Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Laura H. Lee
- Type: Wooden propeller motor tug
- Year Built: 1864
- Builder: Albertson Brothers, Philadelphia
- Dimensions: Length 87 ft (26.5 m); Beam 24 ft (7.3 m); Depth of hold 6 ft (1.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Approx. 92 gross tons, 81 net tons
- Location: Meldrum Bay, North Channel, Lake Huron, Ontario
- Official Number: C130228
- Original Owners: E.P. Lee of Owen Sound (last known owner)
- Number of Masts: None
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Originally built as a schooner yacht, the Laura H. Lee was later reconfigured into a propeller tug and utilized for lumber hooking and packet runs. Powered by a motor after approximately 1923, she worked along the shores of Lake Huron, serving small communities and industries.
Description
Launched in 1864 as Juniata, she later operated under the names Wave Crest and finally Laura H. Lee after being sold to E.P. Lee of Owen Sound in 1923. By this time she had been converted into a motorised tug, supporting local maritime commerce in Northern Ontario’s inland waterways.
History
On October 23, 1929, while laid up at her dock in Meldrum Bay, heavy seas and a knocked-over kerosene lamp ignited a blaze that consumed the tug, destroying her to the waterline. There were no injuries. The wreck remained dockside and was likely disposed of or salvaged in due course.
Significant Incidents
- Fire occurred at her dock due to heavy seas and an overturned kerosene lamp.
- No injuries reported during the incident.
Final Disposition
The fire destroyed the Laura H. Lee to the waterline. The remains were visible immediately after the incident, though no marine wreck survey was conducted. The wreck was likely disposed of or salvaged later.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No underwater wreck exists as the fire occurred openly at her dock. The remains were visible immediately after the incident.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”laura-h-lee-juniatawave-crest-c-130228″ title=”References & Links”]
The Laura H. Lee stands as an example of maritime adaptation—beginning as a schooner yacht in the U.S., later converted to a tug in Canada, and finally meeting her end by fire in 1929. Her loss underscores the enduring dangers of combustible fuels aboard wooden vessels, even in moored contexts.
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.
Laura H. Lee (Built 1864 – Lost October 23, 1929)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Laura H. Lee (formerly schooner yacht Juniata, later Wave Crest)
- Official Registry: Canada; Official No. C130228
- Type: Wooden propeller motor tug, used later for lumber hooking and packet service
- Built: 1864 by Albertson Brothers, Philadelphia (originally a schooner yacht), U.S. Official No. 12667
- Dimensions: 26.5 m (87 ft) length × 7.3 m (24 ft) beam × 1.8 m (6 ft) depth; approx. 92 gross tons, 81 net tons
- Home Port (at loss): Meldrum Bay, North Channel, Lake Huron, Ontario
- Date of Loss: October 23, 1929
- Final Location: Burned at her home dock in Meldrum Bay during heavy seas
- Cargo at Loss: None (layup mode)
- Casualties: No deaths recorded
Vessel Type Description
Originally built as a schooner yacht, the Laura H. Lee was later reconfigured into a propeller tug and utilized for lumber hooking and packet runs. Powered by a motor after approximately 1923, she worked along the shores of Lake Huron, serving small communities and industries.
History
Launched in 1864 as Juniata, she later operated under the names Wave Crest and finally Laura H. Lee after being sold to E.P. Lee of Owen Sound in 1923. By this time she had been converted into a motorised tug, supporting local maritime commerce in Northern Ontario’s inland waterways.
Final Disposition
On October 23, 1929, while laid up at her dock in Meldrum Bay, heavy seas and a knocked-over kerosene lamp ignited a blaze that consumed the tug, destroying her to the waterline. There were no injuries. The wreck remained dockside and was likely disposed of or salvaged in due course (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Located By & Date Found
The fire occurred openly at her dock; no underwater wreck exists. The remains were visible immediately after the incident, though no marine wreck survey was conducted.
Notmars & Advisories
No Notices to Mariners were issued, as the fire took place in a sheltered bay and posed no hazard to navigation.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – detailed loss entry mentions dockside fire caused by overturned kerosene lamp (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Conclusion
The Laura H. Lee stands as an example of maritime adaptation—beginning as a schooner yacht in the U.S., later converted to a tug in Canada, and finally meeting her end by fire in 1929. Her loss underscores the enduring dangers of combustible fuels aboard wooden vessels, even in moored contexts.
Keywords
Laura H. Lee; propeller tug; schooner yacht conversion; Meldrum Bay; dockside fire; 1929; Great Lakes maritime.
laura-h-lee-juniatawave-crest-c-130228 1929-10-23 12:49:00