Ron J
Active member
The Article mentions the trees are the only thing you see at high tide. Its only visible at low tide. Hundreds of boaters pass it daily in the Summer, figuring there are probably records some where,recording the hulk. There isn't exactly... Since June, Graham and Victor of states Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources, have been taking various measurements of the remains.They are hoping to make a computerized 3D image of the vessel. They mention, the local's say the vessel was donated to the Groveland Sea Scouts in the Thirty's, or the Haverhill Sea Scouts,the next town over. Rumor has it,the vessel broke free from its mooring in Haverhill, during a flood in 1936. I wondered about that, because there is one issue, the Groveland Bridge! More about that later....
During there survey, they discovered the vessel has copper spikes instead of wooden spikes. Another indication of a government vessel,because of cost,even back then! The ship is constructed as a Schooner rig, which the LV 1's specs confirm.
During the following week,after reading this article, i kind of lost track, seeing how it was still Summer...Boating, Biking, Working..etc. One thing though, during the following weeks,i had visited the Coast Guard Heritage Museum, to eyeball my Fathers items on display.(i wrote of this awhile back) While there,i did mention to the curator on duty, about the article. He mentioned that Graham had visited a couple of weeks ago,himself, looking for info. I don't know if he got any. Like i said, it went on the back burner for me, until Thursday or Friday.
I looked in my files for the News Article,and reread it.I went to the Coast Guard Web site, and looked up the LV 1. Built in 1855 at Kittery Maine, for $30.000! Sailing schooner,white & live oak,copper & iron fastened,two masts, 103' length, 24 ft beam,275 gross tons. Propulsion: of course..Sails. rebuilt in 1860, Stationed between Nantucket,till 1892, South Carolina 1896,North Carolina till 1911,back to S.C. till 1922, then Savannah GA till 1930! Official Records state No.1 was assigned the identity "NANTUCKET". or "NANTUCKET LIGHT VESSEL". Over her duty, she broke her stations multiple times,drifting away.
At age 75, she was withdrawn from service.The records say she was towed to Haverhill Massachusetts, for Sea Scout use, later taken over by the Groveton Sea Scouts. They misspelled Groveland! Then states, moved to vicinity of Groveland (Again misspelled) bridge, over Merrimac River,carried downstream during the 1936 flood,going aground on the north bank, opposite the Henderson Farm.Stripped,and abandoned,hull still there as of 1986! Kind of proves it?
Here she is,stationed in North Carolina, marked "FRYING-PAN SHOALS".[attachment 80538 ScannedImage-53.jpg] Here she is as NANTUCKET.. [attachment 80535 ScannedImage-49.jpg]
Friday evening, i started plans to drive to Groveland to eyeball this vessel for myself,IF i could find it! Sat. Morning, off i went. Camera's with FRESH batteries,Binoculars,and boots. I know the area some,but with new development hogging every inch of water front property they can build on, its getting difficult to access the waters.
First i drove directly over the bridge to Haverhill, along the banks,to a large mariner filled with winterized toys. I scanned the river banks with binoculars,but to no avail. I drove the other way, walked a path for a few feet, again nothing. I drove to the Groveland side,again driving down dead end streets,named Ferry Way, Old Mill Road etc. with hope.
I saw one gentleman, shoveling snow, stopped and asked if he knew of the vessel,showed him the article too. He was surprised himself. I now drove towards the West Newbury line,next town over. Figured i would drive behind the high school i knew was close to the river.
As i drove near the school,right next to the parking lot,was FARM LANE. Hmmmm? I drove down, the sign saying dead end, of course it would be,ending at the river, i hoped. At the end was a circle, with an original to the area,1800's farmhouse. On the left was an old house,but this last century,1900's+. In the circle was an elderly gentleman, early to mid eighties if i were to guess, playing ball with his German Shepard.
I crept forward towards the old gent, didn't want to hit the dog,ya know! I rolled the window down with hope. I asked if he knew of the vessel,and before i could show him the article, he replied "Sure do! Used to play on her when i was a kid!" Hotdamn!! Jackpot! He then pointed across the river to the Haverhill side,and said "She's right about there!" Unfortunately near newer houses,hugging the bank. I asked where the Henderson Farm was, and he pointed a little south of the house's. I asked what he knew, and he told me about the Sea Scouts owning her, "and in 1936, during major flooding,and ICE, she was forced down river from Haverhill.
I asked "What about the Bridge?" He replied,"back then,there was a swing span bridge,and they watched as the vessel was being swept downriver by the ice cakes.The officials were starting to worry,and were making some hasty plans to blow it up with dynamite! " I replied "DYNAMITE? How would this happen?" He again stated "as it got closer, they decided to open the swing span, figuring the current was strongest between the span, maybe they could guide it, with luck. As she got closer with the ice pack, she slid through like a helmsman was at the wheel! She ended up on the bank,where she still lays,but there's not much left of her." I really couldn't believe my luck, stopping to ask this gentleman! I still can't believe it! I thanked him for the information!
