakes during the 19th century, despite its humble design and eventual loss.
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: L. B. Nichols
- Official Number: 48195
- Year Built: 1853
- Build Site: Kenosha, Wisconsin
- Vessel Type: Scow Schooner
- Hull Material: Wood
- Number of Decks: 1
- Final Disposition: Wrecked ashore
- Date of Loss: 20 November 1868
- Location of Loss: North of Sheboygan Harbor, Lake Michigan
- Final Cargo: Lumber and cedar posts
Vessel Specifications
- Builder: Jason Lathrop
- Original Owner: Simmons & White
- Construction Type: Scow hull, flat-bottomed for coastal lumber transport
- Number of Masts: 2
- Hull Dimensions:
- Length: 73 ft (22.3 m)
- Beam: 21 ft (6.4 m)
- Depth: 6 ft (1.8 m)
- Tonnage: 80 old-style tons (1865: 64.28 gross tons)
- Cargo Capacity: ~80,000 board feet of lumber
Operational History
- 1854: First enrollment, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- 1856, April 12: Grounded at Milwaukee while carrying a cargo of cedar posts; later released
- 1859, October 20: Suffered damage during a gale while at Milwaukee; extent not specified
- 1860: Ownership transferred to Freeman & Co., Kenosha, Wisconsin
- 1865: Tonnage recorded as 64.28 gross tons; used predominantly for lumber and log transport along western Lake Michigan
- 1868, November 20: Final loss occurred when vessel went ashore during a gale north of Sheboygan; declared a total loss
Final Disposition
The L. B. Nichols was destroyed when driven ashore in heavy weather north of Sheboygan Harbor. The vessel was fully laden with lumber and cedar posts at the time. No human casualties were recorded. Due to its wooden construction and small tonnage, no part of the vessel is believed to have survived, and no known salvage operation is recorded.
Sources & Citations
- U.S. Official Registry of American Vessels (No. 48195)
- Milwaukee Marine Casualty Records (1854–1868)
- C. Patrick Labadie Collection
- Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Resources, HCGL (Bowling Green State University)
- NOAA Lake Michigan Incident Index
Historical Significance
The L. B. Nichols represents a common class of Great Lakes workhorses: the scow schooner. These vessels were critical to the lumber economy and shoreline trade along Lake Michigan during the mid-19th century. Their flat-bottomed design allowed access to undeveloped harbors and rivers. Although humble in design and frequently overlooked, ships like the Nichols were foundational to regional industry.
Keywords & Categories
- Region: Lake Michigan (Sheboygan, WI)
- Vessel Type: Scow schooner
- Material: Wood
- Loss Cause: Stranding during storm
- Cargo: Lumber and cedar posts
- Era: 1853–1868
- Diving Status: No known wreckage
- Significance: Lumber transport, coastal scow schooner design