Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Sea Star
- Type: Wooden two-masted lumber scow-schooner
- Year Built: 1855
- Builder: C. Stevens
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Ahnapee (now Algoma), Wisconsin
- Official Number: 22356
- Original Owners: Home-ported in Milwaukee
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden two-masted lumber scow-schooner, primarily engaged in wood and timber transport across Lake Michigan.
Description
The Sea Star was built in 1855 at Irving, New York by C. Stevens. It was designed as a lumber scow-schooner, a type of vessel commonly used for transporting timber.
History
The Sea Star was home-ported in Milwaukee and was actively involved in the wood and timber trade. Its operational history reflects the importance of timber transport in the Great Lakes region during the 19th century.
Significant Incidents
- Loss Date: 4 November 1886
- Location: Ahnapee (now Algoma), Wisconsin, at the Winnebago wood-loading dock
- While loading wood cargo, Sea Star slipped her moorings during a storm or strong sudden wind, was driven out into open Lake Michigan, and lost.
- She was carried into deeper waters and presumably foundered; no further salvage was possible once adrift.
Final Disposition
The Sea Star was declared a total loss after drifting away and not being recovered. No crew were reported lost or injured during the incident.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of now, the Sea Star has not been rediscovered, and its current condition remains unknown.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”sea-star-us-22356″ title=”References & Links”]
The Sea Star was a mid-19th century lumber scow-schooner that encountered disaster on 4 November 1886, when a storm dislodged her from her moored position during cargo operations at Ahnapee. Once adrift on Lake Michigan, she was lost. No crew were recorded injured, but the vessel was declared a total loss with no salvage.
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.
(built 1855 – lost 4 November 1886)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Sea Star
- Official Number: 22356
- Built: 1855 at Irving, New York by C. Stevens
- Type: Wooden two‑masted lumber scow‑schooner, home‑ported in Milwaukee and engaged in wood and timber transport across Lake Michigan ([turn0search1])
Final Voyage & Cause of Loss
- Loss Date: 4 November 1886
- Location: Ahnapee (now Algoma), Wisconsin, at the Winnebago wood-loading dock
- While loading wood cargo, Sea Star slipped her moorings during a storm or strong sudden wind, was driven out into open Lake Michigan, and lost
- She was carried into deeper waters and presumably foundered; no further salvage was possible once adrift
Casualties & Disposition
- Crew: None reportedly lost—no casualties recorded
- Outcome: Declared a total loss after she drifted away and was not recovered
Summary Table
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Sea Star |
| Official No. | 22356 |
| Built | 1855, Irving, NY |
| Type | Lumber scow‑schooner |
| Loss Date | 4 November 1886 |
| Loss Location | Ahnapee (Algoma), WI – loading wood dock |
| Cause of Loss | Storm blow caused mooring failure; drifted out and lost |
| Cargo | Wood slabs / timber |
| Casualties | None reported |
| Final Status | Lost on open lake; regarded as total loss |
Historical Reference & Context
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks database details Sea Star‘s ownership history, registry, tonnage, and ultimate fate: “The wooden two masted lumber scow‑schooner Sea Star… built in 1855… Official registry number 22356… she slipped her moorings while loading wood at Ahnapee, was driven out into the lake and…”
- Context: Ahnapee was a seasonal wood-loading port on Green Bay, vulnerable to late-season storms which often struck without warning during loading operations
Gaps & Suggestions for Archival Follow-Up
Missing or under-documented areas:
- Owner and master identities at time of loss
- Exact dimensions, tonnage, and mooring configuration
- Local news reports from Ahnapee or Algoma in early November 1886
- Insurance claims or logbooks linked to underwriters referencing the event
Potential research directions:
- Investigate regional newspapers (e.g. Ahnapee Record, Algoma Record) for incident reporting
- Explore Milwaukee underwriter ledgers and registry files documenting Sea Star‘s loss
- Review port or customs logs in Milwaukee or Ahnapee for registry details
Conclusion
Sea Star was a mid-19th century lumber scow‑schooner of Milwaukee registry that encountered disaster on 4 November 1886, when a storm dislodged her moored position during cargo operations at Ahnapee. Once adrift on Lake Michigan, she was lost. No crew were recorded injured, but the vessel was declared a total loss with no salvage. No modern rediscovery has been recorded.
sea-star-us-22356 1886-11-04 16:36:00