December 2009 ’s Underwater Heritage  Wisconsin’s Underwater Heritage

Vol.19 No. 4 A publication of the Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association December 2009

Fathoms Deep But Not Forgotten: Wisconsin’s Lost Shipwreck Sites

Part VI: County, 1925 - Present by Brendon Baillod

his article is the sixth in a rest. Environmental laws did not continuing series examin- prohibit the sinking of derelicts until An Old Wagon Ting the historical maritime well after World War II and many Bridge Across archeology sites in Wisconsin. This vessels were simply disposed of in installment review the histori- the depths. The following list details Little Lake cal shipwrecks of Milwaukee County all the historic total loss shipwrecks in its most recent period. By 1925, and hulls known in Milwaukee Butte des Morts Milwaukee’s Lake trade had begun County after 1925. This list includes by Richard P. Mason to change from grain to manufac- only registered commercial ves- and Steve Wagner tured goods and commercial schoo- sels. Countless small, unregistered ners had become so rare that an pleasure boats grace the bottom off arrival in the harbor would attract a Milwaukee but these are outside the ecently the authors col- crowd. Most vessel traffic was in the scope of this article. laborated on a project to learn form of large, modern lake steamers, Tug Knight Templar (14495), built Rabout a wagon bridge, built which began to dominate the bulk 1890, probably on the bed of the more than 150 years ago, over Little freight trade. Milwaukee’s water- tug F.C. Maxon, 62.1 x 16.7 x 7.4 Lake Butte des Morts. That long front started to look much like it ft., 38.69 gt. wooden bridge ran from where the does today, with many of the build- George Whiting Paper Company is The old wooden harbor tug ings seen today along the water- located in Menasha, diagonally to Knight Templar was abandoned front. The period after 1925 saw a James Island in the channel of the at Milwaukee in 1925 and taken large number of hull abandonments Fox River, and then angled due west off the books in 1929. She and scuttlings as steam powered to the Winchester Road (now County had been owned by the Gillen vessels were replaced by diesel and Trunk II) just north of the location of Towing Company. Accounts old sailing vessel hulls were laid to the Kimberly-Clark guest house. The bridge was an important feature in Barge Progress – author’s collection continued on page 6 the early growth of Menasha, when the village of Menasha was connect- ed with the Town of Menasha area, then known as West Menasha. As noted by Alice E. Smith [1], the fledgling village of Menasha began to grow very quickly and there was a need for a bridge to

continued on page 3  Wisconsin’s Underwater Heritage December 2009

Association News Fall Conference The day’s presentations were Following the event, most attendees The fifth annual WUAA Fall very informative and included a enjoyed dinner and refreshments at Conference was held on October 24 review of the season’s fieldwork on the Milwaukee Ale House. at the Discovery World Museum in the wreck of the MFD No. 23 by New WUAA Publications Kimm Stabelfeldt and a review of Milwaukee. The event broke our WUAA has two new publica- the Wisconsin Historical Society’s previous attendance records and tions that will soon be available 2009 fieldwork by Tamara Thomsen. was a rousing success. We received on the WUAA website. Dr. Richard Chris Winters and Kevin Cullen of many compliments on the wonderful Boyd has completed a fascinating the Discovery World Museum pre- location for the meeting and our sin- study of the life and career of the sented their remote survey field- cere thanks go out to Kevin Cullen notorious Lake pirate Dan and the staff of Discovery World for work on the car ferry Milwaukee Seavey. Titled A Pirate Roams Lake their generosity in hosting the event. and Brendon Baillod presented the Michigan: The Dan Seavey Story, recently discovered wreck of the The day began with a short busi- the book includes many original steamer M.H. Stuart, which lies in ness meeting at which the WUAA photos, news accounts and details 200 feet of water off Milwaukee. Board elections were held. The of Seavey’s exploits and career. Videotaped by John Janzen and Jitka results were as follows: Brendon Baillod will be releasing Hanakova, the wreck is intact but the first in a series of books about President - Brendon Baillod her superstructure is gone and her Wisconsin’s Lost Ships. Volume Vice President - Kevin Cullen bow is burned. WUAA was pleased Secretary - Paul Laue 1 will be published in January to have in attendance, Henry Treasurer - Lee Hintz and is titled Fathoms Deep But Barkhausen, one of the Lakes’ most Director - Janet Defnet Not Forgotten: Wisconsin’s Lost respected historians, and his wife Director - Dr. Richard Boyd Ships. It gives detailed accounts of Alice. Mr. Barkhausen, related his Director - Danny Aerts nearly 400 ships lost in Wisconsin experiences with the steamer M.H. Brendon thanked outgoing Vice waters between Kenosha and Port Stuart while she was still in ser- President Hank Whipple for his Washington and includes hundreds vice in the 1930’s. Sheboygan City years of service and welcomed Kevin of photos, period advertisements, Historian Bill Wangemann gave Cullen in his new role. Upcoming archival maps and information on a very enjoyable presentation on projects and fieldwork opportunities undiscovered shipwrecks. Both the wrecks of the steamer Phoenix were reviewed as well as upcoming books will be available on the and the schooner Lottie Cooper. WUAA publications. WUAA website at wuaa.org.

