Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lucile (formerly Pickup)
- Type: Wooden propeller steamer
- Year Built: 1883
- Builder: C. King
- Dimensions: 80 × 19 × 7 ft (~24.4 × 5.8 × 2.1 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 137 gross / 107 net tons
- Location: About 1 mile east of Turtle Island Light, off Toledo, Ohio
- Official Number: 150304
- Original Owners: Captain Fred Brower of Ashland, Wisconsin
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden propeller steamer configured for passenger and package freight service.
Description
The Lucile was originally built as the Pickup in 1883 and was later renamed in 1886. The vessel measured approximately 80 feet in length, 19 feet in beam, and 7 feet in depth, with a registered tonnage of 137 gross and 107 net tons.
History
Built in 1883 by C. King in Marine City, Michigan, the Lucile underwent a significant rebuild in 1905 after a fire in August 1904 at Ashland, Wisconsin, which burned her to the waterline. This rebuild may have contributed to her structural instability by 1906.
Significant Incidents
- August 8, 1906: The Lucile foundered due to hull failure about 1 mile east of Turtle Island Light, Toledo, Ohio, in Lake Erie. The vessel sprang a leak in good weather and sank rapidly.
- All five crew members aboard survived, abandoning ship in lifeboats.
Final Disposition
The Lucile was judged a total loss following her sinking. No cargo was reported aboard at the time of her loss.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is not documented, and accessibility details are not available.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lucile-us-150304″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the Lucile illustrates the risks associated with aging vessels and the potential for catastrophic failure due to hull integrity issues, even in calm conditions. The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges faced in early 20th-century Great Lakes shipping.
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.
Built 1883; lost August 8, 1906, Wooden propeller passenger & package freight vessel on Lake Erie
Vessel Overview & Build Details
- Built: 1883 by C. King in Marine City, Michigan
- Official Number: 150304
- Type: Wooden propeller steamer configured for passenger and package freight service (formerly built as Pickup, renamed Lucile in 1886)
- Dimensions / Tonnage: ~80 × 19 × 7 ft; ~137 gross / 107 net tons
Final Voyage & Loss — August 8 (or 18), 1906
- Loss Date: August 8, 1906 (alternative date August 18 also appears in some records)
- Location: About 1 mile east of Turtle Island Light, off Toledo, Ohio—Lake Erie
- Cause of Loss: Hull failure—Lucile sprang a leak in good weather and rapidly foundered. The vessel was judged a total loss.
- Crew: Five persons aboard—all survived; no lives lost. They safely abandoned ship in lifeboats.
- Cargo: None reported aboard at the time.
- Owner: Captain Fred Brower of Ashland, Wisconsin
Summary Table
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Lucile (formerly Pickup) |
| Built | 1883, Marine City, MI (C. King) |
| Official Number | 150304 |
| Specs | ~80 × 19 × 7 ft; 137 gt / 107 nt |
| Loss Date | August 8, 1906 (also cited as Aug 18 in some logs) |
| Location of Loss | ~1 mile east of Turtle Island Light, Toledo, OH, Lake Erie |
| Cause of Loss | Hull failure/leak in fair conditions; foundered |
| Crew & Casualties | 5 aboard; all survived |
| Cargo | None reported onboard |
| Owner | Capt. Fred Brower, Ashland, Wisconsin |
Historical Notes & Significance
- Lucile was rebuilt in 1905 at Marquette following a previous fire at Ashland in August 1904, when she was burned to the waterline and completely refitted. This may have contributed to her structural instability by 1906.
- Her loss illustrates how even modest freighters could fail catastrophically—not due to weather, but hull integrity—during calm passages on Lake Erie.
Recommended Research Opportunities
- Local newspaper archives (Toledo papers, August 1906) for passenger or crew interviews and possible commentary from Capt. Brower or Underwriters.
- Insurance or underwriters’ claims records, documenting valuation, hull appraisal, and cause-of-loss statements for Official No. 150304.
- Rescue or harbor logs—possibly noting lifeboat operations and recovery planning near Turtle Island Light.
- Shipyard records from Marquette, which may include details of the 1905 rebuild, materials used, and post-fire timbers or reconfiguration—potentially relevant to her structural integrity.
Conclusion
Lucile, a wooden propeller vessel built in 1883 and rebuilt in 1905, foundered of hull failure on August 8, 1906, near Turtle Island Light off Toledo, Lake Erie. Despite calm conditions, she sprang a leak and sank quickly, but all five aboard survived in lifeboats. The incident highlights risks of aging hulls and the cumulative effects of fire rebuilds in early 20th-century Great Lakes shipping. Let me know if you’d like assistance retrieving archival insurance documentation, vessel registry details, or local newspaper coverage to enrich this profile further.
lucile-us-150304 1906-08-08 11:35:00