Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: N.C. Baldwin
- Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1836
- Builder: Diodate Rodgers
- Dimensions: Length 102 ft (31 m); Beam 23 ft (7 m); Depth of hold 9 ft (2.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: ~182 tons
- Location: Near Twin River(s), Wisconsin
- Coordinates: Unknown
- Official Number: none recorded
- Original Owners: Unknown (referred in shipping registries)
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type
Wooden two-masted schooner typical of early Great Lakes lumber vessels.
Description
Description
N.C. Baldwin was a wooden two-masted schooner typical of early Great Lakes lumber vessels—built with a moderate hold, shallow draft, and rigging suitable for inland freight haulage. No underwater remains or site condition data exists; she ended up driven ashore and likely stripped or salvaged.
History
History
Launched in 1836 from Cleveland by Diodate Rodgers, she served the Lake Michigan lumber-cargo trade, carrying loads between Chicago, Michigan, and Wisconsin waterways. On a final voyage in March 1850—either the 7th or the 24th—while departing Chicago during a storm, N.C. Baldwin was driven ashore near Twin River(s), Wisconsin, and abandoned. Prior, she was reportedly wrecked and abandoned at Conneaut in 1845 but subsequently rebuilt.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- Reportedly wrecked and abandoned at Conneaut in 1845, then rebuilt.
- Driven ashore by gale-force weather during departure from Chicago in March 1850.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
Cause of Loss: Driven ashore by gale-force weather during departure from Chicago.
Wreck Condition: Declared a total loss, abandoned ashore; possible salvage of parts.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern documentation or site surveys exist. The vessel is known only from contemporary shipping registry entries and loss listings in Great Lakes archives. Access Type: N/A (wreck ashore—no submerged remains recorded).
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”n-c-baldwin-1836″ title=”References & Links”]
Closing Summary
The N.C. Baldwin remains a significant historical vessel in the context of Great Lakes shipping, with its story reflecting the challenges faced by early maritime operations in the region.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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