Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Jo Vilas
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1857
- Builder: Two Rivers and Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: 107 × 26 × 9 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 149 GRT
- Depth at Wreck Site: 121 m / 400 ft
- Location: Approximately 30 miles offshore near Kenosha, Wisconsin
- Original Owners: George Wiegland of Chicago
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Jo Vilas was a wooden schooner primarily used in the lumber trade, capable of carrying significant loads of lumber.
Description
Built in 1857, the Jo Vilas was designed for lumber hauling, with a capacity to carry up to 150,000 board feet. The vessel measured approximately 107 feet in length, 26 feet in beam, and 9 feet in depth.
History
The Jo Vilas had a long service history in the lumber trade before its loss in 1876. It was last owned by George Wiegland of Chicago, who had previously registered the vessel under Manitowoc and Milwaukee flags.
Significant Incidents
- On October 8, 1876, after loading lumber in White Lake, MI, the Jo Vilas departed for Chicago.
- A violent southwest gale developed mid-lake, stressing the schooner’s aging hull and causing leaks.
- The crew battled the inflow with hand pumps for nearly 24 hours, but by October 9 at 08:00 AM, the water overcame the pumps, and she capsized.
- The crew constructed a makeshift raft from floating lumber and were rescued by the passing schooner Andrew Jackson after drifting for approximately 6 hours.
- After abandonment, the Jo Vilas briefly righted before sinking into approximately 400 feet of water, some 30 miles offshore near Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Final Disposition
The Jo Vilas sank in deep water, and its remains are likely a structurally collapsed hull with scattered lumber and hardware. The wreck site is considered deep and remote, lying in approximately 400 feet of water.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is estimated to be in a state of structural collapse, with timber likely affected by freezing and waterlogging at such depths. Survey recommendations include remote sensing and confirmation dives using ROVs.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”jo-vilas-1857″ title=”References & Links”]
The Jo Vilas serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities of aging wooden vessels under storm conditions and highlights the resourcefulness of its crew during their dramatic survival.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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