Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Commerce US 4363

Explore the remains of the Commerce, a wooden schooner that faced multiple disasters before its final loss in 1909. A significant piece of Great Lakes maritime history.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Commerce
  • Type: Schooner (ex-brigantine)
  • Year Built: 1857
  • Builder: David Dibble, Sandusky, Ohio
  • Dimensions: Length: 141.50 ft (43.12 m); Beam: 31.80 ft (9.69 m); Depth of hold: 10.80 ft (3.29 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 327.43 GRT
  • Location: Sheboygan, Wisconsin
  • Coordinates: 43° 45.633′ N / 87° 41.356′ W
  • Official Number: 4363
  • Original Owners: L.H. Pratt, Winslow & Smith, Whibeck & Co., A.G. VanSchaick, Captain Edward Mullem, Eph Nelson, George Flood
  • Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Type: Wooden two-masted schooner, formerly brigantine

Intended Service: Bulk cargo carrier for lumber, hardwood slabs, shingles, and wood products

Notable Construction Features:

  • Shallow draft for harbor and river access
  • Strengthened for heavy timber cargoes
  • Converted from brigantine to schooner rig for simpler, smaller-crew operation typical of the post-1870 lumber trade

Description

The Commerce was a wooden two-masted schooner, originally built as a brigantine. It was designed for transporting bulk cargo, particularly lumber and wood products, across the Great Lakes. The vessel underwent a significant rig change around 1870-1871, transitioning from a brigantine to a schooner to adapt to the evolving demands of the lumber trade.

History

The Commerce had a varied ownership history, with notable owners including L.H. Pratt, Winslow & Smith, and Captain Edward Mullem. Throughout its operational life, the vessel primarily transported lumber and hardwood slabs, frequently traveling between ports in Lake Michigan, Buffalo, and Chicago. The ship faced several significant incidents, including a hull cave-in in 1887 and being declared a total loss multiple times before its final sinking.

Significant Incidents

  • Nov 6, 1887 – Racine Reef, Lake Michigan: Hull caved in on reef, towed into Racine piers, sank in harbor; refloated and repaired.
  • 1895 – Seul Choix Point, Northern Lake Michigan: Wrecked and declared total loss; recovered May 1896 and returned to service.
  • Oct 21, 1905 – Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie: Sank near Cedar Point, declared total loss, later raised and repaired again.

Final Disposition

The Commerce was lost on November 16, 1909, while carrying hardwood slabs for the Milwaukee-Western Fuel Company. The vessel became waterlogged in heavy seas while under tow by the steamer Sanilac, capsized before a tug could secure a tow, and subsequently broke up. No lives were lost, but the wooden hull was destroyed and scattered, with no known recovery of intact structure.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck site is located approximately eight miles off Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The wreckage is reported to be broken and dispersed, with portions likely buried or removed during salvage operations. There is no confirmed diveable structure, and the archaeological potential is low unless sediment shifting reveals timbers.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”commerce-us-4363″ title=”References & Links”]

The schooner Commerce is a remarkable survivor of repeated 19th-century maritime disasters, declared a total loss at least three times before her final sinking in 1909. She illustrates the longevity of wooden Lake Michigan schooners and the economic imperative to salvage and rebuild well past their prime. Her final loss marked the end of an era for lumber-carrying schooner-barges on the Great Lakes, just as steel-hulled freighters and powered barges began to dominate.

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

  • Original Name(s): Commerce
  • U.S. Official Registry Number: 4363
  • Home Port: Chicago, Illinois
  • Year Built: 1857
  • Builder: David Dibble, Sandusky, Ohio
  • Dimensions:
    • Length: 141.50 ft (43.12 m)
    • Beam: 31.80 ft (9.69 m)
    • Depth of Hold: 10.80 ft (3.29 m)
    • Gross Tonnage: 327.43 GRT
  • Construction Material: Wood (oak hull, typical of mid‑19th century Great Lakes freighters)
  • Rig Type: Initially two‑masted brigantine, rerigged to two‑masted schooner c. 1870–1871
  • Propulsion: Sail only
  • Number of Masts: 2
  • Final Wreck Coordinates:
    • Latitude: 43° 45.633′ N
    • Longitude: 87° 41.356′ W
    • Nearest City: Sheboygan, Wisconsin
    • Body of Water: Lake Michigan
  • Approximate Depth at Loss: Shallow, near‑surface breakup; wreckage dispersed and partially salvaged

