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 & Site Information

• Vessel name: Starke (registry No. 116269) built in 1889 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin; home port recorded as Milwaukee, WI (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
• Dimensions: length 65.3 ft (~19.9 m); beam 19.1 ft (~5.82 m); depth of hold 7.7 ft (~2.35 m); gross tonnage 49.0 gt; hull was wooden, powered by a steam screw engine, no masts (Wikipedia)

Vessel Type

• A small wooden-hulled steam screw vessel—likely used for local freight, passenger service, or as a tender—typical of late 19th‑century regional operations on Lake Michigan.

Description

Constructed of oak/timber in Sheboygan, Starke featured compact dimensions with a low tonnage hull. Steam propulsion (screw-driven) afforded modest motive power suited for Milwaukee–Sheboygan runs. Its breadth relative to length suggests cargo or short-run passenger capabilities.

History & Service

• Built in 1889, registry shows Starke operating under Milwaukee as home port. Vigilant registry records list her among steam screw vessels on Lake Michigan, though specific owners or operator names have not been documented in publicly available vessel indexes (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
• No known incidents, port logs, or employment history have surfaced; crew lists and ownership remain unrecorded in accessible sources.

Final Disposition

• There is no public record of a sinking date or abandonment. The field “Sank” remains unconfirmed—no official date or formal registration surrender noted. Lives lost: none known.

Located By & Discovery

• Unlike better-known wrecks, no archaeological site has been confirmed. Starke does not appear in the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary list nor in dedicated state or MSRA wreck registers (Wikipedia).
• The given coordinates (approx. Milwaukee, Lake Michigan) have not been validated with underwater surveys. Thus, the vessel’s current location and condition remain unknown.

Notmars & Advisories

• No Notices to Mariners, hazard bulletins, or chart warnings for Starke have been identified.

Resources & References

• Wisconsin Shipwrecks index entries for Starke (1889 steam screw vessel) and related Lake Michigan steamer listings (Facebook, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
• Additional databases including the Wisconsin Historical Society index and Great Lakes maritime registers should be consulted for deeper primary-source data.

Research Gaps & Recommendations

• Crew and ownership records: consult Milwaukee or Sheboygan port enrollment ledgers, inland vessel registration archives, and U.S. customs entries circa 1889–1919.
• Newspaper archives (circa Sheboygan/Milwaukee): loss, fire, or collision stories between 1889 and 1919 may offer leads—search local papers and government bulletins.
• Marine board or port authority files: search Wisconsin archives for inspection, incident, or abandonment recordings.
• Wreck survey: deploying side-scan sonar or targeted ROV dives near Milwaukee’s 43° 00.008′ N, 87° 52.467′ W, if still plausible, could locate remains.

Conclusion

Starke appears to have been a modest, local-use steam screw vessel operating on Lake Michigan between 1889 and 1919. Despite existing registry data, no sinking or loss is recorded, and actual wreckage or formal end-of-service details are unverified. This profile identifies significant documentation gaps—most notably, lack of a loss date, absence of crew or operator records, and no physical site confirmation. Further archival research and remote-sensing investigation could substantially enhance the vessel’s historical profile.

Keywords / Categories

Lake Michigan; steam screw; wooden vessel; late 19th century; Milwaukee; Sheboygan; unlocated wreck; regional freight/passenger vessel.

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