Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: ASHTABULA
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1852
- Builder: George Thayer, Ashtabula, Ohio
- Dimensions: Length: 90 ft (27.4 m); Beam: 21 ft (6.4 m); Depth of hold: 8 ft (2.4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 95 tons
- Location: North Point, Milwaukee, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 367
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
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.
Description
The ASHTABULA had a long service life of over three decades, surviving several major incidents before being lost in a storm in 1883.
History
The ASHTABULA was built in Ashtabula, Ohio, by George Thayer in 1852. It underwent major repairs in 1862, extending its operational life. The vessel was involved in a collision on November 20, 1871, which resulted in one life lost. Additional major repairs were conducted in 1871, 1872, and 1878, indicating extensive use and wear. Ultimately, on November 11, 1883, the ASHTABULA capsized and sank in a storm off Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Significant Incidents
- 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.
Current Condition & Accessibility
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.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”ashtabula-us-367″ title=”References & Links”]
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.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
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.
ashtabula-us-367 1883-11-11 07:56:00