Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

George Barber US 10191

Explore the remains of the George Barber, a 19th-century wooden schooner that sank in the Racine River and was abandoned in Lake Michigan.

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.

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

  • Vessel Name: George Barber
  • Built: 1857 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin by George Barber
  • Rig: Two‑masted schooner
  • Dimensions: 92.5 ft × 24.1 ft × 7.95 ft; Gross tonnage ~ 98.71 gt (baillod.com, Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
  • Type: Wooden schooner used in lumber/logging trades on Lake Michigan

Final Disposition & Loss

  • Date of Loss: March 1, 1895
  • Location: Racine River, then to Lake Michigan north of Racine near Racine College (baillod.com)
  • Details: Sank in the river at Racine; after salvage efforts she was pumped out, raised, and towed into the lake. Plans to beach near Racine College were abandoned due to ice. She was cast adrift and subsequently foundered off the coast few miles offshore. (baillod.com)
  • Lives Lost: None recorded
  • Today: Believed broken up on beach near Racine College; no intact wreck remains.

History & Context

  • Built as a typical mid‑19th century Milwaukee schooner for lumber transport.
  • Sunk while in port at Racine; salvage operations led to her removal and abandonment in open lake waters.
  • Later research by Brendon Baillod and others confirms she became a wreck site in shallow water, exposing ribs and remnants along the shoreline (baillod.com).

Disposition Significance

The George Barber illustrates the common fate of working schooners of her class: loss in port, salvage, and final abandonment at sea or shoreline. She represents a once-utilitarian vessel that has since vanished, leaving minimal material trace.

Resources & Further Research Links

  • Wisconsin Shipwrecks database entry: George Barber (1857) (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
  • Wisconsin’s Underwater Heritage article (Baillod) with details on wreck & location (baillod.com)
  • Southwest Lake Michigan Shipwreck Project summary (silent-helm.com)
  • For contextual research on Racine-period shipwrecks, reference Wisconsin’s Underwater Heritage and Indiana maritime history PDFs (baillod.com, baillod.com)

Conclusion

The schooner George Barber (built 1857) sank in the Racine River in early 1895, was floated out to Lake Michigan, and deliberately abandoned after salvage, likely breaking apart along the Racine shoreline. No casualties are recorded, and physical remains have not been preserved. Historical documentation and dive research confirm its identity and fate.

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