Emily A. Roelofson (1854)

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

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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.