Could a mystery shipwreck that washed up on the Michigan shoreline be fabled L.C. Woodruff, which has haunted Lake Michigan since it disappeared during a storm in the 1870s?

  • The shipwreck uncovered in a Michigan channel near White River Light Station
  • Photos were posted on social media, which attracted residents and researchers
  • The L.C. Woodruff was built in 1866 and disappeared during a bad storm in 1878
  • Some people claimed to have seen the remains of the vessel in 1942 and 1974 too

A mystery shipwreck that washed up on the Michigan shoreline this week made some residents believe it may be the remnants of the L.C. Woodruff, which disappeared during a storm in 1878.

Photos and videos of the shipwreck emerged on social media, showing a wooden hull covered in ice.

Many observers gathered at the White Lake channel near the White River Light Station to see the shipwreck.

Residents and researchers are going out to see the shipwreck after photos and videos were posted on social media

Residents and researchers are going out to see the shipwreck after photos and videos were posted on social media

The photos show a wooden hull partially covered in ice which emerged near the White River Light Station, Michigan

The photos show a wooden hull partially covered in ice which emerged near the White River Light Station, Michigan

Courtesy of FOX 17 

Some residents think it could be the remnants of the L.C. Woodruff, a sailing vessel built in 1866 which was registered at 548 tons and fell apart during a storm on October 31, 1878.

The wooden vessel was owned by the Murphy Company of Cleveland, Ohio. 

At the time, the nearest life-saving station was located more than forty miles south.

According to Lighthouse Digest, it was one of the worst weather conditions registered on the lake in many years.

However, it is still unclear to what century this wreckage dates.

Valerie van Heest, the Michigan Shipwreck Research Association president, told FOX17: 'We're piggy-backing on earlier accounts where people have perhaps jumped to conclusions and named it Woodruff.' 

'But really, until we do an archaeological investigation can we really start to narrow it down.'

Some people reported seeing a shipwreck believed to be the Woodruff in 1942 and also in 1974.

Some residents think the wreckage may be the remnants of fabled L.C. Woodruff, a vessel built in 1866 which disappeared during a storm in 1878 

Some residents think the wreckage may be the remnants of fabled L.C. Woodruff, a vessel built in 1866 which disappeared during a storm in 1878 

Michael Audia encouraged people who want to see the shipwreck to do so as soon as possible, since the wreckage could be covered again by sand without notice

Michael Audia encouraged people who want to see the shipwreck to do so as soon as possible, since the wreckage could be covered again by sand without notice

Van Heest said storms often move large bodies of sand before revealing new things.

'This may be gone with the next storm. It's a small window in time where we can look at these ships, the remains of these ships,' she said.

Michael Audia, who posted the pictures on Twitter, wrote: 'Lake Michigan moves sand daily and it could be covered again without notice. This is only the third recorded time it has been exposed since it went down.'

Footage posted by Fox News shows people gathering around the shipwreck to take photos

Footage posted by Fox News shows people gathering around the shipwreck to take photos