Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lucia A. Simpson
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1875
- Builder: Rand & Burger, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: 127 ft (38.7 m); Beam 28 ft (8.5 m); Depth of hold 8.7 ft (2.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 227.07
- Location: Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
- Official Number: 140097
- Original Owners: Town Harbor Yacht Club, Chicago
- Number of Masts: Three-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled, three-masted schooner designed for cargo transport on the Great Lakes.
Description
The Lucia A. Simpson was a classic example of a Great Lakes lumber schooner. Built in 1875, she measured 127 feet (38.7 metres) in length with a beam of 28 feet (8.5 metres) and a depth of hold of 8.7 feet (2.7 metres). With a gross tonnage of 227.07, she was constructed entirely of wood and rigged as a three-masted schooner, optimized for the transportation of bulk cargoes such as lumber.
History
Commissioned by Simpson & Co. of Milwaukee, the Lucia A. Simpson began her service in 1875, primarily transporting lumber from ports in upper Michigan to destinations like Milwaukee. In 1882, ownership transferred to E.G. Filer of Manistee, Michigan, and later to Henry Durbin of South Milwaukee in 1900. That same year, Hans Simenson of Milwaukee acquired her, serving as both owner and captain.
From 1901 to 1928, Charles J. Sanderson of Milwaukee owned the vessel. During this period, the Lucia A. Simpson was notable for being one of the last schooners actively sailing on the Great Lakes, a testament to her durability and the declining era of sail-powered commerce. In 1929, under the ownership of the Northern Marine Corporation of Milwaukee, she encountered a severe storm off Algoma, Wisconsin, which damaged her hull and rigging. The car ferry Ann Arbor No. 7 towed her to Kewaunee, Wisconsin, and subsequently to Sturgeon Bay for repairs. However, the extent of the damage led to her being laid up at the Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding and Drydock Company.
In 1931, the Town Harbor Yacht Club of Chicago acquired the vessel with intentions to convert her into a clubhouse. Plans were made to tow her to Chicago, but these were never realized, likely due to her deteriorated condition. In 1934, the Manitowoc Marine Museum considered purchasing the schooner, but this acquisition also did not materialize.
Significant Incidents
- 1935: A fire broke out at the Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, destroying the Lucia A. Simpson while docked.
Final Disposition
On December 3, 1935, a fire broke out at the Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. Originating from a welding torch used on the E.G. Crosby, the fire rapidly spread, engulfing multiple vessels, including the Lucia A. Simpson. The schooner was completely destroyed, marking the end of her 60-year history. Notably, none of the affected vessels were insured, and there were no casualties reported in the incident.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As the Lucia A. Simpson was destroyed by fire while docked, no wreck remains to be located.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lucia-a-simpson-us-140097″ title=”References & Links”]
The Lucia A. Simpson serves as a poignant symbol of the transition from sail to steam on the Great Lakes. Her extended service life, spanning six decades, underscores the durability and significance of schooners in regional commerce. Her ultimate destruction in 1935 not only marked the end of her own story but also signified the closing chapter of an era dominated by sail-powered vessels on the Great Lakes.
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: Lucia A. Simpson
- Former Names: None
- Official Number: 140097
- Date Built & Launched: 1875, by Rand & Burger, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: 127 ft (38.7 m) length × 28 ft (8.5 m) beam × 8.7 ft (2.7 m) depth of hold
- Gross Tonnage: 227.07
- Propulsion: Sail-powered, three-masted schooner
- Date Lost: December 3, 1935
- Location: Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
- Cause of Loss: Fire during layup
- Casualties: None reported
- Final Owner: Town Harbor Yacht Club, Chicago(wisconsinshipwrecks.org, en.wikipedia.org, 2manitowoc.com, deltahistorical.pastperfectonline.com)
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled, three-masted schooner designed for cargo transport on the Great Lakes.
Description
The Lucia A. Simpson was a classic example of a Great Lakes lumber schooner. Built in 1875, she measured 127 feet (38.7 metres) in length with a beam of 28 feet (8.5 metres) and a depth of hold of 8.7 feet (2.7 metres). With a gross tonnage of 227.07, she was constructed entirely of wood and rigged as a three-masted schooner, optimized for the transportation of bulk cargoes such as lumber.(en.wikipedia.org)
History
Commissioned by Simpson & Co. of Milwaukee, the Lucia A. Simpson began her service in 1875, primarily transporting lumber from ports in upper Michigan to destinations like Milwaukee. In 1882, ownership transferred to E.G. Filer of Manistee, Michigan, and later to Henry Durbin of South Milwaukee in 1900. That same year, Hans Simenson of Milwaukee acquired her, serving as both owner and captain.(en.wikipedia.org)
From 1901 to 1928, Charles J. Sanderson of Milwaukee owned the vessel. During this period, the Lucia A. Simpson was notable for being one of the last schooners actively sailing on the Great Lakes, a testament to her durability and the declining era of sail-powered commerce. In 1929, under the ownership of the Northern Marine Corporation of Milwaukee, she encountered a severe storm off Algoma, Wisconsin, which damaged her hull and rigging. The car ferry Ann Arbor No. 7 towed her to Kewaunee, Wisconsin, and subsequently to Sturgeon Bay for repairs. However, the extent of the damage led to her being laid up at the Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding and Drydock Company.(en.wikipedia.org)
In 1931, the Town Harbor Yacht Club of Chicago acquired the vessel with intentions to convert her into a clubhouse. Plans were made to tow her to Chicago, but these were never realized, likely due to her deteriorated condition. In 1934, the Manitowoc Marine Museum considered purchasing the schooner, but this acquisition also did not materialize.(wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Final Disposition
On December 3, 1935, a fire broke out at the Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. Originating from a welding torch used on the E.G. Crosby, the fire rapidly spread, engulfing multiple vessels, including the Lucia A. Simpson. The schooner was completely destroyed, marking the end of her 60-year history. Notably, none of the affected vessels were insured, and there were no casualties reported in the incident.(wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Located By & Date Found
As the Lucia A. Simpson was destroyed by fire while docked, no wreck remains to be located.
Notmars & Advisories
There are no current Notices to Mariners or advisories regarding obstructions related to the Lucia A. Simpson wreck site.
Resources & Links
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks: Lucia A. Simpson
- Wikipedia: Lucia A. Simpson
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – WordPress.com
- Life Aboard the Schooner Lucia A. Simpson in 1926 – Winter 1980
- The Lucia Simpson: A Great Lakes Schooner Built in 1875(wisconsinshipwrecks.org, en.wikipedia.org, nmgl.org, john-neff-iowa-city-ia.com)
Conclusion
The Lucia A. Simpson serves as a poignant symbol of the transition from sail to steam on the Great Lakes. Her extended service life, spanning six decades, underscores the durability and significance of schooners in regional commerce. Her ultimate destruction in 1935 not only marked the end of her own story but also signified the closing chapter of an era dominated by sail-powered vessels on the Great Lakes.
Suggested Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms
- Keywords: Lucia A. Simpson, Great Lakes schooner, 1935 Sturgeon Bay fire, wooden sailing vessels, maritime history
- Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan, Maritime History of Wisconsin, 19th Century Schooners
- Glossary Terms:
- Schooner: A sailing vessel with two or more masts, typically with the foremast shorter than the mainmast.
- Layup: The process of taking a ship out of active service, often for maintenance or due to economic conditions.
- Gross Tonnage: A measure of the overall internal volume of a vessel.