Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Levena
- Type: Scow-schooner
- Year Built: 1882
- Builder: Charlevoix, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length 42 ft (12.8 m); Beam 13 ft (4.0 m); Depth of hold 4.8 ft (1.46 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 12.60 tons
- Location: Lake Bluff, Illinois
- Coordinates: N 42° 33.317′ / W 087° 48.605′
- Official Number: 48566
- Original Owners: Capt. Banks (full name not recorded)
- Number of Masts: 2-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Levena was a two-masted wooden scow-schooner, typical of the small vessels used for transporting gravel and construction materials along the nearshore routes of Lake Michigan.
Description
The Levena was built in 1882 and measured 42 feet in length, with a beam of 13 feet and a depth of hold of 4.8 feet. It was constructed of wood and powered by sail, primarily serving the Chicago–Kenosha–Lake Bluff trade.
History
The Levena was part of a fleet of small wooden vessels known as “gravel hookers” that operated with minimal crews, often consisting of just 2 to 3 men. These vessels were typically low-value crafts, frequently abandoned after incidents.
It was enrolled at Chicago for local commerce and surrendered its final enrollment on June 3, 1890, with the notation “Vessel Lost” at the Chicago Customs Office.
Significant Incidents
- Date of Loss: May 29, 1890
- Cause: Leakage in rough seas; grounded and broke apart near Lake Bluff
- Lives Lost: None
Final Disposition
The Levena broke up on the beach near Lake Bluff, Illinois, with wreckage scattered and abandoned due to its low value (~$400). No extant wreck site remains, as wooden remains are likely burned, salvaged, or buried in the shoreline.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The site is not considered a dive target due to shallow, shifting nearshore sand, and the wreckage has been destroyed.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”levena-us-48566″ title=”References & Links”]
The Levena serves as a representative example of the small “gravel-hookers” that supplied Chicago’s construction boom in the 19th century, highlighting the working-class maritime economy of Lake Michigan.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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