Belle Walbridge US 2234

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Belle Walbridge
• Type: Schooner
• Year Built: 1857
• Builder: G.W. Jones, Cleveland, Ohio
• Dimensions: Length: 138 ft (42.1 m); Beam: 26 ft (7.9 m); Depth: 10 ft (3.0 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 271 gross tons; 257 net tons
• Location: Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Lake Michigan
• Coordinates: Not publicly disclosed
• Official Number: 2234
• Original Owners: Not specified
• Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Belle Walbridge was a wooden-hulled schooner, a common vessel type on the Great Lakes during the 19th century, primarily used for transporting bulk cargoes such as lumber, coal, and other goods.

Description

Built in 1857 by G.W. Jones in Cleveland, Ohio, the Belle Walbridge measured 138 feet (42.1 meters) in length, with a beam of 26 feet (7.9 meters) and a depth of 10 feet (3.0 meters). She had a gross tonnage of 271 and a net tonnage of 257. The vessel underwent major repairs in 1867, 1874, and 1880, indicating a long service life on the Great Lakes.

History

On November 22, 1886, the Belle Walbridge was carrying a cargo of telegraph poles when she encountered a southeast gale while approaching Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The vessel collided with a pier at the harbor entrance and sank. The crew managed to escape to the government pier, and no casualties were reported. The wreck was found ashore and reported as a total loss on December 4, 1886. By December 10, the vessel had been stripped of her outfit and cargo and was reported broken up.

Significant Incidents

• November 22, 1886: Collided with a pier during a southeast gale and sank at the harbor entrance.
• No casualties reported among the crew.

Final Disposition

The Belle Walbridge was declared a total loss following the incident. The wreck was stripped and broken up shortly after the sinking.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There is no publicly available information indicating that the wreck of the Belle Walbridge has been located or surveyed.

Resources & Links

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Both the Belle Walbridge and the Belle Wilson met their ends due to severe weather conditions on the Great Lakes, a common hazard for vessels during the 19th century. The Belle Walbridge was lost after colliding with a pier during a gale in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, while the Belle Wilson foundered off Harrisville, Michigan, after springing a leak in a storm. In both cases, the crews survived, highlighting the resilience and quick action of mariners during that era.