Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Mount Vernon
- Type: Wooden scow-schooner
- Year Built: 1849
- Builder: Winfield S. Lyons, Black River (Lorain), Ohio
- Dimensions: Approx. 199 tons (GRT)
- Registered Tonnage: 199 tons
- Location: A shoal reef off Kewaunee, Wisconsin
- Coordinates: Approximately 400 m northeast of Dean’s Pier, Kewaunee
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden scow-schooner designed for hauling heavy bulk cargo under tow.
Description
The Mount Vernon was a stout scow-schooner built in 1849 in Lorain, Ohio. Designed for heavy railroad-tie cargoes, she measured about 199 tons and relied on tug assistance rather than sails for propulsion during bay transits.
History
On April 9, 1869, the Mount Vernon arrived at Dean’s Pier in Kewaunee to load 2,800 railroad ties. After completing loading, a sudden northeast wind sprang up. The captain attempted to get underway to avoid being driven onto the pier, but the vessel wouldn’t respond to the helm amid worsening conditions. She was pushed onto a nearby shoal and stranded on a reef offshore.
Significant Incidents
- Stranded on a reef off Kewaunee, Wisconsin, due to sudden northeast winds on April 9, 1869.
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss and left stranded on the reef. No salvage occurred, and she was not refloated.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is approximately 400 m northeast of Dean’s Pier, Kewaunee. The remains lay atop a reef in shallow waters. No documented dive surveys, but local sonar records likely show the debris.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”mount-vernon-1849″ title=”References & Links”]
The Mount Vernon casts a spotlight on the critical nature of tow control in sudden storms. Loading nearly 2,800 railroad ties, she lacked maneuverability when unexpected winds struck hard. Stranded on a reef off Kewaunee, the vessel was lost to weather rather than wreckage. The shallow reef and accessible remains make her a candidate for shallow-water wreck exploration.
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: Mount Vernon
- Registration Number: Not recorded
- Date Built and Launched: 1849, by Winfield S. Lyons, Black River (Lorain), Ohio (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Measurements: Approx. 199 tons (GRT)
- Date Lost: April 9, 1869 (stranded offshore Kewaunee, WI) (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Place Lost: A shoal reef off Kewaunee, Wisconsin, Lake Michigan
Vessel Type
Wooden scow-schooner designed for hauling heavy bulk cargo under tow.
Description
The Mount Vernon was a stout scow-schooner built in 1849 in Lorain, Ohio. Designed for heavy railroad-tie cargoes, she measured about 199 tons and relied on tug assistance rather than sails for propulsion during bay transits.
History
On April 9, 1869, the Mount Vernon arrived at Dean’s Pier in Kewaunee to load 2,800 railroad ties. After completing loading, a sudden northeast wind sprang up. The captain attempted to get underway to avoid being driven onto the pier, but the vessel wouldn’t respond to the helm amid worsening conditions. She was pushed onto a nearby shoal and stranded on a reef offshore. (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss and left stranded on the reef. No salvage occurred, and she was not refloated.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck site is approximately 400 m northeast of Dean’s Pier, Kewaunee. The remains lay atop a reef in shallow waters. No documented dive surveys, but local sonar records likely show the debris.
Notmars & Advisories
No navigational buoys or markers indicate the wreck. The reef poses a known hazard during northeasterly squalls.
Resources & Links
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks – Mount Vernon site entry (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – M section notes (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Database – note of grounding on April 9, 1869 (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Conclusion
The Mount Vernon casts a spotlight on the critical nature of tow control in sudden storms. Loading nearly 2,800 railroad ties, she lacked maneuverability when unexpected winds struck hard. Stranded on a reef off Kewaunee, the vessel was lost to weather rather than wreckage. The shallow reef and accessible remains make her a candidate for shallow-water wreck exploration.
mount-vernon-1849 1869-04-09 11:53:00