Wisconsin’s semiannual meetings President: Directors: and provides support Brendon Baillod Richard Boyd Underwater to members’ research Marshall Delafield Heritage and publication projects. Vice-President: Danny Aerts Annual membership dues Kevin Cullen Middleton is published quar- are $20. For membership Milwaukee terly by the Wisconsin Janet Defnet information write to the Treasurer: Underwater Archeology Mukwonago postal or email address Lee Hintz Association, a nonprofit below. Oak Creek association of individu- Mail correspondence to: als and organizations Secretary WUAA interested in studying Paul Laue PO Box 6081 and preserving the under- Madison Madison, WI 53716 water cultural resources Newsletter Editor: and historical sites of email: Danny Aerts Wisconsin. [email protected] Middleton web site: In addition to publish- www.wuaa.org ing this newsletter, the Association also holds December 2009 Wisconsin’s Underwater Heritage 

diameter, could have been installed to [4] Our work found that the rock- Bridge Across break up ice floes in the spring, pro- piles converge with pilings at the Little Lake Butte tecting the bridge piles. In June, all west end of the bridge route, after a rockpiles were completely submerged spacing of 150 feet from the pilings des Morts and varied in depth from 6 inches to on the east end. This negated the ice continued from page 1 two feet below the water surface. breaker theory. More likely the rock- Many questions were raised dur- piles are remnants of a float bridge accommodate horse-drawn wagons ing our exploration work. In some that preceded the pile bridge. hauling wheat from the towns of cases wood timbers up to 8 x 12 Early historians disagree on Winchester, Clayton and Menasha inches in diameter were observed when the first bridge was built. In a to the flour mills in Menasha. In surrounding the base of a rockpile, history of Winnebago County, pub- those days Menasha was connected with evidence that planks lay under- lished in 1908, Publius V. Lawson to other villages by plank roads. A neath the rocks. Were these “sleds” claimed that the bridge was built in plank road between Menasha and to facilitate installation during winter 1850; he doesn’t mention more than Appleton kept 100 teams busy haul- ice or were they the remains of some one bridge. [5] An earlier history of ing wheat during the big wheat crop sort of crib to contain the rocks? The Winnebago County was published by of 1855. [2] The village of Menasha rockpiles were composed of round Richard G. Harney in 1880, claim- bonded itself in 1853 for $5000 to stones and boulders ranging from ing that “the first bridge was built finance the Neenah and Manitowoc 6 to 30 inches in diameter. Were in 1853, but was replaced by a float Plank Road Company’s construction they once higher, protruding above bridge with draw, in 1856, and in of a wagon bridge across Little Lake the water? Probably, but what was 1861, a pile bridge was construct- Butte des Morts. the average water level back in the ed.” [6] Harney’s version is probably No evidence for the bridge exists 1850’s compared to today? correct, since Alice Smith claimed today above water. Richard P. Mason The pilings are also submerged that the Village of Menasha had (the senior author) grew up on the beneath the water surface (most bonded itself for the 1853 construc- lake and was familiar with the sub- were cut off at water level during tion of a bridge. Searching the local merged pilings and rockpiles that the 1930’s depression years for libraries for any pictures, paintings, could be seen during periods of good firewood) and are located up to 150 or sketches of the bridges produced water clarity. The existence of the feet north of and somewhat parallel no results. bridge in the mid 1800’s was noted to the rockpiles. The circumference Old plat book maps published in a report he prepared for the Town of the pilings ranged from 17 to 32 between 1855 and 1873 noted the of Menasha in May of 2004 [3] inches (diameter 5.6 to 10.2 inches). location of the bridge(s); in fact the and at a presentation he gave at the They were driven down in sets of 1872 map identified it as the “long Fox Valley Scuba Club meeting on four abreast, spaced anywhere from bridge”. A photo taken in 1870 April 12, 2006. Upon hearing about 3 to 7 feet apart providing a span of looking northwest from Wisconsin the wagon bridge, some of the club about 20 feet. The next set of four Avenue in Neenah actually shows members, including Dave Heid, Jon was usually found 14 or 15 feet the bridge in the background, but McKenzie, Mike Radtke and Steve away. A picture of Paul Mason’s from that distance it is barely dis- Wagner (co-author of this paper) duck blind, taken about 1934, cernible. As part of the Town of became interested in the bridge; thus, reveals about 23 pilings still stand- Menasha Sesquicentennial celebra- plans were made to investigate. ing above the water. By 1955 only tion in August, 2006, a book about In May and June, 2006 we were three were still standing. the town’s history was published able to document some of the under- In years past fishermen were [7]. It included a brief submission water evidence for the bridge. The often attracted to the rockpiles and by Larry Easton, originally published use of a 14-foot boat and a jet ski pilings because of the structure they in the Winnebago Whistle, describ- equipped with GPS and sonar enabled offered for the fish. Occasionally a ing early wagon bridges across Little us, in spite of low water clarity, to rockpile was struck by an unwary Lake Butte des Morts. [8] A visit map rockpiles and pilings. Water boater, as can be attested by our with Larry Easton, well known for depths ranged from 3 to 8 feet. finding of a propeller and motor his railroad history research, proved Eleven rockpiles were located and hood. A newspaper in 1962 reported to be very rewarding. His search for mapped. We considered that the rock- that 44 submerged pilings remained piles, most of them about 25 feet in and were a hazard for motor boats. continued on page 4  Wisconsin’s Underwater Heritage December 2009

