Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: E.M.B.A. (A.C. Tuxbury)
- Type: Schooner-barge (converted to self-unloader)
- Year Built: 1890
- Builder: Frank W. Wheeler & George F. Williams
- Dimensions: Length 181 ft (55.2 m); Beam 35 ft (10.7 m); Depth of hold 13.1 ft (4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 679.51 gross
- Depth at Wreck Site: 52 m / 170 ft
- Location: 5 miles east of Milwaukee's North Point
- Coordinates: N 43° 03.91′ / W 087° 44.95′
- Official Number: 106706
- Original Owners: Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company
- Number of Masts: 2 (originally 3)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The E.M.B.A. is classified as a schooner-barge, originally designed for heavy-lift tow barge duties on the Great Lakes. It was converted to a self-unloading coal barge.
Description
The A.C. Tuxbury was launched on March 18, 1890, at the shipyard of Frank W. Wheeler in West Bay City. Designed for heavy-lift tow barge duties on the Great Lakes, she was paired with the steamer W.H. Sawyer and operated in tandem with her sister barge C.E. Redfern. The vessel was purpose-built to haul coal, grain, and lumber between key ports such as Milwaukee, Chicago, and Buffalo.
In 1923, she was purchased by the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company and renamed E.M.B.A. in honor of the Employees’ Mutual Benefit Association. She was converted to a self-unloading coal barge and operated on the Milwaukee River, assisting in coal lightering tasks.
History
- 1890–1923: Bulk cargo trade towed by W.H. Sawyer
- 1923–1932: Coal lightering in Milwaukee River
- 1933: Official retirement, scuttling replaces barge operations with motorized trucks
Significant Incidents
- Stripped of usable gear before scuttling.
- Towed offshore for scuttling.
- Scuttled to eliminate costly river operations.
- Ended 4,700 annual bridge openings previously required for coal deliveries.
Final Disposition
The E.M.B.A. was deliberately scuttled in October 1933, 5 miles off Milwaukee’s North Point in Lake Michigan. This action was taken after the vessel was stripped of usable gear and towed offshore, marking the end of an era for Milwaukee’s river coal trade.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The E.M.B.A. wreck rests upright at 170 feet (52 m) and remains mostly intact, though broken at the forecastle area where the bow struck the bottom. Key features include a collapsed forecastle deck, a dislodged steam-powered windlass, an intact self-unloading apparatus, and a visible vertical steam pump. No anchors are present, likely salvaged prior to sinking. The wreck lies near the wreck of the St. Albans, making the area notable for wreck divers. Visibility can be fair to good, with deep technical dive requirements.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”e-m-b-a-a-c-tuxbury-us-106706″ title=”References & Links”]
The E.M.B.A. represents a remarkable evolution of Great Lakes cargo operations—from three-masted sail to coal barge self-unloader. Her scuttling in 1933 marked the end of an era for Milwaukee’s river coal trade and the rise of mechanized logistics. As a dive site, her largely intact hull and remaining mechanical features offer an exceptional case study for marine archaeologists and advanced divers. She is a rare and preserved example of schooner-barge design and industrial conversion.
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.
Official Number: 106706
NRHP Status: Listed
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Original Name: A.C. Tuxbury
- Final Name: E.M.B.A. (Employees’ Mutual Benefit Association)
- Built: 1890, West Bay City, Michigan
- Builder: Frank W. Wheeler & George F. Williams
- Final Location: 5 miles east of Milwaukee’s North Point
- Coordinates: N 43° 03.91′ / W 087° 44.95′
- Depth: 170 ft (52 m)
- Vessel Type: Schooner-barge (converted to self-unloader)
- Material: Wood
- Length: 181 ft (55.2 m)
- Beam: 35 ft (10.7 m)
- Depth of Hold: 13.1 ft (4 m)
- Tonnage: 679.51 gross
- Propulsion: Sail, towed barge; self-unloading conversion
- Masts: 2 (originally 3)
Description
The A.C. Tuxbury was launched on March 18, 1890, at the shipyard of Frank W. Wheeler in West Bay City. Designed for heavy-lift tow barge duties on the Great Lakes, she was paired with the steamer W.H. Sawyer and operated in tandem with her sister barge C.E. Redfern. The vessel was purpose-built to haul coal, grain, and lumber between key ports such as Milwaukee, Chicago, and Buffalo.
In 1923, she was purchased by the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company and renamed E.M.B.A. in honor of the Employees’ Mutual Benefit Association. She was converted to a self-unloading coal barge and operated on the Milwaukee River, assisting in coal lightering tasks.
Final Disposition
- Date: October 1933
- How: Deliberately scuttled
- Where: Lake Michigan, 5 miles off Milwaukee’s North Point
- Circumstances:
- Stripped of usable gear
- Towed offshore
- Scuttled to eliminate costly river operations
- Ended 4,700 annual bridge openings previously required for coal deliveries
Wreck Description & Diving Conditions
The E.M.B.A. wreck rests upright at 170 feet (52 m). It remains mostly intact, broken at the forecastle area where the bow struck the bottom. Key features:
- Collapsed forecastle deck
- Dislodged steam-powered windlass (lies in port side)
- Intact self-unloading apparatus
- Vertical steam pump still visible
- No anchors present—likely salvaged prior to sinking
It lies near the wreck of the St. Albans, making the area notable for wreck divers. Visibility can be fair to good, with deep technical dive requirements.
History
- 1890–1923: Bulk cargo trade towed by W.H. Sawyer
- 1923–1932: Coal lightering in Milwaukee River
- 1933: Official retirement, scuttling replaces barge operations with motorized trucks
Resources & Links
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks – E.M.B.A.
- NOAA Shipwreck Database – EMBA
- National Register of Historic Places – EMBA Entry
- Wisconsin Historical Society Maritime Records
- Milwaukee Journal Archives, October 30, 1933
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Research Foundation
- Maritime Archaeological Survey Team (MAST) – Milwaukee Area Wrecks
Conclusion
The E.M.B.A. represents a remarkable evolution of Great Lakes cargo operations—from three-masted sail to coal barge self-unloader. Her scuttling in 1933 marked the end of an era for Milwaukee’s river coal trade and the rise of mechanized logistics. As a dive site, her largely intact hull and remaining mechanical features offer an exceptional case study for marine archaeologists and advanced divers. She is a rare and preserved example of schooner-barge design and industrial conversion.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
Region: Lake Michigan, Milwaukee
Vessel Type: Schooner-Barge, Self-Unloader
Rig Type: Sail (Converted)
Material: Wood
Cause of Loss: Scuttled
Dive Difficulty: Technical (Deep)
Hazards: Depth, Cold Water
Period: Industrial Era (1890–1933)
Preservation Status: National Register Listed