LOTUS (schooner)
Also known as: MISS GLOUCESTER (schooner)
Why it's listed
Lotus is a 47-foot wooden auxiliary schooner based at Sodus Point on Lake Ontario. Designed in 1916 by naval architect William H. Hand, Jr., she was built in 1917-1918 at Rocky River, Ohio, as the private yacht Miss Gloucester for T.B. Van Dorn. Her hull echoes the Gloucester fishing schooners of the early twentieth century, while her cockpit, cabins, three-sail gaff rig and auxiliary engine made her practical for pleasure cruising. Construction used white oak framing, Philippine mahogany and yellow pine planking, and natural knees, and the original galley, cabinetry and layout survive. She is significant as a rare, largely unaltered example of a World War I-era auxiliary schooner and as a surviving work of Hand, who also designed the Bowdoin. Brought to Sodus Point after about five years on Lake Erie, she was renamed Lotus and has served since 1971 as a Sea Explorers sail training vessel, teaching traditional seamanship.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues Lotus is a rare and highly intact World War I-era auxiliary schooner and a surviving example of the work of master designer William H. Hand, Jr. Her design reflects early twentieth-century changes in recreational boating brought by compact internal combustion engines. She is one of few surviving Hand schooners.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 90000694, listed May 10, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Trestle Landing Marina, Co. Rt. 14 at Sentell Rd., Sodus Point |
|---|---|
| County | Wayne County |
| Listed | May 10, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000694 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1916-1918 |
| Architect / builder | Hand, William H. Jr.; N.A.; Zickes, Ted, builder |
| Architectural style | Auxiliary schooner, carvel plank-on-frame |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Maritime History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In active use as a youth sail training vessel, largely unaltered, with original interior cabinetry intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.26647, -76.99116 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 90000694.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7387286
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.