determined to proceed at once in July 23, 1861 made a verbal contract Bridge Across repairing this bridge and fitting it with Thomas Armstrong and Daniel Little Lake Butte for the passage of teams”. [12] The Jones to saw the stringers for the Village of Menasha approved a cost bridge at $2.50 per thousand. The des Morts of $1500 to repair the float bridge, stringers would measure between continued from page 3 and $40 to preserve the materials 13 and 16 inches. The next meeting, from the first float bridge. [13] The on August 19, 1861, awarded Otis information pertaining to railroad bridge was replaced, allowing pas- Cross a contract for driving pilings bridges inadvertently uncovered sage of the first steamship to travel for $300.00. information about the old wagon from the Mississippi River to the On August 29, 1861 a local bridge(s). Much of his informa- Neenah lock, and on to Green Bay in newspaper noted the bridge proj- tion was found while going through June, 1856. [14] ect was advancing rapidly and that the Village of Menasha and Town The second float bridge, like 1300 feet of piles had been driven of Menasha Board of Supervisors the first one, was hard to main- on this (east) side of the lake and minutes from 1853 to 1862, as well tain. At the May 24, 1859 meet- 1200 feet of plank laid. [15] as old newspapers. Larry graciously ing, the Village of Menasha Board At the September 21, 1861 shared this information; we are for- of Supervisors reviewed three bids, ever indebted to him. meeting the Board of Supervisors ranging from $500 to $700 for allowed: In the 1850’s float bridges were the repair of the float bridge. But G. Bronson 1 days work $1.50 in vogue: a float bridge built in enough was enough. On March 12, G. Bixby 1 1/8 days $1.68 Oshkosh at Main Street replaced the 1860 the Board of Trustees, Village E. L Ward 2 7/8 days $2.87 ferry in 1847. Another float bridge of Menasha, reviewed a petition L. Utley 1 days $1.75 was built at Algoma Street in 1850. signed by E.D. Smith and one hun- L. Wheatley 150 piles $75.00 Bonds issued by the City of Oshkosh dred other “legal voters” to appro- Mr. Gardner draw 50 piles $25.00 included $2000 in 1854, in payment priate money for a permanent pile James Ladd 25 piles $25.00 for the old float bridge, and $8000 bridge. But a motion to approve the Otis Cross bridge contract $690.00 in 1858 for building a new float new bridge was tabled. The 1857 On December 19, 1861 a news- bridge. [9] panic was probably to blame. paper reported the bridge “is one of The float bridges were difficult Interestingly, on April 2, 1860, the most substantial and symmetri- to maintain, but in defense of the the Village of Menasha turned over cal bridges of the kind in the state. Menasha bridge over Little Lake control of the bridge to the Town It is 2700 feet long, has a fine close Butte des Morts, a local newspaper, Corporation of Menasha. A resolu- railing on both sides, about four feet on March 19, 1855, stated that “the tion was unanimously adopted to let high, rendering it perfectly safe for Bridge has been passable constantly the Town of Menasha raise whatever teams to pass and repass each other, for nearly a year”. [10] But plans sum was necessary. is as straight as a line, well support- were already being made to replace The April 27, 1860 Town of ed on both sides, that the action of the first float bridge with a second, Menasha Board of Supervisors meet- the water cannot disturb its founda- more permanent float bridge. [11] A ing awarded contracts for obtaining tion, which taken altogether renders portion of the second bridge would pilings 16 to 22 feet long and not it a structure of which the people of swing open, allowing passage of less than 12 inches