From there i drove back to the Haverhill side, but was unable to find the remains, partially contributing to the tide rising too high by now. I plan on returning with a rowboat with outboard in the warmer weather. I don't dare chance it now, too cold,too dangerous,the current looked brutal! Ironically i took this photo last September of a rainbow,from the Groveland Bridge,i posted it back then, unknowing that LV 1, lies just about at the point sticking out on the left! [attachment 80539 AlanAmbrose60036.jpg] [attachment 80540 AlanAmbrose60047.jpg] This ends my adventure of today...till the weather turns anyway! Rj
During there survey, they discovered the vessel has copper spikes instead of wooden spikes. Another indication of a government vessel,because of cost,even back then! The ship is constructed as a Schooner rig, which the LV 1's specs confirm.
During the following week,after reading this article, i kind of lost track, seeing how it was still Summer...Boating, Biking, Working..etc. One thing though, during the following weeks,i had visited the Coast Guard Heritage Museum, to eyeball my Fathers items on display.(i wrote of this awhile back) While there,i did mention to the curator on duty, about the article. He mentioned that Graham had visited a couple of weeks ago,himself, looking for info. I don't know if he got any. Like i said, it went on the back burner for me, until Thursday or Friday.
I looked in my files for the News Article,and reread it.I went to the Coast Guard Web site, and looked up the LV 1. Built in 1855 at Kittery Maine, for $30.000! Sailing schooner,white & live oak,copper & iron fastened,two masts, 103' length, 24 ft beam,275 gross tons. Propulsion: of course..Sails. rebuilt in 1860, Stationed between Nantucket,till 1892, South Carolina 1896,North Carolina till 1911,back to S.C. till 1922, then Savannah GA till 1930! Official Records state No.1 was assigned the identity "NANTUCKET". or "NANTUCKET LIGHT VESSEL". Over her duty, she broke her stations multiple times,drifting away.
At age 75, she was withdrawn from service.The records say she was towed to Haverhill Massachusetts, for Sea Scout use, later taken over by the Groveton Sea Scouts. They misspelled Groveland! Then states, moved to vicinity of Groveland (Again misspelled) bridge, over Merrimac River,carried downstream during the 1936 flood,going aground on the north bank, opposite the Henderson Farm.Stripped,and abandoned,hull still there as of 1986! Kind of proves it?
Here she is,stationed in North Carolina, marked "FRYING-PAN SHOALS".[attachment 80538 ScannedImage-53.jpg] Here she is as NANTUCKET.. [attachment 80535 ScannedImage-49.jpg]
Friday evening, i started plans to drive to Groveland to eyeball this vessel for myself,IF i could find it! Sat. Morning, off i went. Camera's with FRESH batteries,Binoculars,and boots. I know the area some,but with new development hogging every inch of water front property they can build on, its getting difficult to access the waters.
First i drove directly over the bridge to Haverhill, along the banks,to a large mariner filled with winterized toys. I scanned the river banks with binoculars,but to no avail. I drove the other way, walked a path for a few feet, again nothing. I drove to the Groveland side,again driving down dead end streets,named Ferry Way, Old Mill Road etc. with hope.
I saw one gentleman, shoveling snow, stopped and asked if he knew of the vessel,showed him the article too. He was surprised himself. I now drove towards the West Newbury line,next town over. Figured i would drive behind the high school i knew was close to the river.
As i drove near the school,right next to the parking lot,was FARM LANE. Hmmmm? I drove down, the sign saying dead end, of course it would be,ending at the river, i hoped. At the end was a circle, with an original to the area,1800's farmhouse. On the left was an old house,but this last century,1900's+. In the circle was an elderly gentleman, early to mid eighties if i were to guess, playing ball with his German Shepard.
I crept forward towards the old gent, didn't want to hit the dog,ya know! I rolled the window down with hope. I asked if he knew of the vessel,and before i could show him the article, he replied "Sure do! Used to play on her when i was a kid!" Hotdamn!! Jackpot! He then pointed across the river to the Haverhill side,and said "She's right about there!" Unfortunately near newer houses,hugging the bank. I asked where the Henderson Farm was, and he pointed a little south of the house's. I asked what he knew, and he told me about the Sea Scouts owning her, "and in 1936, during major flooding,and ICE, she was forced down river from Haverhill.
I asked "What about the Bridge?" He replied,"back then,there was a swing span bridge,and they watched as the vessel was being swept downriver by the ice cakes.The officials were starting to worry,and were making some hasty plans to blow it up with dynamite! " I replied "DYNAMITE? How would this happen?" He again stated "as it got closer, they decided to open the swing span, figuring the current was strongest between the span, maybe they could guide it, with luck. As she got closer with the ice pack, she slid through like a helmsman was at the wheel! She ended up on the bank,where she still lays,but there's not much left of her." I really couldn't believe my luck, stopping to ask this gentleman! I still can't believe it! I thanked him for the information!
From there i drove back to the Haverhill side, but was unable to find the remains, partially contributing to the tide rising too high by now. I plan on returning with a rowboat with outboard in the warmer weather. I don't dare chance it now, too cold,too dangerous,the current looked brutal! Ironically i took this photo last September of a rainbow,from the Groveland Bridge,i posted it back then, unknowing that LV 1, lies just about at the point sticking out on the left! [attachment 80539 AlanAmbrose60036.jpg] [attachment 80540 AlanAmbrose60047.jpg] This ends my adventure of today...till the weather turns anyway! Rj
