Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: George Barber
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1857
- Builder: George Barber
- Dimensions: 92.5 ft × 24.1 ft × 7.95 ft; Gross tonnage ~ 98.71 gt
- Registered Tonnage: 98.71 gt
- Location: Racine River, then to Lake Michigan north of Racine near Racine College
- Official Number: US 10191
- Number of Masts: Two-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The George Barber was a two-masted wooden schooner, typical of mid-19th century vessels used primarily in the lumber and logging trades on the Great Lakes.
Description
Constructed in 1857 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the George Barber was designed for transporting lumber. It measured 92.5 feet in length, 24.1 feet in beam, and had a depth of 7.95 feet. The vessel had a gross tonnage of approximately 98.71 tons.
History
The George Barber was built as a typical mid-19th century Milwaukee schooner for lumber transport. It sank while in port at Racine, Wisconsin, during salvage operations that led to her removal and abandonment in open lake waters. Research by Brendon Baillod and others indicates that she became a wreck site in shallow water, exposing ribs and remnants along the shoreline.
Significant Incidents
- Sank in the Racine River on March 1, 1895.
- After salvage efforts, she was pumped out, raised, and towed into Lake Michigan.
- Plans to beach the vessel near Racine College were abandoned due to ice, leading to her being cast adrift.
- Subsequently foundered a few miles offshore.
- No lives lost were recorded during the incident.
Final Disposition
The George Barber is believed to have been broken up on the beach near Racine College, with no intact wreck remaining today. The vessel illustrates the common fate of working schooners of her class: loss in port, salvage, and final abandonment at sea or shoreline.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Today, the site of the George Barber is not preserved, and physical remains have largely vanished. Historical documentation and dive research confirm its identity and fate, but minimal material trace remains.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”george-barber-us-10191″ title=”References & Links”]
The schooner George Barber sank in the Racine River in early 1895, was floated out to Lake Michigan, and was deliberately abandoned after salvage. No casualties are recorded, and physical remains have not been preserved.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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