CONSTITUTION U4568

The bark CONSTITUTION was built in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1861 by Benjamin B. Jones. It had a wooden hull and featured three masts. The vessel measured 148 feet in length, 32 feet in beam, and 13 feet in depth, with a tonnage of 562 (old style). Its capacity allowed for the transportation of 26,000 bushels of cargo.

Upon its launch on March 21, 1861, the CONSTITUTION was enrolled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. However, in September 1862, it was involved in a collision with the schooner W.B. ODGEN on Lake Huron. Later that same year, on October 28, the CONSTITUTION ran aground at Conneaut, Ohio, while carrying a load of wheat.

In November 1869, the vessel experienced sail damage in Lake Huron. It underwent repairs at Fitzgerald & Leighton’s yard in Port Huron, including the addition of a new deck, bowspirit, and jib-boom in 1870. Ownership of the CONSTITUTION changed hands, with Porter & Merrill of Milwaukee, Wisconsin assuming ownership in 1871.

Throughout its history, the CONSTITUTION encountered various incidents. In September 1873, it ran aground at Peche Island in the Detroit River while carrying grain. By 1876, the vessel was owned by Peter Wex and others from Buffalo, New York. On October 26, 1876, the CONSTITUTION went ashore at Whitefish Point but was subsequently towed to Manitowoc for repairs by the tug LEVIATHAN. Hibbard & Vance assumed ownership at that time.

Ownership changed hands again in 1879, with F. Hurlbut of Green Bay, Wisconsin becoming the new owner. The vessel underwent significant modifications on March 4, 1881, at Cleveland, where it received a new stern. After this alteration, the CONSTITUTION measured 145 feet in length, 32 feet in beam, and 12 feet in depth, with a gross tonnage of 422 and a net tonnage of 401.54.

In August 1889, the CONSTITUTION ran aground after a tow line broke but was eventually released. However, in September of the same year, another mishap occurred when the steamer J.H. SHRIGLEY and the tow CONSTITUTION ran ashore on Middle Island. They were freed after jettisoning their coal cargo.

Ownership changed hands once again in April 1890, with A.N. Pinet taking over. In April 1891, the vessel came under the ownership of Fred Krause in the Port Huron District. The CONSTITUTION was towed by the MAGGIE DUNCAN, along with the vessel FAVORITE, in 1898.

Unfortunately, on September 21, 1906, the CONSTITUTION sank at the dock in Kelly’s Island. It was overloaded with limestone at the time and had come under the ownership of Runnels & Sinclair from Port Huron.