Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Freddie
- Type: Gas-powered wooden fishing tug
- Year Built: 1901
- Builder: Burger & Burger
- Dimensions: 32.10 ft (9.78 m) X 9.40 ft (2.87 m); Depth of hold: 3.20 ft (0.98 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 8 gross tons
- Location: Inner harbor, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Lake Michigan
- Coordinates: Latitude: 43° 01.728′ N; Longitude: 87° 53.640′ W
- Official Number: 237558
- Original Owners: George A. Heitl, Captain Herman Krones
- Number of Masts: None (purpose-built tug/fishing vessel)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Freddie was a small, wooden gas-powered fishing tug, typical of early 20th-century Great Lakes commercial fisheries.
Description
The Freddie was built by Burger & Burger, a Manitowoc shipyard later known as Burger Boat Company. It was compact and shallow-draft, designed for harbor and near-shore fishing or towing service. The vessel was intended for individual or family operation, reflecting the shift from steam to internal combustion for small utility boats.
History
The Freddie entered service in 1901, likely operating in Milwaukee and Racine fishing grounds while performing small harbor towing tasks. Known owners include George A. Heitl, the original owner, and Captain Herman Krones, who was associated with its operation and probable fishing work out of Milwaukee. The vessel represents a transitional era of small Great Lakes working craft, bridging the gap between 19th-century steam tugs and mid-20th-century steel fishing vessels.
Significant Incidents
- Year of Loss: 1945
- Cause: Abandonment in Milwaukee Harbor; no sinking event recorded; the vessel was laid up, likely deteriorated, and declared abandoned.
- Casualties: 0 (no lives lost)
Final Disposition
The remains of the Freddie were likely removed by harbor or Corps of Engineers authorities, as per standard mid-20th century harbor clearing practice. The vessel was abandoned in Milwaukee Harbor in 1945.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is listed at a depth of 0 ft, consistent with harbor abandonment rather than deepwater loss. The status is probable removal of wreckage, with no confirmed remains visible today. Harbor abandonment sites of this era are poor archaeological candidates due to maintenance and dredging.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”freddie-us-237558″ title=”References & Links”]
The Freddie serves as an example of early gas-screw fishing tugs, reflecting the technological transition on the Great Lakes and representing Milwaukee’s commercial fishing heritage, which peaked in the early 20th century.
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.
Freddie (Gas Tug, 1901)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Vessel Name: Freddie
- Registry Number: 237558
- Type: Gas‑powered wooden fishing tug
- Dimensions:
- Length: 32.10 ft (9.78 m)
- Beam: 9.40 ft (2.87 m)
- Depth of Hold: 3.20 ft (0.98 m)
- Tonnage: 8 gross tons
- Propulsion: Gas screw (single propeller)
- Masts: None (purpose-built tug/fishing vessel)
- Hull Material: Wood
- Builder: Burger & Burger, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Year Built: 1901
- Home Port / Owner (original):
- George A. Heitl, West Allis, Wisconsin
- Captain: Herman Krones
Reported Wreck Coordinates:
- Latitude: 43° 01.728’ N
- Longitude: 87° 53.640’ W
- Approximate Location: Inner harbor, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Lake Michigan
Construction & Vessel Description
The Freddie was a small, wooden gas‑powered fishing tug, typical of early 20th‑century Great Lakes commercial fisheries.
- Built by Burger & Burger, a Manitowoc shipyard later famous as Burger Boat Company, which transitioned from small wooden craft to steel yachts and government vessels.
- Compact and shallow‑draft for harbor and near‑shore fishing or towing service.
- Intended for individual or family operation, with gas propulsion reflecting the period shift from steam to internal combustion for small utility boats.
Operational History
- Entered service in 1901, likely operating in Milwaukee and Racine fishing grounds and performing small harbor towing tasks.
- Known owners include:
- George A. Heitl (West Allis, WI) – documented as original owner
- Captain Herman Krones – associated with operation and probable fishing work out of Milwaukee
- Freddie represents a transitional era of small Great Lakes working craft, bridging the gap between 19th‑century steam tugs and mid‑20th‑century steel fishing vessels.
Final Voyage & Abandonment
- Year of Loss: 1945
- Cause:Abandonment in Milwaukee Harbor
- No sinking event recorded; the vessel was laid up, likely deteriorated, and declared abandoned.
- The remains were likely removed by harbor or Corps of Engineers authorities, as per standard mid‑20th century harbor clearing practice.
- Casualties: 0 (no lives lost)
Wreck Site & Archaeological Assessment
- Depth: Listed at 0 ft, consistent with harbor abandonment rather than deepwater loss
- Status: Probable removal of wreckage; no confirmed remains visible today
- Survey Notes:
- Harbor abandonment sites of this era are poor archaeological candidates due to harbor maintenance and dredging
- A side-scan or sonar survey of Milwaukee inner harbor could confirm presence of any buried timbers or pilings
Historical Significance
- Example of early gas‑screw fishing tug, reflecting technological transition on the Great Lakes
- Represents Milwaukee’s commercial fishing heritage, which peaked in the early 20th century
- Built by Burger & Burger, linking to the heritage of Burger Boat Company, a still‑operating Wisconsin shipyard
Primary Sources & Archival Links
- Wisconsin Historical Society Shipwreck Database – Tug Freddie
- Burger Boat Company Historical Timeline
- U.S. Registry of Motor and Gas Fishing Boats, 1901 – Entry #237558
- Milwaukee Harbor Maintenance & Abandonment Reports (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1940s)
- NOAA Great Lakes Wrecks Reference: Thunder Bay Shipwrecks – comparative record for small gas tugs
Summary Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Freddie |
| Type | Wooden gas fishing tug |
| Year Built | 1901 |
| Builder | Burger & Burger, Manitowoc, WI |
| Registry Number | 237558 |
| Dimensions | 32.10 × 9.40 × 3.20 ft |
| Gross Tonnage | 8 GT |
| Propulsion | Gas screw |
| Fate | Abandoned in Milwaukee Harbor, 1945 |
| Lives Lost | 0 |
| Current Status | Likely removed / no remains |