Milwaukee Belle US 16642

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Milwaukee Belle
• Type: Schooner
• Year Built: 1854
• Builder: James M. Jones
• Dimensions: 133.9 ft (40.83 m) X 28.4 ft (8.66 m); Depth: 9.4 ft (2.87 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 368 6/95 tons
• Location: Off Brevort, Michigan, Straits of Mackinac, Lake Michigan
• Official Number: 16642
• Original Owners: D. Newhall, Norris & Davis, J.D. Gardner, C.S. Gardner, E.E. Ayers, Powers
• Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden-hulled, two-masted schooner built for cargo service across the Great Lakes, primarily transporting bulk goods such as lumber and railroad iron.

Description

• Hull Material: Wood
• Length: 133.9 ft (40.83 m)
• Beam: 28.4 ft (8.66 m)
• Depth: 9.4 ft (2.87 m)
• Tonnage (Old Style): 368 6/95 tons
• Decks: 1
• Builder: James M. Jones
• Original Owner: D. Newhall
• Home Port (1884): Chicago, Illinois

History

• 1854: Enrolled in Milwaukee, WI; suffered leakage transporting railroad iron; repaired in Cleveland.
• 1856–1860: Experienced multiple collisions and weather-related incidents, including a notable grounding in a gale near Cheboygan, MI, and being salvaged by the tug Leviathan.
• 1861–1864: Involved in another collision that resulted in the sinking of schooner Great Western; jettisoned cargo (30 tons of lead) in 1863.
• 1865–1880s: Underwent major repairs including new arches, knees, frame, and decks. Rebuilt in 1871.
• Owners: Transitioned from D. Newhall to Norris & Davis (Chicago), J.D. Gardner (Milwaukee), C.S. Gardner (Chicago), E.E. Ayers (Chicago), and finally Powers (Chicago).
• Collisions: Documented in 1857 (with J.C. Riggs) and 1860 (with C.H. Walker, W.H. Craig, and Arcturus) during dense traffic in the St. Clair River.
• 1886 Loss: Dismasted during a severe storm, drifted northeast, and ultimately sank near Brevort, MI. Gear and rigging were later salvaged.

Final Disposition

The vessel was destroyed in a gale after losing masts, with its wreck going down in Lake Michigan. Salvage crews recovered portions of the rigging and equipment, but the hull was not raised or reused.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No records found confirming discovery or precise location of wreckage.

Resources & Links

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The Milwaukee Belle represents a typical mid-19th-century Great Lakes schooner—built for versatility, often refitted and repurposed, and eventually succumbed to the cumulative effects of age and storm damage. Her career spanned over three decades of active service, making her loss emblematic of the challenges faced by wooden freight vessels on Lake Michigan.