Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lowell
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1865
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: St. Clair River, between Michigan and Ontario
- Original Owners: Not conclusively recorded
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Lowell was a wooden schooner, purpose-built for bulk cargo such as lumber and grain, using a fore-and-aft rig with two or more masts.
Description
Constructed of oak frames and pine planking, with a single deck and a capacious hold, the Lowell was typical of mid-19th-century lumber schooners. She had a shallow draft for operating along rivers and small harbours and was rigged to maximize downwind sailing on the Great Lakes.
History
Launched in 1865, Lowell served for nearly three decades hauling lumber from Michigan’s northern ports to distribution centres along the lower lakes. On 10 November 1893, while underway on the St. Clair River, the vessel caught fire, possibly from sparks from the galley or the ship’s stove — though no definitive cause was recorded. The fire spread quickly through her lumber cargo and wooden structure.
Despite efforts to extinguish the flames or run the schooner aground, the Lowell was completely destroyed. The crew escaped unharmed.
Significant Incidents
- 10 November 1893: The Lowell caught fire while underway on the St. Clair River, leading to her complete destruction.
Final Disposition
Declared a total constructive loss after burning to the waterline. No salvage or rebuilding was recorded.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern diver or archaeological survey has documented wreckage from the Lowell in the St. Clair River.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lowell-1865″ title=”References & Links”]
The Lowell is an example of the serious fire risks faced by wooden schooners carrying flammable lumber cargoes. Her loss on the St. Clair River, even after nearly 30 years of service, highlights the vulnerability of these vessels to sudden disaster.
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: Lowell
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year built and launched: 1865
- Owner: Not conclusively recorded
- Cargo: Lumber
- Date lost: 10 November 1893
- Location: St. Clair River, between Michigan and Ontario
- Crew: No fatalities reported
Vessel Type
The Lowell was a wooden schooner, purpose-built for bulk cargo such as lumber and grain, using a fore-and-aft rig with two or more masts.
Description
Constructed of oak frames and pine planking, with a single deck and a capacious hold, the Lowell was typical of mid-19th-century lumber schooners. She had a shallow draft for operating along rivers and small harbours and was rigged to maximize downwind sailing on the Great Lakes.
History
Launched in 1865, Lowell served for nearly three decades hauling lumber from Michigan’s northern ports to distribution centres along the lower lakes. On 10 November 1893, while underway on the St. Clair River, the vessel caught fire, possibly from sparks from the galley or the ship’s stove — though no definitive cause was recorded. The fire spread quickly through her lumber cargo and wooden structure.
Despite efforts to extinguish the flames or run the schooner aground, the Lowell was completely destroyed. The crew escaped unharmed.
Final Dispositions
Declared a total constructive loss after burning to the waterline. No salvage or rebuilding was recorded.
Located By & Date Found
No modern diver or archaeological survey has documented wreckage from the Lowell in the St. Clair River.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Vessels Index (BGSU)
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
Conclusion
The Lowell is an example of the serious fire risks faced by wooden schooners carrying flammable lumber cargoes. Her loss on the St. Clair River, even after nearly 30 years of service, highlights the vulnerability of these vessels to sudden disaster.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Wooden schooner
- Lumber trade
- St. Clair River
- Great Lakes shipping
- Fire
- Maritime hazards
- 19th-century shipwreck