Identification & Site Information

• Name: ARDENT
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: 563
• Type at Loss: Schooner, wood-hulled, 2-mast
• Date Built and Launched: 1861
• Builder: A.C. Stokes, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
• Measurements: 79 ft (24 m) length, 18 ft (5.5 m) beam, 7 ft (2.1 m) depth; 57 gross tons
• Date Lost: October 12, 1880
• Place of Loss: Hedgehog Harbour, Green Bay, Lake Michigan

Vessel Type

Wooden Two-Masted Schooner

Description

The ARDENT was a small, wooden, two-masted schooner built in 1861 by A.C. Stokes in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Designed for the transportation of bulk goods, she primarily carried commodities such as wood and Bark, essential materials for industries around the Great Lakes during the mid-to-late 19th century. With a modest size of 79 feet in length and 57 gross tons, the ARDENT was typical of the schooners that connected smaller ports and communities around Lake Michigan.

History

The ARDENT operated for nearly two decades, serving ports throughout Lake Michigan and Green Bay. At the time of her loss, the vessel was registered out of White Lake, Michigan, reflecting her role in the thriving timber trade of the region. Schooners like the ARDENT were vital to the economic infrastructure of the Great Lakes, facilitating the movement of raw materials to industrial centers and ports.

On October 12, 1880, while carrying a load of wood and Bark, the ARDENT encountered a storm while anchored in Hedgehog Harbour, Green Bay. The storm’s intensity caused her Anchor Chain to break, leaving the Schooner adrift and vulnerable to the elements. The vessel was subsequently driven ashore by the powerful winds and waves.

After the storm subsided, the ARDENT was deemed beyond salvage. She was stripped of valuable materials and officially Abandoned. While no loss of life was reported, the Schooner was listed as a Total Loss in several contemporary sources. Her last known registry was recorded in December 1879, marking the end of her documented service.

Final Disposition

Broke Anchor Chain and was driven ashore during a storm at Hedgehog Harbour, Green Bay, on October 12, 1880. The vessel was stripped and Abandoned and declared a Total Loss.

Located By & Date Found

Nil—no confirmed reports of the ARDENT wreck being located.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil—no current navigational advisories related to the ARDENT wreck site in Hedgehog Harbour, Green Bay.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• Wisconsin Marine Historical Society
• David Swayze Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The ARDENT’s fate reflects the constant risks faced by schooners operating on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Despite her relatively small size, the vessel played an important role in the timber trade that fueled the economic development of the region. The storm that led to her loss in Hedgehog Harbour illustrates how vulnerable even well-built ships were to the unpredictable weather of Lake Michigan. Though no lives were lost, the abandonment of the ARDENT marked the end of nearly 20 years of service, a testament to both the durability and limitations of wooden schooners in the face of nature’s power.

Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

• Keywords: ARDENT Schooner shipwreck, Hedgehog Harbour shipwreck, Lake Michigan Schooner loss, A.C. Stokes shipbuilder Sheboygan, White Lake Michigan schooners, Green Bay maritime history
• Categories: Lake Michigan Shipwrecks, Wooden Schooners, Storm-Related Shipwrecks, 19th Century Maritime Losses, Wisconsin Shipbuilding History
• Glossary Terms:
• Broke Anchor Chain: A term indicating that a vessel’s Anchor Chain failed, leaving the ship vulnerable to drifting due to wind and waves.
• Hedgehog Harbour A harbour located in Green Bay, Lake Michigan, known for its historical significance in shipping and maritime activity.
• Stripped and Abandoned: A process where a vessel, deemed unsalvageable, is cleared of any valuable materials and left in place or intentionally sunk.