Built 1883; lost August 8, 1906, Wooden propeller passenger & package freight vessel on Lake Erie
Vessel Overview & Build Details
- Built: 1883 by C. King in Marine City, Michigan
- Official Number: 150304
- Type: Wooden propeller Steamer configured for passenger and package freight service (formerly built as Pickup, renamed Lucile in 1886)
- Dimensions / Tonnage: ~80 × 19 × 7 ft; ~137 gross / 107 net tons
Final Voyage & Loss — August 8 (or 18), 1906
- Loss Date: August 8, 1906 (alternative date August 18 also appears in some records)
- Location: About 1 mile east of Turtle Island Light, off Toledo, Ohio—Lake Erie
- Cause of Loss: Hull failure—Lucile sprang a leak in good weather and rapidly Foundered. The vessel was judged a Total Loss.
- Crew: Five persons aboard—all survived; no lives lost. They safely Abandoned ship in lifeboats.
- Cargo: None reported aboard at the time.
- Owner: Captain Fred Brower of Ashland, Wisconsin
Summary Table
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Lucile (formerly Pickup) |
| Built | 1883, Marine City, MI (C. King) |
| Official Number | 150304 |
| Specs | ~80 × 19 × 7 ft; 137 gt / 107 nt |
| Loss Date | August 8, 1906 (also cited as Aug 18 in some logs) |
| Location of Loss | ~1 mile east of Turtle Island Light, Toledo, OH, Lake Erie |
| Cause of Loss | Hull failure/leak in fair conditions; Foundered |
| Crew & Casualties | 5 aboard; all survived |
| Cargo | None reported onboard |
| Owner | Capt. Fred Brower, Ashland, Wisconsin |
Historical Notes & Significance
- Lucile was Rebuilt in 1905 at Marquette following a previous fire at Ashland in August 1904, when she was burned to the waterline and completely refitted. This may have contributed to her structural instability by 1906.
- Her loss illustrates how even modest freighters could fail catastrophically—not due to weather, but Hull integrity—during calm passages on Lake Erie.
Recommended Research Opportunities
- Local newspaper archives (Toledo papers, August 1906) for passenger or crew interviews and possible commentary from Capt. Brower or Underwriters.
- Insurance or underwriters’ claims records, documenting valuation, Hull appraisal, and cause-of-loss statements for Official No. 150304.
- Rescue or harbor logs—possibly noting lifeboat operations and recovery planning near Turtle Island Light.
- Shipyard records from Marquette, which may include details of the 1905 Rebuild, materials used, and post-fire timbers or reconfiguration—potentially relevant to her structural integrity.
Conclusion
Lucile, a wooden propeller vessel built in 1883 and Rebuilt in 1905, Foundered of Hull failure on August 8, 1906, near Turtle Island Light off Toledo, Lake Erie. Despite calm conditions, she sprang a leak and sank quickly, but all five aboard survived in lifeboats. The incident highlights risks of aging hulls and the cumulative effects of fire rebuilds in early 20th-century Great Lakes shipping. Let me know if you’d like assistance retrieving archival insurance documentation, vessel registry details, or local newspaper coverage to enrich this profile further.