Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lucinda Van Valkenburg
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1862
- Builder: Tonawanda, New York
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 301.66 tons
- Location: Lake Huron
- Official Number: U.S. Registry No. 14614
- Original Owners: T. Hood
- Number of Masts: Visible above waterline
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Lucinda Van Valkenburg was a wooden-hulled schooner, a prevalent type of cargo vessel in the 19th century Great Lakes fleet. These vessels were the workhorses of their time, used extensively for transporting essential bulk goods like coal, grain, and lumber. With a gross tonnage of over 300 tons, the Lucinda Van Valkenburg was a medium-sized schooner, well-suited for long-haul routes across the Great Lakes.
Description
Constructed in 1862 in Tonawanda, New York, the Lucinda Van Valkenburg began her service as a cargo carrier under the ownership of T. Hood. Operating out of Chicago, Illinois, she spent 25 years in service on the Great Lakes, reliably transporting goods crucial to the industrial and domestic economy of the region.
History
On June 1, 1887, while transporting a cargo of coal, the Lucinda Van Valkenburg collided with the propeller Lehigh on Lake Huron. The collision struck the schooner’s port side, forward of the fore-rigging, causing severe structural damage. Water rapidly flooded the vessel, and it sank shortly afterward, resulting in a total loss. The hull was valued at $5,000, and the cargo was estimated at $2,000.
Fortunately, all crew members were rescued by the Lehigh and transported safely to Port Huron.
Significant Incidents
- Collision with the Lehigh: On June 1, 1887, the Lucinda Van Valkenburg collided with the propeller Lehigh, leading to her sinking.
Final Disposition
The masts of the Lucinda Van Valkenburg, which remained visible above the waterline and posed a navigation hazard, were promptly removed by the revenue cutter Fessenden. This action ensured the safety of other vessels navigating Lake Huron.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The precise location of the Lucinda Van Valkenburg wreck is not detailed in available records. The vessel sank somewhere in Lake Huron following the collision on June 1, 1887.
Resources & Links
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The loss of the Lucinda Van Valkenburg underscores the hazards faced by sailors on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. The vessel’s service spanned a quarter-century, during which it played a significant role in regional trade. Its demise in a collision with the Lehigh serves as a stark reminder of the challenges of maritime navigation in an era before modern safety systems. Efforts by the Fessenden to remove the wreck’s masts exemplify the ongoing commitment to maintaining safe passage on these vital waterways.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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