Identification & Construction
- Built: 1870 at Grand Haven, Michigan by Duncan Robertson
- Type: Wooden, two-masted Schooner – later converted to a Lighter (no propulsion), renamed Lighter #3
- Tonnage: 165.83 GRT / 157.54 NRT
- Dimensions: 114 ft length × 25 ft beam × 6 ft depth
Service History
- 1870 (Apr 22): Enrolled at Grand Haven under original ownership by William Louttit et al.
- 1872 (Nov 28): Stranded near Holland, MI; refloated
- 1898 (May 8): Struck Lander’s Point near Gladstone, WI
- 1900: Re-enrolled at Chicago with updated measurements (~116.7′ × 24.9′ × 7.2′)
- 1903: Retired and placed in the Chicago River fleet
Final Disposition
- 1905 (Sep 23): Renamed Lighter #3; scuttled in Lake Michigan after being towed out of the Chicago River as part of harbor cleanup operations (silent-helm.com)
Wreck Location & Condition
- Location: Likely just outside the mouth of the Chicago River in Lake Michigan, where vessels were routinely dumped during dredging efforts
- Condition: While the wreck has not been conclusively surveyed, similar scuttled lighters from that era often remain largely intact in shallow water and are sometimes visible on low tides or in sonar imagery
Research Gaps & Opportunities
| Research Area | Suggested Actions |
|---|---|
| Archival Research | Check Chicago Harbour Commission / Army Corps dredging logs for exact scuttling coordinates and salvage plans |
| River & Portage Records | Determine rationale behind renaming and disposal via municipal reports from 1905 |
| Side-Scan Survey | Conduct sonar over the river mouth to identify remnants of Lighter #3 among other scuttled hulks |
| Site Dive or ROV | Inspect for Hull structure and cargo still within the Hull (common for lighters) |
Summary
The Robert Howlett, built in 1870 and later converted into Lighter #3, served the Grand Haven and Chicago waterfronts before being scuttled in Lake Michigan on September 23, 1905. Though its precise location hasn’t been confirmed, using dredging records and underwater survey techniques could rediscover its remains—likely intact as a typical early‑20th-century Lighter.