Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: S.C. Baldwin
- Type: Wooden steam barge
- Year Built: 1871
- Builder: Campbell, Owen & Company
- Dimensions: 160 ft × 30 ft × 12 ft (48.8 × 9.1 × 3.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Unknown
- Depth at Wreck Site: 21 m / 70 ft
- Location: Lake Michigan, near Kewaunee, Wisconsin
- Coordinates: 44°10.873′N, 87°29.179′W
- Official Number: 23957
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: None
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The S.C. Baldwin was a wooden steam barge designed for transporting freight, particularly iron ore and later limestone.
Description
The S.C. Baldwin was built in 1871 as a single-decked wooden steamer for iron ore transport, later rebuilt with two decks, and subsequently reconfigured multiple times throughout her service life. By 1882 she was converted into a single-deck lumber carrier, and in 1904 converted again into a wooden stone barge with a square stern. This adaptability exemplifies the evolving freight demands of Great Lakes shipping during the late 19th century.
History
After decades of service carrying lumber, ore, and later limestone, the S.C. Baldwin met her end on August 1908. While in tow of the tug Torrent during a storm near Kewaunee, Wisconsin, the vessel capsized and quickly sank in 60 feet of water. Two of her three crew escaped; one perished. Salvage efforts removed her boiler, bilge pump, anchors, and cables a month later.
In 2015, Wisconsin Historical Society archaeologists and volunteers documented the site. The wreck was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.
Significant Incidents
- August 1908: The S.C. Baldwin capsized in a storm while being towed by the tug Torrent, resulting in the loss of one crew member.
Final Disposition
Today, the wreck lies broken but upright. Her stem post rises dramatically 20–30 feet off the bottom. While the stern is separated from the keel, major hull sections, decking, stanchions, and hatches remain. Her dumped cargo of stone was located separately 2.5 miles northwest of the main wreck site.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is marked with a seasonal Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast NMS mooring buoy, reducing risk of anchor damage. No standing NOTMAR hazards recorded.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”s-c-baldwin-us-23957″ title=”References & Links”]
Access to the S.C. Baldwin is by boat only, with conditions varying from cold freshwater to visibility between 10–40 feet. Recreational diving is permitted, while scientific collection requires authorization from NOAA/WHS.
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.
Identification Card (Site Style)
Other Names: None
Official Number: 23957
Registry: United States
Vessel Type: Wooden steam barge
Builder: Campbell, Owen & Company
Place Built: Detroit, Michigan
Year Built: 1871
Year Sank: 1908
Hull Material: Wood
Dimensions: 160 ft × 30 ft × 12 ft (48.8 × 9.1 × 3.7 m)
Tonnage: Unknown
Engines: Single expansion steam engine
Crew: 3 at time of loss
Casualties: 1 (two survived)
Location: Lake Michigan, near Kewaunee, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 44°10.873′N, 87°29.179′W
Depth: 65–70 ft (20–21 m)
Condition: Upright but broken, stem post standing 20–30 ft above lakebed
Description
The S.C. Baldwin was built in 1871 as a single-decked wooden steamer for iron ore transport, later rebuilt with two decks, and subsequently reconfigured multiple times throughout her service life. By 1882 she was converted into a single-deck lumber carrier, and in 1904 converted again into a wooden stone barge with a square stern. This adaptability exemplifies the evolving freight demands of Great Lakes shipping during the late 19th century.
History
After decades of service carrying lumber, ore, and later limestone, the S.C. Baldwin met her end on August 1908. While in tow of the tug Torrent during a storm near Kewaunee, Wisconsin, the vessel capsized and quickly sank in 60 feet of water. Two of her three crew escaped; one perished. Salvage efforts removed her boiler, bilge pump, anchors, and cables a month later.
In 2015, Wisconsin Historical Society archaeologists and volunteers documented the site. The wreck was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.
Final Disposition
Today, the wreck lies broken but upright. Her stem post rises dramatically 20–30 feet off the bottom. While the stern is separated from the keel, major hull sections, decking, stanchions, and hatches remain. Her dumped cargo of stone was located separately 2.5 miles northwest of the main wreck site.
Located By & Date Found
First located and surveyed by local divers, including Randy Wallander, later documented formally by Wisconsin Historical Society in 2015. NOAA divers conducted monitoring surveys in 2022–2023 and developed 3D models of the site.
Notmars & Advisories
The wreck is marked with a seasonal Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast NMS mooring buoy, reducing risk of anchor damage. No standing NOTMAR hazards recorded.
Dive Information
Access: Boat only (marked buoy system)
Entry Point: Kewaunee, Wisconsin
Conditions: Cold freshwater; visibility variable (10–40 ft); thermocline present in summer
Depth Range: 65–70 ft (20–21 m)
Emergency Contacts: U.S. Coast Guard Station Two Rivers; local dive charters in Door County
Permits: Recreational diving permitted; scientific collection requires NOAA/WHS authorization
Dive Support: Local charters and Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast NMS visitor center
Crew & Casualty Memorials
Three aboard at time of sinking: two survived, one fatality. Names not yet identified in accessible records; further research recommended via Chronicling America or Newspapers.com.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“During a sudden storm the S.C. Baldwin capsized in tow of the tug Torrent. Two crew escaped but one man remained clinging to the overturned hull until the vessel righted and sank.” – Great Lakes shipping reports, 1908
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Official No. 23957, U.S. enrollment at Detroit. Converted multiple times between steamer and barge forms. Final registry struck in 1908 following loss.
Site Documentation & Imaging
Resources & Links
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks – S.C. Baldwin
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Chronicling America (LOC)
- Find A Grave
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None
Official Number: 23957
Coordinates: 44°10.873′N, 87°29.179′W
Depth: 65–70 ft (20–21 m)
Location Description: Lake Michigan, near Kewaunee, WI; upright, broken, dramatic stem post
Vessel Type: Steam Barge
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 160 ft × 30 ft × 12 ft (48.8 × 9.1 × 3.7 m)
Condition: Upright but broken, stern detached; stem post intact
Cause of Loss: Capsized in storm while under tow
Discovery Date: Early 20th century (known locally), fully documented 2015
Discovered By: Local divers; documented by Wisconsin Historical Society
Method: Diver survey, NOAA sonar & photogrammetry
Legal Notes: Listed on National Register of Historic Places (2016); protected under WHS/NMS law
Hazards: None noted; buoy system mitigates anchor risk
Permits Required: Yes, for research or collection; not for recreational diving
3D Models
Barge S.C. Baldwin (Built 1871) by Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast NMS on Sketchfab
s-c-baldwin-us-23957 1908-03-14 07:54:00
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