Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Senator
- Type: Wooden schooner (single-deck, two-masted)
- Year Built: 1863
- Builder: S. G. Johnson
- Dimensions: 136 ft (41.5 m) L × 26 ft beam × 13 ft depth; approx. 396 old-style gross tons
- Registered Tonnage: 396
- Depth at Wreck Site: 4.57 m / 15 ft
- Location: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
- Official Number: 22 917
- Original Owners: C. Smyth et al., Oswego, NY; McEvoy & Brothers, Oswego
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Senator is classified as a wooden schooner, specifically a single-deck, two-masted vessel. Originally built for sailing, it was later converted for use as a barge in the iron ore trade.
Description
The Senator was constructed in 1863 in Clayton, New York. It features a wooden hull and was primarily used for transporting goods across the Great Lakes. Over its operational life, it underwent several ownership changes and modifications, including a conversion to a barge.
History
The Senator was enrolled in Oswego, NY, and initially owned by Smyth & Johnson. Throughout its service, it was re-measured multiple times, with gross tonnage recorded between 332 and 396 tons. The vessel was involved in various incidents, including a collision in Detroit in 1887 and a grounding incident in 1879, details of which remain unclear. By 1915, the vessel was abandoned in Sturgeon Bay due to age-related deterioration.
Significant Incidents
- 1863: Enrolled in Oswego, NY, owned by Smyth & Johnson.
- 1865-1868: Re-measurement yields 332-396 gross tons.
- 1871: Ownership transferred to McEvoy & Brothers, Oswego.
- 1874: Underwent major repairs.
- 1879: Ground incident (details unclear).
- 1880-1899: Converted to barge, extensively used in Lake Superior iron-ore hauling.
- 1887: Collided in Detroit, damaging tow vessels.
- 1915: Abandoned in Sturgeon Bay, WI due to age and hull degradation.
Final Disposition
The Senator was abandoned in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, between 1914 and 1915 due to age-related deterioration and hull weakening. It was left in shallow water, with broken remains submerged at approximately 15 feet depth. The hull is currently broken but identifiable and visible underwater.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Senator is submerged in shallow waters of Sturgeon Bay, making it accessible for divers. The remains are broken but still recognizable, providing an opportunity for exploration and study.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”senator-us-22917″ title=”References & Links”]
The Senator serves as a significant example of the transition from sail-powered vessels to barges in the Great Lakes trade, illustrating the economic usage and longevity of wooden craft in maritime history.
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 & Vessel Details
- Vessel Name: Senator
- Official Number: 22 917
- Year Built: 1863
- Built At: Clayton, New York
- Type: Wooden schooner (single-deck, two‑masted)
- Builder: S. G. Johnson
- Dimensions: 136 ft L × 26 ft beam × 13 ft depth; approx. 396 old‑style gross tons
- Original Owner: C. Smyth et al., Oswego, NY
- Hull: Wood
Operational & Chronological History
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1863 | Enrolled in Oswego, NY, owned by Smyth & Johnson |
| 1865–1868 | Re-measurement yields 332–396 gross tons |
| 1871 | Ownership transferred to McEvoy & Brothers, Oswego |
| 1874 | Underwent major repairs |
| 1879 | Gound incident (details unclear) |
| 1880–1899 | Converted to barge and used extensively in Lake Superior iron-ore hauling; towed by vessels like Cormorant, Charles Wall, Mineral Rock, etc. |
| 1887 | Collided in Detroit, damaging tow vessels (e.g., Watson) |
| 1915 | Abandoned in Sturgeon Bay, WI due to age and hull degradation; registry closed |
Final Disposition & Site Information
- Location: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin (Lake Michigan)
- Date Abandoned: 1914–1915
- Cause: Age-related deterioration and hull weakening, rendering the vessel unseaworthy
- Disposition: Left in shallow water—cause of final resting state; broken remains are submerged at approx. 15 ft depth in Sturgeon Bay (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, Internet Archive, wisconsinshipwrecks.org, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Current Condition: Hull is broken but identifiable and visible underwater
Historical & Archaeological Significance
- The Senator represents the evolution from sail-powered schooners to later uses as barges in heavy bulk trade such as iron ore
- Adaptations for towing and repeated service over decades demonstrate vessel longevity and economic usage of Great Lakes wooden craft
- The abandonment of the Senator illustrates a common fate of aging wooden vessels—transitioning from active use to static maritime infrastructure
Keywords & Categories
- Region: Lake Michigan → Sturgeon Bay, WI
- Vessel Type: Wooden schooner → iron-ore barge
- Cause of Loss: Abandonment due to hull degradation
- Casualties: None recorded at abandonment
- Operational Period: 1863–1915
- Wreck Status: Submerged, shallow-depth remains; diver-accessible
- Significance: Adaptive reuse, maritime industrial heritage
Research Sources
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks database entry: “Senator served until abandoned at Sturgeon Bay for age and poor hull condition in 1914 or 1915” (Charlotte County, FL, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Overview of Sturgeon Bay wrecks: included in Wisconsin’s Historic Shipwrecks report (e.g., Dan Hayes, Ida Corning, etc.), describing “broken in 15 ft of water in Sturgeon Bay” (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Recommended Next Steps
- Field Survey: Undertake shallow-water dive to triangulate the wreck site and assess condition
- Archival Search: Review Sturgeon Bay newspapers (1914–1915) and port records for details on registry abandonment and possible salvage efforts
- Historical Contextualization: Investigate local museum or maritime heritage collections for barge conversion documentation and community use of the Senator