Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Emily A. Roelofson
- Type: Three-masted bark (sail vessel)
- Year Built: 1854
- Builder: George S. Weeks, Buffalo, NY
- Dimensions: Length 138 ft (42.06 m); Beam 26 ft; Depth of hold 11.5 ft
- Registered Tonnage: ≈ 385 gt, carrying up to 800,000 board feet of lumber
- Location: Reef in Green Bay, about 6 miles from Eagle Harbor
- Coordinates: Latitude: N 43° 01.474' Longitude: W 087° 52.247'
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Emily A. Roelofson was a three-masted bark, a type of sailing vessel commonly used in the timber trade during the mid-19th century.
Description
Constructed in 1854, the Emily A. Roelofson was a wooden vessel designed to transport large quantities of lumber. With a gross tonnage of approximately 385 gt, it could carry up to 800,000 board feet of lumber, making it significant in the timber commerce of the Great Lakes.
History
The vessel was primarily employed in the Lake Michigan timber trade, frequently transporting large lumber loads. On its final voyage in September 1855, it was laden with approximately 800,000 board feet of lumber from Oconto, en route to Chicago.
Significant Incidents
- Date of Wreck: September 1855
- Location: Reef in Green Bay, about 6 miles from Eagle Harbor
- Cause of Loss: Driven onto reef by stormy weather; presumed unmanageable under sail
- Crew Safety: Rescue efforts succeeded with no loss of life reported
Final Disposition
After the wreck, the vessel and her lumber were stripped on-site. She remained aground until September 1862, when Caleb Harrison raised her and towed her to Bailey’s Harbor. In 1863, she was taken to the Milwaukee River for rebuilding, but reports suggest she was never repaired and was subsequently abandoned in the river near the Oneida Street Bridge.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The hull of the Emily A. Roelofson was never fully restored. Remnants may still exist in the Milwaukee River, but the wreck is not documented as a diving or archaeological site. No formal surveys appear to have been conducted.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”emily-a-roelofson-1854″ title=”References & Links”]
The Emily A. Roelofson serves as a historical reminder of the timber trade in the Great Lakes and the early practices of salvage and recovery in maritime operations.
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.
Identification & Vessel Details
- Vessel Name: Emily A. Roelofson
- Launch Year: 1854
- Built At: Buffalo, NY by George S. Weeks
- Vessel Type: Three‑masted bark (sail vessel)
- Hull: Wooden
- Tonnage & Dimensions: Length 138 ft × Beam 26 ft × Hold Depth 11.5 ft; gross tonnage ≈ 385 gt, carrying up to 800,000 board feet of lumber (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, baillod.com)
Operational Use & Final Voyage
- Employed in the Lake Michigan timber trade; frequently transported large lumber loads
- Final Voyage (September 1855): Laden with approximately 800,000 bd‑ft of lumber from Oconto en route to Chicago (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- raised moved to Milwaukee River
- Latitude: N 43° 01.474′ Longitude: W 087° 52.247′
Wreck Details & Loss
- Date of Wreck: September 1855
- Location: Reef in Green Bay, about 6 miles from Eagle Harbor (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Cause of Loss: Driven onto reef by stormy weather; presumed unmanageable under sail
- Crew Safety: Rescue efforts succeeded with no loss of life reported
Post‑Wreck Fate & Condition
- The vessel and her lumber were stripped on‑site.
- She remained aground until September 1862, when Caleb Harrison raised her and towed her to Bailey’s Harbor.
- In 1863, she was taken to Milwaukee River for rebuilding. Reports suggest she was never repaired and subsequently abandoned in the river near the Oneida Street Bridge (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Current Status
- The hull was never fully restored. Remnants may still exist in the Milwaukee River, but the wreck is not documented as a diving or archaeological site. No formal surveys appear to have been conducted.
Historical & Maritime Significance
- As one of the largest barkes lumber‑laden in mid‑1850s Great Lakes trade (≈800,000 bd‑ft), her stranding highlights major economic flows of timber commerce.
- Her salvage and refloating, albeit without full restoration, reflect early practices in Great Lakes shipborne cargo recovery and reuse efforts.
- Despite being non‑functional post‑wreck, her remains remained a navigational concern in Milwaukee River for years, reflecting the lingering presence of large wrecks in harbor passages.
Research & Documentation Sources
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks database detailing wreck and salvage timeline (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Summary of wrecked bark in Bay region listings
Key Data Summary
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Build Year | 1854 |
| Vessel Type | Wooden bark |
| Loss Date | September 1855 |
| Wreck Site | Reef, Green Bay (~6 miles from Eagle Harbor) |
| Cargo | ~800,000 bd‑ft lumber |
| Casualties | None recorded |
| Post‑Wreck | Salvaged 1862; never rebuilt; abandoned in Milwaukee River |
| Wreck Significance | Large scale timber cargo; early salvage practice |