Vessel Type & Description

  • Type: Wooden two‑masted schooner, formerly brigantine
  • Intended Service: Bulk cargo carrier for lumber, hardwood slabs, shingles, and wood products
  • Notable Construction Features:
    • Shallow draft for harbor and river access
    • Strengthened for heavy timber cargoes
    • Converted from brigantine to schooner rig for simpler, smaller‑crew operation typical of the post‑1870 lumber trade

Ownership & Service History

  • Known Owners (chronological, partial):
    • L.H. Pratt, Buffalo, NY
    • Winslow & Smith, Buffalo, NY
    • Whibeck & Co., Chicago, IL
    • A.G. VanSchaick, Chicago, IL
    • Captain Edward Mullem, Chicago, IL
    • Eph Nelson, Chicago, IL
    • George Flood, Chicago, IL
  • Operational Record:
    • Primarily lumber and hardwood slab transport for firms such as Milwaukee‑Western Fuel Co.
    • Frequent routes between Lake Michigan ports, Buffalo, and Chicago
    • Typical late‑19th century “lumber schooner/bulk barge” service pattern
  • Major Incidents Before Final Loss:
    • Nov 6, 1887 – Racine Reef, Lake Michigan
      • Hull caved in on reef, towed into Racine piers, sank in harbor; refloated and repaired.
    • 1895 – Seul Choix Point, Northern Lake Michigan
      • Wrecked and declared total loss; recovered May 1896 and returned to service.
    • Oct 21, 1905 – Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie
      • Sank near Cedar Point, declared total loss, later raised and repaired again.
  • Last Enrollment Surrendered:
    • Chicago, 29 Dec 1909: “Vessel Lost”

Final Voyage & Loss

  • Date of Loss: November 16, 1909
  • Cargo: Hardwood slabs for Milwaukee‑Western Fuel Company
  • Voyage: Lumber‑laden, bound for Chicago under tow of steamer Sanilac
  • Incident:
    • Eight miles off Sheboygan, Commerce became waterlogged in heavy seas
    • Sanilac went to Sheboygan to summon help
    • Tug Reiss reached the barge, but Commerce capsized before tow could be secured
    • Crew and captain rescued, no fatalities
    • Vessel broke up, cargo lost, some salvage attempted
  • Disposition:
    • Wooden hull destroyed and scattered
    • No known recovery of intact structure
    • 0 lives lost

Located By & Site Condition

  • Modern Wreck Coordinates: 43° 45.633′ N / 87° 41.356′ W
  • County: Sheboygan, WI
  • Condition:
    • Wreckage broken and dispersed; portions likely buried or removed during salvage
    • No confirmed diveable structure; low archaeological potential unless sediment shifting reveals timbers

Notmars & Advisories

  • None noted; vessel loss occurred offshore but in shallow water

Resources & Archival Links

Shore Dive Information

  • Dive Status: Not diveable; dispersed wreckage and shallow hazard area
  • Nearest Harbor Access: Sheboygan Marina
  • Emergency Services: Sheboygan Police/Fire (911 US)
  • Permits: Not required; no confirmed submerged cultural site remains

Conclusion

The schooner Commerce is a remarkable survivor of repeated 19th‑century maritime disasters, declared a total loss at least three times before her final sinking in 1909.
She illustrates the longevity of wooden Lake Michigan schooners and the economic imperative to salvage and rebuild well past their prime.
Her final loss marked the end of an era for lumber‑carrying schooner‑barges on the Great Lakes, just as steel‑hulled freighters and powered barges dominated.

Keywords & Categories

  • Region: Lake Michigan, Sheboygan County
  • Vessel Type: Two‑mast schooner (ex‑brigantine)
  • Cargo: Hardwood slabs, lumber
  • Cause of Loss: Waterlogging and capsize
  • Material: Wood
  • Period: 1857–1909
  • Dive Difficulty: None; wreckage scattered
commerce-us-4363 1909-11-16 14:45:00