Shotline Diving

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Solon H. Johnson US 6887

Explore the wreck of the Solon H. Johnson, a late-19th century wooden steam screw vessel lost in Lake Michigan with no fatalities.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Solon H. Johnson
  • Type: Steam screw propeller
  • Year Built: 1876
  • Builder: A. Cook
  • Dimensions: 106.5 ft (32.46 m) × 21.5 ft (6.55 m) × 8.1 ft (2.47 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 128.78 GT
  • Location: 9 miles south of Kenosha, Wisconsin
  • Coordinates: 42° 28.735' N / 87° 47.589' W
  • Official Number: 6887
  • Original Owners: Unknown
  • Number of Masts: No masts recorded

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Type: Steam screw propeller, single deck

Hull Material: Wood

Propulsion: Steam screw engine; no auxiliary sail

Primary Trade: Lumber carrier, Great Lakes service (Michigan to Illinois routes)

Description

The Solon H. Johnson was a wooden steam screw propeller vessel built in 1876, primarily engaged in the lumber trade on Lake Michigan. With dimensions of 106.5 ft in length, 21.5 ft in beam, and a depth of 8.1 ft, it had a gross tonnage of 128.78 GT. The vessel was designed for shallow water operations and was suited for carrying lumber.

History

From 1876 to 1887, the Solon H. Johnson operated out of Chicago, Illinois, primarily transporting lumber and general freight along the western shore of Lake Michigan. Its typical route included trips from Muskegon, MI to Chicago, IL. The last official record of the vessel was marked as ‘Vessel Lost’ on November 27, 1888, in Chicago.

Significant Incidents

  • Date of Loss: November 24, 1887
  • Cargo: Full load of lumber; towing a brick-laden scow
  • Incident: Heavy seas off Kenosha forced the vessel to attempt anchoring the scow 4 miles offshore. The tow line fouled the propeller, rendering the Solon H. Johnson disabled, and both the Johnson and scow drifted ashore approximately 9 miles south of Kenosha.
  • Crew: Entire crew saved by Kenosha Life-Saving Station, likely the U.S. Life-Saving Service.

Final Disposition

The scow was salvaged and towed to Chicago, while the Solon H. Johnson was declared a total loss with its cargo. This was confirmed in the official registry.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the Solon H. Johnson is considered a constructive total loss. The shallow-water wreckage is likely broken up or salvaged in subsequent seasons. The site is not a diving destination, and wood fragments may exist under shifting sand south of Kenosha. It is listed in the Wisconsin Shipwrecks Database as a shoreline loss rather than a submerged archaeological site.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”solon-h-johnson-us-6887″ title=”References & Links”]

The Solon H. Johnson represents a typical late-19th century Great Lakes wooden steam screw engaged in the lumber trade, a vital component of Midwest industrial expansion. Her loss near Kenosha in 1887 highlights common operational hazards of tow-line fouling and propulsion disablement in rough autumn weather. Though a total constructive loss, the vessel resulted in no fatalities, due to effective life-saving operations along Lake Michigan’s western shore.

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

  • Built: 1876 by A. Cook, Clayton, New York
  • Home Port: Chicago, Illinois
  • Registry No.: 6887 (HCGL Vessels Database)
  • Loss: November 24, 1887, 9 miles south of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Lake Michigan
  • Depth: Shallow water nearshore; no submerged wreck remains documented
  • Wreck Coordinates: 42° 28.735’ N / 87° 47.589’ W (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)

Vessel Type & Construction

  • Type: Steam screw propeller, single deck
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Dimensions: 106.5 ft (32.46 m) × 21.5 ft (6.55 m) × 8.1 ft (2.47 m)
  • Gross Tonnage: 128.78 GT
  • Cargo Capacity: Suited for lumber trade; no masts recorded
  • Propulsion: Steam screw engine; no auxiliary sail
  • Primary Trade: Lumber carrier, Great Lakes service (Michigan to Illinois routes)

Operational History

  • 1876–1887: Operated out of Chicago, engaged in lumber and general freight along the western shore of Lake Michigan
  • Typical route included Muskegon, MI → Chicago, IL
  • Registry Records: Documented at Chicago; last official record “Vessel Lost” surrendered November 27, 1888, at Chicago (HCGL, Wisconsin Historical Society)

Final Voyage

  • Date of Loss: November 24, 1887
  • Cargo: Full load of lumber; tow: a brick-laden scow
  • Incident:
    1. Heavy seas off Kenosha forced the vessel to attempt anchoring the scow 4 miles offshore
    2. Tow line fouled the propeller, rendering Solon H. Johnson disabled
    3. Both the Johnson and scow drifted ashore ~9 miles south of Kenosha
  • Crew: Entire crew saved by Kenosha Life-Saving Station, likely the U.S. Life-Saving Service (predecessor to the Coast Guard)
  • Aftermath:
    • Scow salvaged and towed to Chicago
    • Johnson declared total loss with cargo; abandonment confirmed in official registry

Casualties & Memorials

  • Lives Lost: 0
  • Crew: All safely rescued; no deaths recorded in HCGL personnel files or maritime casualty rolls
  • Life-Saving Service Report: Incident documented in annual report for 1887 as a successful rescue with no loss of life

Salvage & Wreck Status

  • Scow Salvage: Floated and returned to service
  • Johnson: Considered a constructive total loss; shallow-water wreckage likely broken up or salvaged in subsequent seasons
  • Modern Status:
    • Site not a diving destination; wood fragments may exist under shifting sand south of Kenosha
    • Listed in Wisconsin Shipwrecks Database as a shoreline loss rather than a submerged archaeological site

Notmars & Advisories

  • No formal hazard posting recorded; shallow wreck likely dispersed naturally or dismantled

Resources & Archival Links

Conclusion

The Solon H. Johnson represents a typical late-19th century Great Lakes wooden steam screw engaged in the lumber trade, a vital component of Midwest industrial expansion. Her loss near Kenosha in 1887 highlights common operational hazards of tow-line fouling and propulsion disablement in rough autumn weather. Though a total constructive loss, the vessel resulted in no fatalities, due to effective life-saving operations along Lake Michigan’s western shore.

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