Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Floretta US 9688

Explore the uncharted wreck of the Floretta, a canal schooner that sank in 1885, carrying iron ore in Lake Michigan. A promising site for technical divers.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Floretta
  • Type: Wooden canal schooner
  • Year Built: 1868
  • Builder: John Stupinsky
  • Dimensions: 134 ft × 26 ft × 11 ft (40.8 × 7.9 × 3.4 m); ~260 GRT
  • Registered Tonnage: 9688
  • Location: Approximately 6 miles (10 km) southeast of Manitowoc, Wisconsin
  • Official Number: 9688

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Floretta was a wooden canal schooner, specifically rigged for towing along canal networks, exemplifying sturdy designs later adapted for open-lake trade routes.

Description

The Floretta was built in 1868 in Detroit, Michigan, by John Stupinsky. She measured 134 feet in length, 26 feet in beam, and had a depth of 11 feet. The vessel was registered at approximately 260 gross registered tons.

History

In June 1885, the Floretta was chartered to haul iron ore from Escanaba to Chicago. On 18 September 1885, while en route, she encountered heavy seas that compromised her hull, leading to rapid flooding. The crew abandoned ship shortly before she sank beneath the waves.

Significant Incidents

  • Date Lost: 18 September 1885
  • Cause: Sprang a leak during heavy seas; sank rapidly after being abandoned by the crew.
  • Loss of Life: None reported.

Final Disposition

The Floretta sank intact in deep water southeast of Manitowoc. The site has not yet been conclusively surveyed, but her remains are believed to lie in Lake Michigan’s depths, likely resting in 30–60 m (100–200 ft) of water.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck presents a promising target for technical surveys, given its known approximate location and condition reports. However, there has been no modern rediscovery or confirmation dives.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”floretta-us-9688″ title=”References & Links”]

The Floretta (1868–1885) represents a compelling opportunity for further research or deep technical diving, as her remains rest uncharted yet potentially well-preserved in sanctuary waters.

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

Cargo & Final Voyage

History & Description

  • The Floretta exemplified sturdy canal-style schooners later used in open-lake trade routes.
  • In June 1885, she hauled ore from Escanaba under charter before her final ill-fated voyage (wisconsinshipwrecks.org).
  • On 18 September, heavy waves compromised her hull, causing rapid flooding; the crew abandoned ship shortly before she sank beneath the waves.

Final Disposition & Wreck Status

  • The ship sank intact in deep water southeast of Manitowoc.
  • The site has not yet been conclusively surveyed, but her remains lie in Lake Michigan’s depths.
  • As a result, Floretta is considered a lost and uncharted wreck, likely resting in 30–60 m (100–200 ft) of water.

Located By & Date Found

  • Nil return for any modern rediscovery or confirmation dives.
  • The wreck presents a promising target for technical surveys, given its known approximate location and condition reports.

Notations & Advisories

Next Steps & Archival Opportunities

To deepen this historical record and support potential future exploration:

  1. Newspaper Archives:
    • Explore Manitowoc Herald and Milwaukee Sentinel (Sept 1885) for accounts of the sinking and crew rescue.
  2. Sanctuary Records:
    • Consult Wisconsin’s Sanctuary field reports and NOAA archives for imagery, sonar data, or hull documentation.
  3. Insurance & Tow Logs:
    • Access policy files via maritime insurer records and towing company charters in June–September 1885.
  4. Deep-Water Expedition Planning:
    • Review sonar or ROV survey data from the National Marine Sanctuary targeting 100–200 ft depth wrecks, including Floretta.

Summary

Floretta (1868–1885) was a 134‑ft canal schooner carrying iron ore when she foundered on 18 September 1885 off Manitowoc in a severe storm. The crew escaped unharmed, but the vessel sank to the lake bottom. Her remains rest uncharted yet potentially well-preserved in sanctuary waters, representing a compelling opportunity for further research or deep technical diving.

floretta-us-9688 1885-09-18 14:50:00