Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Norma US 18605

Explore the wreck of the Norma, a 19th-century wooden schooner lost in Lake Michigan, with a rich history of service and trade.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: NORMA
  • Type: Schooner
  • Year Built: 1867
  • Builder: J.S. Monroe
  • Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: 18 tons
  • Location: Near Egg Harbor, Green Bay, Lake Michigan
  • Official Number: 18605
  • Original Owners: W.P. Kirtland, Nelson Brothers of Sheboygan, Wisconsin
  • Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

NORMA was a small wooden schooner designed for the Great Lakes’ coastal and short-haul bulk cargo trades. Schooners of this size frequently carried lumber, cordwood, farm produce, or general merchandise between regional ports. Their shallow draft made them ideal for working smaller harbours around Green Bay.

Description

NORMA was a wooden schooner built in 1867, primarily used for trade in the Great Lakes region. With a gross tonnage of 18 tons, she was designed for carrying various cargoes, reflecting the maritime commerce of her time.

History

NORMA’s career spanned over three decades of service. Records show that she was repaired in 1875, indicating an active trade life, and was owned in 1876 by the Nelson Brothers of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. On November 17, 1893, NORMA stranded on the beach north of Saugatuck, Michigan, but was subsequently released and repaired in April 1894. Her final loss came in October 1900 near Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, while owned by W.P. Kirtland. No fatalities are recorded, but full details of the circumstances of her loss are lacking.

Significant Incidents

  • Stranded on the beach north of Saugatuck, Michigan, on November 17, 1893; released and repaired in April 1894.

Final Disposition

Lost near Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, in October 1900. The circumstances of her loss are unknown; she is presumed to have foundered or wrecked.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck has not been confirmed or documented, and its precise state is unknown.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”norma-us-18605″ title=”References & Links”]

NORMA represents the hundreds of small schooners that supported regional commerce across Lake Michigan in the 19th century. Her long working life and repeated repairs highlight the durability and importance of these vessels in Great Lakes trade.

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: NORMA
  • Official Number: 18605
  • Year Built: 1867
  • Built at: Depere, Wisconsin
  • Vessel Type: Schooner
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Builder: J.S. Monroe
  • Dimensions
    • Gross Tonnage: 18 tons
    • Length, Beam, Depth: Not recorded
  • Number of Masts: 2 (typical for schooners of this size and period, though not explicitly stated)
  • Final Disposition
    • Final Location: Near Egg Harbor, Green Bay, Lake Michigan
    • Date Lost: October 1900
  • How Lost: Unknown circumstances; presumed foundered or wrecked

Vessel Type Description
NORMA was a small wooden schooner designed for the Great Lakes’ coastal and short-haul bulk cargo trades. Schooners of this size frequently carried lumber, cordwood, farm produce, or general merchandise between regional ports. Their shallow draft made them ideal for working smaller harbours around Green Bay.

History
NORMA’s career spanned over three decades of service. Records show that she was repaired in 1875, indicating an active trade life, and was owned in 1876 by the Nelson Brothers of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. On November 17, 1893, NORMA stranded on the beach north of Saugatuck, Michigan, but was subsequently released and repaired in April 1894. Her final loss came in October 1900 near Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, while owned by W.P. Kirtland. No fatalities are recorded, but full details of the circumstances of her loss are lacking.

Final Disposition
Lost near Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, in October 1900.

NOTMARs & Advisories
None noted.

Located By & Date
No official discovery reported; wreck remains unlocated.

Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck has not been confirmed or documented, and its precise state is unknown.

Resources & Links

Conclusion
NORMA represents the hundreds of small schooners that supported regional commerce across Lake Michigan in the 19th century. Her long working life and repeated repairs highlight the durability and importance of these vessels in Great Lakes trade.

Keywords: Lake Michigan, Green Bay, schooner, wood vessel, 19th-century shipping, shipwreck

norma-us-18605 1900-10-19 14:34:00