Identification & Site Information

  • Vessel Name: L. B. Nichols
  • Official Number: 48195
  • Year Built: 1853
  • Build Site: Kenosha, Wisconsin
  • Vessel Type: Scow Schooner
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Number of Decks: 1
  • Final Disposition: Wrecked ashore
  • Date of Loss: 20 November 1868
  • Location of Loss: North of Sheboygan Harbor, Lake Michigan
  • Final Cargo: Lumber and cedar posts

Vessel Specifications

  • Builder: Jason Lathrop
  • Original Owner: Simmons & White
  • Construction Type: Scow Hull, flat-bottomed for coastal lumber transport
  • Number of Masts: 2
  • Hull Dimensions:
    • Length: 73 ft (22.3 m)
    • Beam: 21 ft (6.4 m)
    • Depth: 6 ft (1.8 m)
  • Tonnage: 80 old-style tons (1865: 64.28 gross tons)
  • Cargo Capacity: ~80,000 board feet of lumber

Operational History

  • 1854: First enrollment, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • 1856, April 12: Grounded at Milwaukee while carrying a cargo of cedar posts; later released
  • 1859, October 20: Suffered damage during a gale while at Milwaukee; extent not specified
  • 1860: Ownership transferred to Freeman & Co., Kenosha, Wisconsin
  • 1865: Tonnage recorded as 64.28 gross tons; used predominantly for lumber and log transport along western Lake Michigan
  • 1868, November 20: Final loss occurred when vessel went ashore during a gale north of Sheboygan; declared a Total Loss

Final Disposition

The L. B. Nichols was destroyed when driven ashore in heavy weather north of Sheboygan Harbor. The vessel was fully laden with lumber and cedar posts at the time. No human casualties were recorded. Due to its wooden construction and small tonnage, no part of the vessel is believed to have survived, and no known salvage operation is recorded.

Sources & Citations

Historical Significance

The L. B. Nichols represents a common class of Great Lakes workhorses: the scow Schooner. These vessels were critical to the lumber economy and shoreline trade along Lake Michigan during the mid-19th century. Their flat-bottomed design allowed access to undeveloped harbors and rivers. Although humble in design and frequently overlooked, ships like the Nichols were foundational to regional industry.

Keywords & Categories

  • Region: Lake Michigan (Sheboygan, WI)
  • Vessel Type: Scow Schooner
  • Material: Wood
  • Loss Cause: Stranding during storm
  • Cargo: Lumber and cedar posts
  • Era: 1853–1868
  • Diving Status: No known wreckage
  • Significance: Lumber transport, coastal scow Schooner design