Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: L.L. Lamb
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1869
- Builder: H. Williams
- Dimensions: 120.3 ft (36.7 m) X 26.1 ft (7.96 m); Depth: 10.7 ft (3.26 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 253 tons (gross); 241 tons (net)
- Depth at Wreck Site: 8.5 m / 28 ft
- Location: Off Fairport, Ohio
- Official Number: 15609
- Original Owners: Various, including Carroll Brothers, George Green
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
- Type: Schooner
- Rigging: Full fore-and-aft rigged
- Hull Material: Wood
- Decks: 1
- Masts: 2
Description
- Builder: H. Williams
- Length: 120.3 ft (36.7 m)
- Beam: 26.1 ft (7.96 m)
- Depth: 10.7 ft (3.26 m)
- Gross Tonnage: 253 tons
- Net Tonnage: 241 tons
History
- 1869 (Jun 4): Completed her maiden voyage.
- 1871: Owned by Carroll Brothers, Erie, PA.
- 1871 (Nov 2): Involved in a collision with the schooner City of Painesville at Port Huron.
- 1875: Rebuilt in Oswego, NY.
- 1876–1887: Passed through several owners including Gillett & Hall (Detroit), H. Howard (Port Huron), John Buzzard (Port Huron), and Otis Joslyn.
- 1881–1882: Operated under tow with City of Concord and Rhoda Stewart, carrying salt and lumber.
- 1886 (Jul): Assisted in recovery of wrecked steamer Algoma‘s machinery off Isle Royale, MI.
- 1887 (Apr): Burned with a cargo of hay at Fitzgerald’s dock on the St. Clair River; subsequently repaired.
- 1893: Owned by George Green of Port Huron; became waterlogged in Saginaw Bay.
- 1902 (Aug 16): Foundered in heavy seas while in tow of the steamer McCormick; crew rescued.
Significant Incidents
- Collision with the schooner City of Painesville in 1871.
- Burned at Fitzgerald’s dock in 1887.
- Waterlogged in Saginaw Bay in 1893.
- Foundered in heavy seas in 1902 while under tow.
Final Disposition
L.L. Lamb was lost in a heavy sea while under tow, carrying a cargo of stone. Despite the foundering, all crew members were rescued by the McCormick. The schooner came to rest in 28 feet (8.5 metres) of water off Fairport, OH.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No publicly documented rediscovery or diving report is currently available for the wreck of the L.L. Lamb.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”l-l-lamb-us-15609″ title=”References & Links”]
The L.L. Lamb exemplifies the transition era of Great Lakes schooners moving from sail to steam tow service. Despite multiple rebuilds, fires, and other incidents, she remained active for over three decades, a testament to the durability of her wooden construction. Her foundering off Fairport, OH marks the end of a long and varied career that also included salvage support operations on Lake Superior.
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
- Name: L.L. Lamb
- Official Number: 15609
- Year Built: 1869
- Built At: Erie, Pennsylvania
- Final Disposition: Foundered
- Final Location: Off Fairport, Ohio
- Lake: Erie
- Date Lost: 16 August 1902
- Final Depth: 28 ft (8.5 m)
- Final Cargo: Stone
Vessel Type
- Type: Schooner
- Rigging: Full fore-and-aft rigged
- Hull Material: Wood
- Decks: 1
- Masts: 2
Description
- Builder: H. Williams
- Length: 120.3 ft (36.7 m)
- Beam: 26.1 ft (7.96 m)
- Depth: 10.7 ft (3.26 m)
- Gross Tonnage: 253 tons
- Net Tonnage: 241 tons
History
- 1869 (Jun 4): Completed her maiden voyage.
- 1871: Owned by Carroll Brothers, Erie, PA.
- 1871 (Nov 2): Involved in a collision with the schooner City of Painesville at Port Huron.
- 1875: Rebuilt in Oswego, NY.
- 1876–1887: Passed through several owners including Gillett & Hall (Detroit), H. Howard (Port Huron), John Buzzard (Port Huron), and Otis Joslyn.
- 1881–1882: Operated under tow with City of Concord and Rhoda Stewart, carrying salt and lumber.
- 1886 (Jul): Assisted in recovery of wrecked steamer Algoma‘s machinery off Isle Royale, MI.
- 1887 (Apr): Burned with a cargo of hay at Fitzgerald’s dock on the St. Clair River; subsequently repaired.
- 1893: Owned by George Green of Port Huron; became waterlogged in Saginaw Bay.
- 1902 (Aug 16): Foundered in heavy seas while in tow of the steamer McCormick; crew rescued.
Final Disposition
L.L. Lamb was lost in a heavy sea while under tow, carrying a cargo of stone. Despite the foundering, all crew members were rescued by the McCormick. The schooner came to rest in 28 feet (8.5 metres) of water off Fairport, OH.
Located By & Date Found
No publicly documented rediscovery or diving report is currently available for the wreck of the L.L. Lamb.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Resources & Links
- C. Patrick Labadie Collection
- Merchant Vessel Lists, U.S. Government
- Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directory
- Great Lakes historical newspaper archives
- Cleveland Leader archives
- Historical enrollment data via National Archives
Conclusion
The L.L. Lamb exemplifies the transition era of Great Lakes schooners moving from sail to steam tow service. Despite multiple rebuilds, fires, and other incidents, she remained active for over three decades, a testament to the durability of her wooden construction. Her foundering off Fairport, OH marks the end of a long and varied career that also included salvage support operations on Lake Superior.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Schooner, wooden vessel, Lake Erie, towing, 19th-century merchant shipping, salvage support, ship fire, foundered, stone cargo, Erie-built schooners, maritime incidents.