Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Energy (Lorena)
- Type: Wooden screw tug/towboat
- Year Built: 1882
- Builder: John Martel
- Dimensions: 62.3 ft (19 m); Beam 17.6 ft; Depth of hold 8 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 37.71 GRT / 17.36 NRT
- Location: Near Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Official Number: US 140588
- Original Owners: J.J. Hickman, U.S. Corps of Engineers, Joseph Wolter, Lorena Tow Boat Co.
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type
Wooden screw tug/towboat, designed for towing and pushing vessels in rivers and harbors.
Description
Description
The Energy, originally named Lorena, was a wooden tugboat built in 1882. It featured a single high-pressure steam engine and was equipped with a firebox boiler. The vessel was known for its durability and long service life.
History
History
The Energy had a varied service history, including collisions in 1883 and a sale to the U.S. Corps of Engineers in 1885. It underwent several modifications and rebuilds, reflecting advancements in steam propulsion technology. The vessel was ultimately scuttled in 1928 after a long career.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- 1883: Damaged in collision with steambarge Mary Groh and again in Chicago River.
- 1885: Sold to U.S. Corps of Engineers; worked in Chicago harbor.
- 1893: Rebuilt in Sheboygan, WI.
- 1917: Installed new firebox boiler in Manitowoc.
- 1920: Laid up under Lorena Tow Boat Co.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
The Energy was dismantled in 1928, with its hull scuttled in Lake Michigan. It was fully insured at the time, with an estimated value of $75,000–$80,000.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is likely resting in relatively shallow waters near Milwaukee. The wooden hull may still be partially intact, as scuttled tugs often remain structurally robust beneath sediment.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”energy-lorena-us-140588″ title=”References & Links”]
Summary
The Lorena, later Energy, was a well-crafted, long-serving wooden tug built in 1882. After decades of commercial and government work, it was scuttled in 1928 for insurance and disposal reasons. Valued highly at the time, its hull could still offer valuable engineering insights if discovered and documented in Lake Michigan.
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.
Construction & Specifications
- Built: Launched 24 Oct 1882 at Saugatuck, MI, by John Martel; original owner J.J. Hickman
- Type: Wooden screw tug/towboat
- Engine: Single high-pressure steam cylinder (18″ × 18″) by Vulcan Iron Works, Chicago
- Boiler: 5.5′ × 11′ firebox boiler; 6′ Buffalo wheel
- Dimensions: 62.3′ length × 17.6′ beam × 8′ depth
- Tonnage: 37.71 GRT / 17.36 NRT
Service History & Modifications
- 1883: Damaged in collision with steambarge Mary Groh (May) and again in Chicago River (Oct) by David Macy
- 1885: Sold to U.S. Corps of Engineers; worked in Chicago harbor
- 1889: Active under Corps operations
- 1893: Rebuilt in Sheboygan, WI (dimensions confirmed)
- 1900: Sold and renamed Energy (new owner Joseph Wolter, Sheboygan)
- 1917: Installed new 6′ × 11′ firebox boiler (145 psi) in Manitowoc
- 1920: Under Lorena Tow Boat Co., Milwaukee; laid up in 1925
Final Disposition
- 1928: Dismantled; hull scuttled in Lake Michigan
- Value at scuttle: Estimated between $75,000–$80,000, fully insured, per period newspaper reports (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Wreck Site & Condition
- Likely resting in relatively shallow waters near Milwaukee where hull was disposed of
- Wooden hull may still be partially intact, as scuttled tugs often remain structurally robust beneath sediment
Historical Significance
- A durable tug with a 45-year career: servicing industrial and government vessels, rebuilt multiple times, and showing evolution in steam propulsion
- Reflects midwestern river/harbor towboat trends and engineering adaptations over five decades
- Late-life scuttling demonstrates early 20th-century practices of intentional vessel disposal
Research & Survey Opportunities
| Focus Area | Actions |
|---|---|
| Archival Records | Review Milwaukee Harbor Commission for scuttling documentation and precise location data |
| Insurance Archives | Investigate claim details for the estimated $75k–$80k hull value |
| Site Survey | Side-scan sonar or magnetometer use to locate the wreck in Lake Michigan |
| Hull Assessment | Deploy dive or remote photography to evaluate structural condition |
| Corps of Engineers Logs | Examine reports on Energy post-1885 under federal agency |
Summary
The Lorena, later Energy, was a well-crafted, long-serving wooden tug built in 1882. After decades of commercial and government work, it was scuttled in 1928 for insurance and disposal reasons. Valued highly at the time, its hull could still offer valuable engineering insights if discovered and documented in Lake Michigan.
energy-lorena-us-140588 1928-07-18 17:32:00