Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Henry Warrington
- Type: ship
- Year Built: 1868
- Builder: Unknown
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Unknown
- Location: Lake Huron (Exact position unspecified)
- Coordinates: Unknown
- Official Number: Unknown
- Original Owners: Hines Lumber Company
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Originally launched as a propeller tug or cargo vessel, the Henry Warrington served various roles throughout its operational history.
Description
The Henry Warrington was built in 1868 and underwent a significant rebuild after being wrecked in 1869. It was later acquired by the U.S. Lighthouse Service and renamed Warrington, serving lighthouses and buoys on Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Superior.
History
After its initial construction, the vessel was wrecked in a gale in November 1869 but was successfully refloated and rebuilt. It served under the U.S. Lighthouse Service until 1910, when it was sold to Hines Lumber Company and reverted to its original name, Henry Warrington, repurposed as a lumber hooker.
Significant Incidents
- August 21, 1911: The Henry Warrington ran aground on the Lake Huron shoals during a summer gale, leading to its destruction.
Final Disposition
The vessel was wrecked and abandoned, with its hull broken by waves. No formal salvage operations or archaeological surveys have been documented, suggesting the wreck remains untreated on the shoal.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of now, the wreck site has not been officially surveyed, and its condition remains unknown. The area may still pose navigational hazards.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”warrington-henry-warrington-1868″ title=”References & Links”]
The Henry Warrington’s service history reflects its resilience and adaptability, having served both government and private sectors before its final loss in 1911.
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 1868; rebuilt 1869; a total loss August 21, 1911)
Vessel Build & Ownership
- Original Name & Build: Launched as Henry Warrington in 1868 at Lake Huron, constructed to serve as a propeller tug or cargo vessel.
- Early Wreck & Rebuild: Wrecked in a November 1869 gale at Saginaw Bay near Au Sable River; successfully refloated and rebuilt (Wikipedia, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- Lighthouse Service Acquisition (1870): Purchased by the U.S. Lighthouse Service, renamed Warrington, and assigned to the 11th Lighthouse District. She serviced lighthouses and buoys on Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Superior (Wikipedia).
- Later Service: Remained a tender through 1910; sold to Hines Lumber Co. of Chicago and reverted to Henry Warrington, repurposed as a lumber hooker (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Final Wreck Event (August 21, 1911)
- Date & Ownership: By August 1911 she was in operation under Hines Lumber Company, again named Henry Warrington.
- Incident: During a summer gale on August 21, 1911, she ran aground on the Lake Huron shoals, driven into shallows and pounded to pieces (uslhs.org).
- Cargo: Likely carried lumber as per her repurposed role.
- Casualties: No loss of life is reported in surviving records.
Shipwreck Summary Table
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name(s) | Henry Warrington → Warrington → Henry Warrington |
| Built / Rebuilt | 1868, rebuilt after 1869 wreck |
| Final Loss Date | August 21, 1911 |
| Location | Lake Huron (Exact position unspecified) |
| Cause | Driven ashore during summer gale; hull destroyed |
| Casualties | None reported |
| Final Disposition | Wrecked and abandoned; hull broken by waves |
Contextual Notes
- Served ably for decades under both government (Lighthouse) and private (lumber) ownership, highlighting rugged service history.
- The 1869 rebuilding after an earlier wreck underscores her resiliency prior to final loss in 1911.
- No formal salvage operations or archaeological surveys appear in public records, suggesting wreck remains untreated on the shoal.
Further Research Opportunities
- August 1911 Newspaper Coverage
- Port Huron Times Herald or Detroit News likely covered the wreck; reports could list precise location, cargo value, crew rescue, salvage intentions.
- Lighthouse Service Logs
- Administrative records might include detailed service logs and decommissioning orders predating the sale.
- Hydrographic & Marine Charts
- Historic shoal charts may uncover where she grounded and if that area remains navigationally hazardous.
- Maritime Archaeology Investigation
- No official dive surveys noted; opportunity exists for underwater documentation or heritage assessment.
- Pull August 1911 newspaper articles for contemporaneous coverage and specifics,
- Access Lighthouse Service archives for operational history and sale details,
- Locate historic chart references to determine wreck site,
- Investigate if any archaeological survey has documented the remains?