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

• Name: Lavinia
• Built: 1847 (likely on Lake Michigan) (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
• Vessel Type: Wooden schooner
• Cargo at Loss: Cobblestone (presumably for ballast or harbor construction)
• Date of Loss: September 1858 (exact day unrecorded)
• Location: Port Washington, Wisconsin (Lake Michigan) (linkstothepast.com)
• Incident: Struck a shoal during a storm, became stranded, and broke up — declared a total loss
• Casualties: None reported

Vessel Type & Description

A mid-19th-century wooden schooner used for coastal or harbor trade. Her assignment to cobblestone cargo suggests involvement in infrastructure projects along the shoreline—transporting heavy materials for breakwaters or roadwork.

History & Final Voyage

Built in 1847, Lavinia served through the early to mid-1850s across Lake Michigan. In September 1858, caught in storm conditions off Port Washington, she struck a shoal and swiftly grounded. Unable to be salvaged, wave action broke her apart, and she was abandoned — a “hopeless case” to local authorities (linkstothepast.com, en.wikipedia.org).

Final Disposition

Stranded and wrecked near Port Washington’s shoals. Hull fragments were broken and scattered, marking the termination of her service.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return. No modern archaeological survey or GPS-based documentation exists. However, her wreck likely lies buried in nearshore sediments off Port Washington—an ideal candidate for sonar detection or shoreline prospection

Notations & Advisories

• The shoal where she wrecked remains charted, but no wreck-specific navigational markers exist.
• Given shallow depth, the remains represent a shallow-water wreck heritage site, with potential exposure depending on lake levels and sediment shifts.

Archival Research Recommendations

To reinforce and expand the record:

1. Newspaper Archives (Sept 1858):
   Research the Port Washington Chronicle, Milwaukee Sentinel, and Chicago Tribune for grounding reports and salvage attempts.
2. Harbor Authority Logs:
   Examine Port Washington harbor or pier construction records from 1858 for mentions of disruptions due to grounding or wreckage.
3. Insurance or Salvage Claim Files:
   Policies underwriters in Milwaukee or Chicago could hold technical drawings, cargo valuations, and insurance payouts for Lavinia.
4. Shoreline Archaeological Survey:
   Undertake side-scan sonar or shallow-water scanning near the grounding site to map scattered timbers or ballast remains.

Conclusion

Built in 1847, Lavinia met her fate in September 1858 when she grounded off Port Washington, Wisconsin, during a storm. Loaded with cobblestone, she broke apart and was written off as a total loss. No casualties occurred, and her remains lie in shallow water—unrecorded by modern wreck surveys. This site presents an excellent opportunity for archival deepening and targeted field survey.

Would you like me to retrieve historical newspaper clippings, insurance papers, harbor engineering logs, or coordinate a sonar survey plan for Lavinia?

lavinia-1847 1858-09-14 17:09:00