G.P. Heath US 85216

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: G.P. Heath
• Type: Steambarge / Steam Screw
• Year Built: 1872
• Builder: Aurelius McMillan and George Madison
• Dimensions: Length 94.30 ft (28.73 m); Beam 21.80 ft (6.64 m); Depth of hold 8.10 ft (2.47 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 135 GRT
• Location: Lake Michigan, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin
• Coordinates: Latitude 43°54.531′ N, Longitude 87°43.489′ W
• Official Number: 85216
• Original Owners: Initial: G.P. Heath; Sold to: Ralph C. Brittain; Purchased by: Capt. Parks (Aug 1881)

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Type & Construction

• Type: Steambarge / Steam Screw
• Hull Material: Wood
• Length: 94.30 ft (28.73 m)
• Beam: 21.80 ft (6.64 m)
• Depth of Hold: 8.10 ft (2.47 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 135 GRT
• Propulsion: Single steam screw, 0 masts
• Cargo Capacity: 30 tons (primarily hay and mixed freight at time of loss)

Description

Description

The G.P. Heath was a small wooden steam-barge designed for canal and nearshore freight service, built specifically to pass through the Illinois Canal for Chicago connections. She transported:

• Southbound cargoes: Lumber from western Michigan
• Northbound cargoes: Hides from Chicago stockyards for tanning in Saugatuck; occasionally hay, grain, and general merchandise

She also ran seasonal fruit trips, transporting strawberries and other produce to Chicago markets, a common practice among smaller Great Lakes steamers in the 1870s–1880s.

History

Service History

• 1872: Launched; Aurelius McMillan died before completion; finished by George Madison.
• 1874: Valued at $6,000; rated B1.
• Winter 1878: First major rebuild.
• Spring 1879: Went aground; refloated and enlarged for more carrying capacity.
• Winter 1879–1880: Received a thorough rebuild and new engine.
• 1884: Completed 70 trips, averaging 114,000 board feet of lumber per trip.
• April 1886: Grounded south of Milwaukee; freed with lifesaving crew assistance after shifting cargo.

Significant Incidents

Final Voyage & Loss

• Date: April 1887
• Cargo: 23–30 tons of hay plus assorted merchandise bound from Chicago to Kewaunee
• Incident:
  • ~5 mi off Sheboygan, sparks from the smokestack ignited hay on the forward deck
  • Gale-force winds rapidly spread the fire
  • Attempted beaching north of Centerville Point (~11 mi north of Sheboygan)
  • Vessel burned to the water’s edge
• Casualties: 1 of 6 crew drowned attempting to swim to shore
• Survivors: 5 (two escaped via yawl, two rescued from shore, one swam successfully)
• Losses:
  • Vessel: $6,000 (uninsured)
  • Freight: $600 (uninsured)
  • Machinery recovered later that month

Final Disposition

Located By & Current Status

• Status: Total constructive loss; burned hull remains likely scattered and buried in shallow lakebed sediment
• Machinery: Salvaged in 1887
• Current Dive Potential: Negligible; no visible remains documented in modern sonar or diver surveys

Current Condition & Accessibility

Notices & Advisories

• No known contemporary U.S. Lighthouse Board or Notice to Mariners entries after the wreck, as the vessel was destroyed near shore and removed as a navigation hazard.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”g-p-heath-us-85216″ title=”References & Links”]

Historical Significance

The G.P. Heath is historically notable as a regional canal steamer, representative of the small-scale mixed-cargo traffic supporting Chicago’s industrial growth in the late 19th century. Her repeated rebuilds, seasonal fruit trade, and final fiery loss illustrate the risks of wooden steam-barges in a pre-spark-arrestor era.

Today, the site offers little to no diving opportunity, but the wreck’s history contributes to Great Lakes maritime heritage studies, particularly for Saugatuck-built steamers and early Wisconsin canal freighters.