Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Sparta
- Type: Steel Bulk Freighter
- Year Built: 1902
- Builder: American Ship Building Company, Lorain, OH
- Dimensions: 380 ft LOA × 50 ft beam × 28 ft depth
- Registered Tonnage: 4,307 gross tons, 3,370 net tons
- Location: Mosquito Beach, ~14 miles from Munising, Michigan
- Official Number: 121219
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Steel-hulled bulk freighter, originally named Frank W. Hart, renamed Sparta in 1929.
Description
The Sparta was a 4,300-ton steel freighter constructed in 1902. On November 5, 1940, while sheltering at Mosquito Beach during a violent Lake Superior storm, she lost both anchor chains. The resulting drift ashore broke her keel, and she was subsequently abandoned and scrapped onsite. There were no injuries or losses to her crew.
History
The Sparta was built by the American Ship Building Company in Lorain, Ohio, as hull #313. She served primarily in the transportation of bulk cargo, including iron ore. The vessel was renamed from Frank W. Hart to Sparta in 1929.
Significant Incidents
- Cargo: Iron ore (though official notes also record her as “light”).
- Weather: Caught in a severe storm, with high winds and waves typical of early November on Superior.
- Cause: While anchored waiting to load lumber at Harrisville, her two anchor chains parted. The tempest drove her ashore, and she broke her back from the pounding surf.
- Result: Declared a total loss and partially scrapped in place; no casualties occurred and no significant wreckage removed.
Final Disposition
The Sparta was declared a total loss after the storm. She was partially scrapped in place, and no significant wreckage was removed from the site.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is not well documented, but it is known that the vessel was abandoned and scrapped onsite. Further archaeological studies may be needed to determine any remaining wreckage presence.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”sparta-us-121219-frank-w-hart” title=”References & Links”]
For those interested in maritime history and shipwrecks, the story of the Sparta serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by vessels on the Great Lakes, particularly during severe weather conditions.
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