Berlin City (1856)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Berlin City
• Type: Sidewheel Steamer
• Year Built: 1856
• Builder: Phelps, Ruddock & Co., Berlin, Wisconsin
• Dimensions: Length: 100 ft (30.48 m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: 74 tons (Old Measurement System)
• Location: Oshkosh, Wisconsin
• Original Owners: Morse & Paige

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Berlin City was a wooden sidewheel steamer, a vessel powered by paddle wheels located on either side of its hull. Designed for operation on the interconnected waterways of the Great Lakes and inland rivers, the steamer was well-suited to transporting passengers and freight. Sidewheel steamers of this type were commonly constructed from wood and featured two decks for handling cargo and passengers, with steam propulsion offering a relatively fast and reliable means of travel during the 19th century.

Description

The Berlin City was launched in 1856 by Phelps, Ruddock & Co. and began operations from Mackinac, serving the transportation needs of the bustling Great Lakes region. By the late 1850s, it transitioned to routes on the Fox River and Lake Winnebago, providing critical connectivity for towns and industries in Wisconsin.

History

Notable Incidents:

• July 2, 1857 – Tragic Steamboat Race Incident: The Berlin City was involved in a competitive race with the steamer Pearl on Lake Winnebago. The Pearl’s boiler exploded during the race, resulting in the tragic deaths of four individuals. While the Berlin City was not directly damaged in the event, the incident underscores the dangers of the era’s competitive and often unsafe steamboat practices.
• July 8, 1861 – Stranding Incident: The Berlin City stranded on the Fox River in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Details of the event are limited, but it likely required repairs and interrupted the vessel’s operations.
• November 24, 1870 – Final Disaster: The Berlin City was destroyed by fire in Oshkosh while docked on the Fox River. The cause of the fire remains unknown, but it resulted in the complete loss of the vessel. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported in this incident, though it marked the end of the Berlin City’s service.

Significant Incidents

Final Disposition: The Berlin City was completely destroyed by fire in Oshkosh on November 24, 1870. The wooden vessel, likely fueled by its construction materials and steam-related components, was consumed entirely, leaving no recoverable remnants. There are no records of reconstruction or salvage following the incident.

Final Disposition

The Berlin City wreck does not pose a navigational hazard and is not the subject of any active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs). The remains were not preserved, and no documented wreck site exists.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck was destroyed in the fire of 1870 and was not preserved or formally located afterward.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”berlin-city-1856″ title=”References & Links”]

The Berlin City highlights the dynamic but perilous nature of 19th-century steamship operations in the Great Lakes and inland waterways. Its operations on the Fox River and Lake Winnebago illustrate the importance of maritime routes in Wisconsin’s development during the 19th century.