The Wreck of the Schooner Sardinia (1856-1900)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Sardinia
• Former Names: None
• Registry Number: 22583
• Year Built: 1856
• Builder: William Pidgeon
• Place Built: Coldwater, Ontario (Southeastern Georgian Bay, Lake Huron)
• Vessel Type: Schooner (two-masted)
• Hull Material: Wood
• Number of Decks: 1
• Initial Owner: William M. Gorrie, Toronto (coal and wood merchant)
• Final Owners: Captain Max Pfile and Ernest Pfeil
• Home Port: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Vessel Type

The Sardinia was a two-masted wooden Schooner built in 1856 in Coldwater, Ontario. Originally Canadian-owned, the vessel was not registered officially due to its early construction date. Over time, it was sold to multiple U.S. owners and officially re-registered under U.S. registry. The ship was primarily used for lumber and general cargo transport between Ontario, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan.

Description & History

The Sardinia was built to transport lumber, shingles, and cordwood. At 105.2 feet (32.06 m) in length, with a beam of 24.7 feet (7.53 m) and a depth of 8.8 feet (2.68 m), it had a carrying capacity of 9,000 bushels and a Gross Tonnage of 230 tons.

Throughout its career, the Sardinia had a long history of accidents and mishaps:

• 1856: Ashore at Georgian Bay.
• 1864 (Fall): Wrecked at Oswego, New York, on Lake Ontario.
• 1865: Rebuilt by George Goble in Oswego, New York, and re-registered at 146.34 gross tons.
• 1866 (October): Owned by Goodnow & Hitchcock of Manitowoc, Wisconsin; transported lumber between Manitowoc and Chicago.
• 1869: Suffered damaged rigging in a storm on Lake Michigan.
• 1874 (April): Struck a pier in Chicago, damaging its rigging.
• 1874 (September): Collided with the Propeller Steamer Nebraska, was nearly cut in two and sunk, later raised and Rebuilt.
• 1876 (May): Stranded on a pier in Chicago.
• 1877 (May): Collided with another vessel near Racine, Wisconsin.
• 1883 (September): Struck a pier in Whitehall, Michigan.
• 1884 (June): Collided with the Tug Alpha near Chicago.
• 1900 (July 6): Final wreck at Hedgehog Harbour, Door County, Green Bay, Lake Michigan.

Final Disposition & Wreck

The Sardinia’s final voyage began on June 19, 1900, when it arrived from Milwaukee at Hedgehog Harbour to pick up a load of cordwood. The vessel dropped its mud anchors in deep water and tied up to Voight’s pier.

• June 29, 1900: A northwest wind intensified into a gale.
• June 30, 1900: The Plum Island Lifesavers attempted to refloat the vessel but failed.
• July 6, 1900: The storm broke the anchor chains, and the Sardinia was driven onto the rocky shore, staving two large holes in its bottom.
• September 1900: The ship was Abandoned, and its rigging was sold to pay off the crew of five.

For years, the wreck of the Sardinia remained partially intact and was used as a fishing platform and tourist attraction. Eventually, ice and storms broke it apart, and today, the wreckage is completely submerged.

Current Site & Dive Information

• Location: Hedgehog Harbor, Green Bay, Lake Michigan
• Nearest City: Gills Rock, Door County, Wisconsin
• Coordinates: 45°17.200’N, 87°01.433’W
• Depth: 10 feet (3 meters)
• Wreck Condition: Scattered wreckage, including the Centerboard and Centerboard trunk
• Bottom Type: Cobble and sand
• Visibility: Good, but can vary with weather conditions

Located By & Date Found

The remains of the Sardinia have been known and visible since the time of its wrecking in 1900. Over time, parts of the ship have disappeared beneath the surface, leaving only submerged remnants.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil returns.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Research
• NOAA Great Lakes Shipwrecks
• Wisconsin Shipwrecks Database
• 3DShipwrecks – Sardinia

Conclusion

The Sardinia was a hard-working Schooner with a long history of mishaps and collisions. Though originally Canadian, it spent most of its life under U.S. ownership, sailing between Chicago, Milwaukee, Manitowoc, and Toronto.

Its final wreck at Hedgehog Harbor is a testament to the dangers of early Great Lakes sailing. Today, divers and historians can still visit the remains of the once-busy Schooner, a silent relic of the Great Lakes’ maritime past.

3D Models of the Sardinia & Maria

Sardinia by 3DShipwrecks on Sketchfab

Sardinia(1855) And Maria(1866) by Zach Whitrock on Sketchfab

Conclusion

The Sardinia and Maria reflect the utilitarian design and operational scope of mid-19th-century wooden schooners on the Great Lakes. While the Sardinia had a broader operational history, transitioning from Canadian to U.S. registry, the Maria represents a more localized vessel designed for specific trade needs. Both are emblematic of the critical role schooners played in Great Lakes commerce during their era.

Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

• Keywords: Sardinia, Maria, Schooner, scow Schooner, Great Lakes shipping, Coldwater River, Port Huron, registry numbers

• Categories: Vessel Profiles, 19th Century Maritime History, Great Lakes Commerce

• Glossary Terms:

• Schooner: A sailing vessel with two or more masts, fore-and-aft rigged.

• Scow Schooner: A flat-bottomed vessel adapted for shallow waters and bulk cargo.

• Registry Number: Official identification number assigned to a vessel.