Identification & Site Information

• Name: ASHTABULA
• Other Names: None reported
• Official Number: 367
• Year Built: 1852
• Builder: George Thayer, Ashtabula, Ohio
• Homeport: Not documented
• Vessel Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
• Hull Materials: Wood
• Number of Decks: 1
• Power: Sail-powered
• Measurements: Length: 90 ft (27.4 m) Beam: 21 ft (6.4 m) Depth: 8 ft (2.4 m)
• Tonnage: 95 tons
• Primary Function: Cargo transport

Vessel Type

The ASHTABULA was a mid-sized, two-masted schooner, built for cargo transport on the Great Lakes. It primarily carried oil, salt, and miscellaneous package freight, operating between ports like Chicago, Escanaba, and Milwaukee. Schooners of this type were essential to early Great Lakes commerce, moving bulk goods between the Midwest’s industrial centers and the smaller lakefront communities. Despite being over 30 years old at the time of its sinking, the ASHTABULA had undergone several major repairs to keep it in service.

History

The ASHTABULA had a long service life of over three decades, surviving several major incidents before being lost in a storm in 1883.

Key Events in the Vessel’s History:

• 1852: Built in Ashtabula, Ohio, by George Thayer.
• 1862: Underwent major repairs, extending its operational life.
• November 20, 1871: Collision resulted in one life lost.
• 1871, 1872, 1878: Underwent additional major repairs, suggesting extensive use and wear.
• November 11, 1883: Capsized and sank in a storm off Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Final Disposition

The ASHTABULA was lost on November 11, 1883, after capsizing in a gale off North Point, Milwaukee, Lake Michigan.

The Disaster

• The Schooner was bound from Chicago to Escanaba, carrying oil, salt, and package freight.
• While attempting to seek shelter in Milwaukee, it capsized in heavy waves.
• The crew of four was rescued by the Tug STARKE BROS.
• The ship sank completely, becoming a Total Loss.

This loss was one of many storm-related shipwrecks on Lake Michigan, which is known for sudden and intense gales, especially in November.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return. There are no confirmed reports of the ASHTABULA‘s wreck being discovered or surveyed near Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Due to its wooden construction and the nature of the sinking, its remains may be scattered or buried beneath the lakebed.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil return. No modern navigational hazards related to this wreck are reported near North Point, Milwaukee, Lake Michigan.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The ASHTABULA was a well-used Schooner, operating for more than 30 years before finally succumbing to a storm in 1883.

Its multiple repairs and long service life suggest it was a valuable cargo vessel, despite being involved in an earlier fatal collision in 1871.

Its loss near Milwaukee was yet another example of the dangers of late-season storms on Lake Michigan, which claimed dozens of vessels in similar circumstances.