Lucerne US 15914

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Lucerne
• Type: Schooner
• Year Built: 1873
• Builder: Parsons & Humble
• Dimensions: Length: 194.9 ft (59.4 m); Beam: 33.4 ft (10.2 m); Depth of hold: 13.8 ft (4.2 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 727.9
• Depth at Wreck Site: 6 m / 20 ft
• Location: Near Chequamegon Point, approximately 10 miles from Washburn, Wisconsin
• Coordinates: 46° 43.377′ N, 090° 46.021′ W or 46° 43.389′ N, 90° 46.035′ W
• Official Number: 15914
• Original Owners: N.C. Winslow, J.S. Corrigan
• Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Lucerne was a large, two-masted schooner designed for hauling heavy bulk cargo across the Great Lakes.

Description

The Lucerne wreck is relatively intact, though largely buried beneath shifting sands. Key features include the bow and stern, which are mostly buried, with portions of the forward starboard side still visible. The forecastle deck was intact into the 1990s but is now mostly gone, leaving only deck beams. The anchor windlass and capstan remain intact on the forecastle deck, and the starboard chain stop was returned to the site as part of a Put-It-Back project by GLSPS/WHS. The centerboard trunk was originally intact, but the upper sides are now missing, exposing the centerboard. The port side of the hull is broken and mostly buried, though the degree of exposure changes with shifting sands. Deck knees and hawse pipes are visible on the forward starboard side, and only about four feet of the stern is visible above the sand.

History

Built by Parsons & Humble in Tonawanda, New York, the Lucerne was launched on April 23, 1873. Initially owned by N.C. Winslow of Buffalo, she later came under the ownership of J.S. Corrigan of Cleveland, Ohio. Over the years, she played a critical role in the grain and iron ore trades, navigating routes between Duluth, Minnesota, and Buffalo, New York. Throughout her service, the Lucerne encountered several mishaps, including a collision with the schooner Adams in 1875, repairs after general wear and damage in 1881, significant repairs in 1885, and a lightning strike that shattered the mizzen topmast in June 1885.

Significant Incidents

• 1875: Collided with the schooner Adams in Chicago, Illinois.
• 1881: Repaired after general wear and damage.
• 1885: Experienced significant repairs, including a new deck and hatch combings, following extensive use in the grain trade.
• 1885 (June): The mizzen topmast was shattered by lightning while in service.

Final Disposition

The Lucerne wreck was discovered shortly after the storm in November 1886 by the search vessel S.B. Barker, dispatched from Bayfield, Wisconsin. The shipwreck was later listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, acknowledging its historical and cultural importance.

Current Condition & Accessibility

While no current NOTMARs are specifically issued for the Lucerne wreck, mariners are advised to exercise caution when navigating Chequamegon Bay due to unpredictable weather patterns and sudden storms—the very conditions that led to the schooner’s demise.

Resources & Links

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The Lucerne was more than just a vessel; it was a symbol of the bustling maritime trade that defined the Great Lakes region in the late 19th century. Its tragic end in the icy waters of Lake Superior serves as a stark reminder of the perils faced by mariners navigating these treacherous inland seas. Today, the wreck of the Lucerne lies quietly beneath the waves, a historic monument to the sailors who lost their lives and the industry that helped build the Midwest.