Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: M.H. Stuart
- Type: Wooden steambarge
- Year Built: 1921
- Builder: Walter & O'Boyle
- Dimensions: Length 104.5 ft (31.9 m); Beam 25.5 ft; Depth of hold 8.7 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 192 GT
- Depth at Wreck Site: 60 m / 200 ft
- Location: Milwaukee Harbor, Wisconsin
- Official Number: 221409
- Original Owners: Traverse City Transportation Company; E.J. Leway; Roen Steam Ship Company; Ship Salvage Corporation
- Number of Masts: 1
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Type: Wooden steambarge with single deck and one mast
Description
The M.H. Stuart was a wooden steambarge built in 1921, primarily used for transporting goods across the Great Lakes. It featured a fore-and-aft compound steam engine and was originally owned by the Traverse City Transportation Company.
History
The vessel began service in 1921, primarily hauling fruit, especially grapes, between Traverse City and Sheboygan. It also transported cordwood, livestock, hay, potatoes, and reportedly bootleg liquor during Prohibition. Ownership later included E.J. Leway and the Roen Steam Ship Company. On December 11, 1937, the vessel sank in a storm on Lake Huron.
Significant Incidents
- 1937: Sank in a storm on Lake Huron.
- 1948: Sank at dock; Coast Guard directed salvage operations.
Final Disposition
In 1948, the M.H. Stuart sank at dock, leading to Coast Guard-directed salvage operations. The vessel was pumped out, filled with rocks, towed 8 miles offshore, and then torched and deliberately holed to sink. It now rests upright in 200 ft of water in the Milwaukee Harbor area.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck was discovered in the mid-1980s when commercial fishing nets snagged on it. It is upright in deep water with extensive fire damage to the superstructure. Features visible include decking, rudder, and propeller, with nets still entangled around the bow and stern.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”m-h-stuart-us-221409″ title=”References & Links”]
The M.H. Stuart serves as an example of early 20th-century fruit steambarge infrastructure on the Great Lakes and illustrates the transition to wartime scrap operations. Its deep-water wreck offers insights into wooden steambarge construction and the impact of fire underwater.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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