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.
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