Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Petoskey
- Type: Wooden Passenger Steamer
- Year Built: 1888
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden passenger steamer
Description
The Petoskey was a wooden passenger steamer built in 1888, primarily serving the Lake Michigan area. It was homeported in Grand Haven, Michigan.
History
The Petoskey had nearly 50 years of service before its destruction. The vessel was dismantled and abandoned pending mothballing after the fire incident.
Significant Incidents
- Date: December 3, 1935 (fire discovered around 8 PM at the shipyard)
- The blaze likely began from sparks of acetylene torches used on another vessel (E.G. Crosby) and rapidly spread.
- Petoskey was destroyed, and flames engulfed at least four other vessels.
- All vessels were uninsured and written off as total losses.
Final Disposition
The Petoskey was destroyed by fire at the Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding yard in Wisconsin. The fire represents a significant incident in shipyard history, remembered alongside similar disasters.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Petoskey is no longer extant as it was destroyed in the fire. The incident highlights the risks associated with industrial fires in ship maintenance facilities.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”petoskey-1888″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the Petoskey serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by vessels in shipyards, particularly regarding fire safety.
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.
Wooden Passenger Steamer – Built 1888, Destroyed December 1935
Identification & Background
- Type: Wooden passenger steamer
- Built: 1888
- Homeport: Grand Haven, Michigan
- Service Area: Lake Michigan
- Final Fate: Destroyed by fire at the Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding yard, Wisconsin
(Wisconsin Shipwrecks – including details from Sturgeon Bay dry-dock records) (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, YouTube)
Circumstances of Loss
- Date: December 3, 1935 (fire discovered around 8 PM at the shipyard)
- The blaze likely began from sparks of acetylene torches used on another vessel (E.G. Crosby) and rapidly spread.
- Petoskey was destroyed, and flames engulfed at least four other vessels.
- All vessels were uninsured and written off as total losses.
(wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Significance
- Petoskey had nearly 50 years of service before she was dismantled and abandoned pending mothballing.
- The fire represents a major incident in shipyard history, remembered alongside similar fires like the Waukegan disaster.
(wisconsinshipwrecks.org, YouTube)
Summary Table
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Built | 1888 – wooden passenger steamer |
| Lost | Dec 3, 1935 – Sturgeon Bay shipyard fire |
| Cause | Accidental torch sparks led to a rapid yard blaze |
| Casualties | None – crew safe, but uninsured vessels totaled losses |
Broader Incident Note
Multiple vessels—including Petoskey—were engulfed in the same yard fire. The event echoes the Waukegan shipyard fire, highlighting industrial fire risks in Great Lakes ship maintenance facilities.
(wisconsinshipwrecks.org)