Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Northerner US 18176

Explore the wreck of the Northerner, a two-masted schooner, resting in Lake Michigan, offering insights into 19th-century lakeshoring design and cargo practices.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Northerner
  • Type: Two-masted schooner
  • Year Built: 1850
  • Builder: John Oades shipyard, Clayton, New York
  • Dimensions: Length: ~81 ft (24.7 m); Beam: ~18.6 ft (~5.7 m); Depth of hold: ~7.6 ft (~2.3 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: ~77.3 gross tons
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 40 m / 130 ft
  • Location: Lake Michigan, approximately 5 miles SE of Port Washington (off Port Ulao)
  • Official Number: 18176
  • Original Owners: Original owners: John Oades, Henry Oades, and John Gould; later owners included Henry T. Bacon, Anders Ryerson, and Nicholas Ronk.
  • Number of Masts: Two masts; mainmast remains (~75 ft above deck), missing stern mast (recovered for museum)

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Two-masted lakeshoring schooner designed for shallow draft.

Description

The Northerner was a wooden-hulled, sail-powered vessel with two masts and a schooner rig. It was built for lakeshoring operations, characterized by its shallow draft.

History

Originally owned by John Oades, Henry Oades, and John Gould in 1850, the vessel was transferred to Henry T. Bacon and others in 1852. By 1863, it was sold to Chicago-based interests, with Anders Ryerson and Nicholas Ronk becoming co-owners in 1865.

Significant Incidents

  • While loading cordwood at Amsterdam Pier, the Northerner struck bottom and sustained hull damage.
  • The deck load was discharged at Port Washington to lighten the hull.
  • Towed by the propeller Cuyahoga toward Milwaukee, the vessel capsized off Port Ulao; the crew was rescued, but the cargo remained in the hold.

Final Disposition

The Northerner sank on November 29, 1868, and is now located upright and largely intact at a depth of approximately 130 ft in Lake Michigan.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is upright and largely intact, with notable features including the mainmast, windlass, anchor chain, centerboard winch, bowsprit, and a recognizable scroll figurehead. The hull fill of cordwood is still visible inside.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”northerner-us-18176″ title=”References & Links”]

The Northerner serves as an important archaeological site, providing insights into mid-19th century lakeshoring practices and is part of the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary.

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.

Two-Masted Lakeshoring Schooner (US Registry No. 18176)

Identification & Vessel Specifications

Ownership & History

  • Original Owners: John Oades, Henry Oades, and John Gould in 1850; transferred in 1852 to Henry T. Bacon, Russell Disbrow, and Hiram Rumville (Ogdensburg, NY) (Wikipedia)
  • Later Owners: By 1863, sold to Chicago-based interests; 1865: Anders Ryerson and Nicholas Ronk became co-owners (Ronk later sole owner) with Ryerson serving as captain (Wikipedia)
  • Valuation in 1861: $2,500; rated B1 by Board of Lake Underwriters (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)

Final Voyage & Sinking (November 29, 1868)

  • Incident Start: While loading cordwood at Amsterdam Pier (then Cedar Grove), she struck bottom and sustained hull damage (Wisconsin Historical Society)
  • Damage Control: The deck load of cordwood was discharged at Port Washington to lighten the hull (Wisconsin Historical Society)
  • Tow & Capsizing: Towed by the propeller Cuyahoga toward Milwaukee; leaks worsened and vessel capsized off Port Ulao—crew rescued; cargo remained in hold (Wisconsin Historical Society)

Wreck Site & Present Condition

  • Location: Lake Michigan, approximately 5 miles SE of Port Washington (off Port Ulao) (Wikipedia)
  • Depth: ~130 ft (40 m) (Wikipedia)
  • State of Preservation: Upright and largely intact. Missing stern mast (recovered for museum), but mainmast remains (~75 ft above deck), windlass, anchor chain, centerboard winch, bowsprit, and recognizable scroll figurehead are all extant. Hull fill of cordwood still visible inside (shipwreckexplorers.com)

Archaeological & Heritage Status

  • Documentation: Surveyed by Wisconsin Historical Society’s Maritime Archaeology Program in 2009; listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010 (Wikipedia)
  • Sanctuary Inclusion: Part of the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary, designated in 2021. Sanctuary covers Ozaukee waters and includes mooring infrastructure; Northerner received a NOAA mooring buoy in 2024 and benefits from research attention (Wikipedia)
  • 3D Imaging: In 2021, NOAA and WSCNMS divers conducted photogrammetry; a 3D model is publicly available via Sketchfab (nmssanctuaries.blob.core.windows.net)

Dive Site Details

  • Accessibility: Technical-Advanced dive due to depth (~130 ft); excellent structural visibility.
  • Notable Features: Highly intact hull, visible machinery, cargo, mast, and iconic figurehead make it rare among Great Lakes wrecks.
  • Significance: Offers exceptional insight into lakeshoring schooner design, mid-19th century cargo practices, and timber trade logistics. Also serves as one of the deeper, better-preserved excursions in the sanctuary.

References & Further Research

3D Model

Schooner Northerner (Built 1851) by Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast NMS on Sketchfab

northerner-us-18176 1868-11-29 14:21:00
Northerner