Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Snow Drop
- Type: Three-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1853
- Builder: Lent
- Dimensions: 125 ft × 24 ft × 7 ft; ~190 GRT
- Registered Tonnage: 190 GRT
- Location: Just offshore from Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
- Official Number: 22377
- Original Owners: J. Tholer
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Snow Drop is classified as a three-masted wooden schooner, a common vessel type in the 19th century, particularly for the lumber trade.
Description
The Snow Drop was built in 1853 in Conneaut, Ohio, and measured 125 feet in length, 24 feet in beam, and 7 feet in depth. It had a registered tonnage of approximately 190 gross tons and was primarily used for transporting lumber.
History
Throughout its nearly 40 years of service, Snow Drop was involved in the lumber trade, operating out of Chicago, Illinois. The vessel was known for carrying cedar posts, which were valuable in construction and other industries.
Significant Incidents
- On April 30, 1892, Snow Drop attempted to seek shelter during a spring storm while bound for Milwaukee from Ford River with a cargo of cedar posts. The storm forced the vessel onto the rocky shore, resulting in a total loss.
- All seven crew members survived the incident by making it ashore, and no casualties were reported.
Final Disposition
After the wreck, Snow Drop was declared a total loss. The exact location of the wreck remains uncertain, but it is believed to be just offshore from Milwaukee County.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is likely to contain fragments of the hull, fasteners, and remnants of the cargo, such as cedar posts. The area may also have the mast step buried in sediment.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”snow-drop-us-22377″ title=”References & Links”]
Snow Drop serves as a significant historical artifact, representing the challenges faced by 19th-century vessels in the lumber trade and the dangers posed by spring storms on the Great Lakes.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Snow Drop
- Official No.: 22377
- Built: 1853 at Conneaut, Ohio by shipbuilder Lent
- Type: Three-masted wooden schooner (125 ft × 24 ft × 7 ft; ~190 GRT) (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Home Port: Chicago, IL; owned by J. Tholer
- Cargo: Cedar posts valued at approximately $2,000 (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Final Voyage & Loss
- On April 30, 1892, Snow Drop attempted to seek shelter during a spring storm while bound for Milwaukee from Ford River with her cedar post cargo. Storm conditions forced her onto the rocky shore, where she was wrecked and declared a total loss (wuaa.org).
- Of her seven crew members, all survived by making it ashore; no casualties were reported (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Archival & Research Gaps
To deepen documentation and support future research or survey planning, the following records and data should be accessed:
- Enrollment & Registry Records
Enrollment documentation may hold details of the vessel’s construction, tonnage, and owner, accessible through Buffalo or Milwaukee Customs archives (circa 1853). - Crew & Cargo Manifests
Identifying her master, crew roster, and full cargo list may be possible through customs manifests or Chicago shipping logs. - Incident Reports
Local newspaper accounts (Milwaukee Sentinel, Chicago Tribune, April–May 1892) could offer firsthand rescue narratives and storm conditions. - Weather Data
Environment Canada or NOAA historical records for Lake Michigan in late April 1892 may clarify the storm’s severity. - Wreck Site Details
Consultation of 1892 nautical charts and local historical sources could help pinpoint the wreck’s exact location for archaeological follow-up.
Wreck & Field Survey Potential
- Likely Wreck Site: Just offshore from Milwaukee County, with shallow rocky outcrops.
- Expected Remains: Fragments of hull, fasteners, cargo remnants such as cedar posts, and her mast step may still survive in situ or buried in sediment.
- Survey Approach:
- Overlay of historic charts with modern bathymetry
- Side-scan sonar and magnetometer survey of the rocky shoreline zone
- Shallow diver inspection for cedar post debris or iron fittings; photogrammetric documentation of site condition
Historical & Cultural Significance
- As a mid-19th-century timber schooner with nearly 40 years of service, Snow Drop represents a longstanding craft in the lumber trade.
- Her loss emphasizes the hazards of spring storms on early-season sail vessels, particularly when hauling heavy cargo.
- Locating and documenting the wreck could offer valuable insights into vessel durability, cargo handling, and shoreline vessel protection practices in the 1800s.
Recommended Next Steps
- Submit archive requests for enrollment (National Archives – Detroit or Buffalo districts)
- Retrieve contemporary newspaper stories for April–May 1892
- Acquire historical meteorological data to quantify the storm event
- Coordinate a maritime survey targeting the wreck area off Milwaukee to evaluate site preservation and artifact potential