Identification & Site Information:

• Name: ACTIVE
• Other Names: None
• Type at Loss: Schooner, Wood
• Year Built: 1845
• Builder: Unknown shipyard, Green Bay, Wisconsin
• Home Port: Manitowoc, Wisconsin
• Specifications: Length: 49 ft (14.9 m) Beam: 14 ft (4.3 m) Depth: 4 ft (1.2 m)
• Tonnage: 25 tons

Vessel Type Description:

The ACTIVE was a small wooden Schooner, typical of vessels built during the mid-19th century to support the growing commerce around the Great Lakes. Designed to carry modest cargoes such as lumber, shingles, and other building materials, schooners like the ACTIVE were essential to the development of frontier towns along the lakefronts, connecting smaller ports like Manitowoc with larger cities such as Chicago.

History:

Launched in 1845 from Green Bay, Wisconsin, the ACTIVE quickly became part of the bustling maritime activity on Lake Michigan. With her small size and shallow Draft, she was perfectly suited to navigate the region’s coastal waters and rivers, often transporting building materials like shingles, essential for the growing towns along the lake.

By 1855, the ACTIVE was owned by Ealinger (or Esslinger) of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and captained by A. Rogers. The Schooner had already faced challenges that year, striking a bar and sinking off Manitowoc in June 1855. Despite being recovered and returned to service, the vessel met her final fate later that year.

On October 10, 1855, while en route from Manitowoc to Chicago with a cargo of shingles, the ACTIVE was caught in a sudden squall off Port Washington, Wisconsin. The fierce winds capsized the small Schooner, leaving her three-person crew clinging desperately to the upturned Hull. For nearly 24 hours, they battled the cold and waves until they were heroically rescued in a dangerous maneuver by the Schooner THORNTON on October 11.

Though the crew survived, the ACTIVE was not so fortunate. On October 13, 1855, the Propeller Steamer Sciota reported sighting the vessel floating bottom-up 15 miles off Milwaukee. After this sighting, the ACTIVE vanished from records, presumed to have sunk or drifted into deeper waters. There are no subsequent records of her recovery or discovery.

Final Disposition:

The ACTIVE was last seen floating upside down off the coast of Milwaukee on October 13, 1855. With no further sightings or reports, it is presumed that she either sank in deep water or eventually drifted ashore and broke apart. The Schooner and her cargo of shingles were valued at approximately $2,500, a significant loss for her owners at the time. Despite efforts to locate her, the wreck of the ACTIVE has never been officially discovered.

Located By & Date Found:

• Located By: No recorded discovery of the wreck.
• Date Found: Unknown.

Notices to Mariners & Advisories:

• NOTMARs: No current Notices to Mariners for this wreck.
• Advisories: Vessels navigating near Port Washington and Milwaukee should be mindful of potential underwater obstructions, though the ACTIVE’s precise location remains unknown.

Resources & Links:

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

Conclusion:

The story of the ACTIVE is emblematic of the risks faced by Great Lakes mariners in the mid-19th century. Her small size made her an agile vessel for regional trade, but also vulnerable to the sudden storms that frequently swept across Lake Michigan. Though her final resting place remains a mystery, the tale of her crew’s harrowing rescue stands as a testament to the resilience and bravery of sailors navigating the inland seas. Today, the ACTIVE serves as a reminder of the thousands of vessels that once plied the Great Lakes, many of which now rest quietly beneath the waves.

Keywords: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, ACTIVE Schooner, Port Washington Maritime History, Lake Michigan Shipwrecks, Manitowoc Shipping, 19th-Century Great Lakes Trade, Small Schooners of the Great Lakes, Wisconsin Maritime Heritage.