Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Cherubusco (1848)

Explore the well-preserved wreck of the Cherubusco, a 19th-century lumber schooner, located in shallow waters of North Bay, Wisconsin.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Cherubusco
  • Type: Three-masted wooden schooner (barque-rigged by 1854)
  • Year Built: 1848
  • Builder: T. Hubbell, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Dimensions: Length 114 ft (34.7 m); Beam 27 ft (8.2 m); Depth of hold 9 ft (2.7 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: ~255 tons old measurement; later 204 GT by 1865
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 3 m / 10 ft
  • Location: North Bay (Cherry Bay area), Door County, Wisconsin
  • Official Number: US4329
  • Original Owners: Anson Eldred of Milwaukee
  • Number of Masts: Three

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

A mid-19th-century Great Lakes lumber schooner, evolving into barque rigging and later scow conversions—built robust for hauling heavy timber.

Description

Single-deck wooden hull with three masts, rigged as schooner and later barque. Likely featured centerboards and flat-bottomed design suited for heavy cargo and shallow waters.

History

  • 1849: Registered in Chicago District as schooner.
  • 1853: Sold to Anson Eldred of Milwaukee for US $1,400–4,400.
  • 1854: Officially classified as barque.
  • 1858: Lost foremast in Lake Michigan storm.
  • 1865: Re-measured to 204 gross tons.
  • 1866: Converted to scow barge under Eldred & Farr.
  • 1868: Registered in Chicago as US4329.
  • Oct–Nov 1872: Stranded in Cherry/North Bay while transporting lumber.
  • 10 Nov 1872: Beached waterlogged, crew rescued; later broke apart and abandoned.

Significant Incidents

  • Stranded and wrecked while lumber-laden on 10 November 1872.

Final Disposition

Beached in North Bay; broke up from wave action. Owners formally abandoned the vessel by early 1873.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Wreck lies in ~3 m (10 ft) of water—visible and known to divers and preservationists. It occupies a shallow, photogenic site suitable for snorkel exploration.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”cherubusco-1848″ title=”References & Links”]

The Cherubusco is a well-preserved shallow-water wreck reflecting the transitional era of 19th-century lumber schooners. Stranded and abandoned with her timber cargo, her remains now sit in North Bay—the lower hull and framing clearly visible, ideal for educational snorkel dives. As a documented and protected site, she offers valuable insight into maritime lumber trade and vessel detailing, with easy access making her one of Door County’s more approachable heritage wrecks.

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.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Cherubusco
  • Year built: 1848
  • Builder: T. Hubbell, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Type: Three-masted wooden schooner (barque-rigged by 1854)
  • Tonnage: ~255 tons old measurement; later 204 GT by 1865
  • Dimensions: 34.7 m (114 ft) length × 8.2 m (27 ft) beam × 2.7 m (9 ft) depth
  • Final loss location: North Bay (Cherry Bay area), Door County, Wisconsin, Lake Michigan
  • Final depth: ~3 m (10 ft)
  • Loss date: 10 November 1872
  • Cause: Stranded and wrecked while lumber-laden

Vessel Type

A mid-19th-century Great Lakes lumber schooner, evolving into barque rigging and later scow conversions—built robust for hauling heavy timber.

Description

Single-deck wooden hull with three masts, rigged as schooner and later barque. Likely featured centerboards and flat-bottomed design suited for heavy cargo and shallow waters.

History

  • 1849: Registered in Chicago District as schooner.
  • 1853: Sold to Anson Eldred of Milwaukee for US $1,400‒4,400.
  • 1854: Officially classified as barque.
  • 1858: Lost foremast in Lake Michigan storm.
  • 1865: Re-measured to 204 gross tons.
  • 1866: Converted to scow barge under Eldred & Farr.
  • 1868: Registered in Chicago as US4329.
  • Oct–Nov 1872: Stranded in Cherry/North Bay while transporting lumber.
  • 10 Nov 1872: Beached waterlogged, crew rescued; later broke apart and abandoned (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, NOAA Institutional Repository, AccuWeather, Facebook, wisconsinshipwrecks.org).

Final Disposition

Beached in North Bay; broke up from wave action. Owners formally abandoned the vessel by early 1873.

Located By & Date Found

Wreck lies in ~3 m (10 ft) of water—visible and known to divers and preservationists. It occupies a shallow, photogenic site suitable for snorkel exploration (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, WLUK).

Notmars & Advisories

No official modern navigation warnings, yet the wreck is shallow and may present a minor hazard in poor visibility or small‑craft anchoring zones.

Shore Dive Information

  • Access: North Bay near Liberty Grove, WI—accessible by boat; kayak launch nearby.
  • Depth: 3 m (10 ft); excellent for snorkelling and shallow diving.
  • Conditions: Often clear Lake Michigan water; mild currents with sandy bottom.
  • Points of Interest: Visible ribs, deck support structures, and cargo remnants.
  • Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate; watch for swimmers/boaters.
  • Hazards: Abrasion from barnacle-encrusted wood; shallow boating traffic.
  • Best Time to Dive: June–September for warmer water and best visibility.
  • Local Services: Recommend contacting Fish Creek or Liberty Grove dive shops for gear and guidance.
  • Safety: Keep clear of private docks; carry safety flag; no permit required but treat wreck with respect.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Cherubusco is a well-preserved shallow-water wreck reflecting the transitional era of 19th-century lumber schooners. Stranded and abandoned with her timber cargo, her remains now sit in North Bay—the lower hull and framing clearly visible, ideal for educational snorkel dives. As a documented and protected site, she offers valuable insight into maritime lumber trade and vessel detailing, with easy access making her one of Door County’s more approachable heritage wrecks.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

  • Wooden barque‑rigged schooner / scow
  • Door County shipwreck
  • Lumber trade vessel
  • North Bay snorkeling dive
  • 19th-century Great Lakes cargo ship
  • Shallow‑water wreck

Would you like assistance obtaining precise GPS coordinates, dive charter contacts, or historical newspaper references from November 1872 in Door County?

cherubusco-1848 1872-11-10 23:27:00