in diameter at Menasha may reasonably feel proud, boats. A channel was dredged from the smallest end. (Note: the 12 pil- and when Summer comes round, the Neenah lock to the wagon bridge ings we measured ranged from 5 it will be one of the most pleasant and slightly beyond. The second inches to just over 8 inches). The and beautiful walks to be found bridge, in 1856, allowed passage pilings were to be of “sound White in these parts. E.L. Ward, Esqr, of the Aquila, the first steamship to or Swamp Oak”. The minutes for the the Superintendent of the bridge, pass through the Neenah lock from December 11, 1860 meeting estab- and Capt. Watke, the builder, have Lake Winnebago to Green Bay. lished a cost of 75 cents each for established their character as bridge A newspaper on April 26, 1856 400 piles furnished by L. S. Finch, builders to a demonstration.” [16] reported: “The Butte des Morts and on December 29, 1860 allowed The Town of Menasha Board Bridge. – We are happy to learn that Richard Allen the contract for fur- of Supervisors minutes record for our Board of Trustees have finally nishing 100 piles for $75.00. The December 30, 1861 “Allowed C.W. yielded to the ‘outside pressure’ and Board of Supervisors meeting on Watke for constructing 2733 feet of December 2009 Wisconsin’s Underwater Heritage  bridge across Little Lake Butte des land grants and water power fran- the plank road. A similar fate for Morts at 60 cents per foot as per chises were not taken away from the Menasha wagon bridge occurred contract - $1639.80.” “Allowed C.W. the Green Bay Mississippi Canal when a pile railroad bridge was built Watke for extra work across Taits Company, which is still in existence across Little Lake Butte des Morts in Island Mud Sills & Bents bridge - today. Work on the dam in Neenah 1863 (subsequently replaced with a $30.00.” The total cost of the bridge was begun in 1847; [20] it remained steel bridge in 1910 and now serv- was $6365.92. private but the Neenah lock was ing as part of the new Friendship The Demise of the abandoned. The dam and lock in Trestle Trail walking bridge). Menasha, owned by the federal gov- Wagon Bridge Building a plank road required ernment, are still in use today. In 1870 there were fifteen flour removing trees and stumps, “grub- mills in Neenah and Menasha, with In the 1880’s the superstructure of bing”, grading and installing a 44 water wheels (varying between the wagon bridge was removed and gravel base. The state regulated 30 and 80 horsepower each), with the lumber sold, leaving only rows of such matters as minimum width a total capacity of 821,615 bar- pilings stretching across the lake as a (usually 24 feet between ditches) rels of flour a year. In addition to reminder of a different era. [21] and the use of the right of eminent wheat grown in Winnebago County, Menasha Plank Roads domain. The stringers, upon which the planks were laid, consisted of wheat was hauled in from Calumet, It is interesting to note that the old white oak boards, one and one-half Waupaca, Outagamie and Waushara wagon bridge was built at a time inches thick, eight inches wide, and County. when plank roads were in vogue. not less than twelve feet long. They By 1873 the wagon bridge was Plank roads greatly reduced rolling were laid in trenches so that the in need of repair. But several factors resistance and prevented getting upper surface of the stringer was prevented any repairs from material- mired in the mud. The state legisla- level with the earthen road bed. The izing. The panic of 1873, followed ture granted charters to stock com- outside stringer was set one and by an acute depression from 1876 panies to build plank roads between one-half inches lower than the other, until 1878, [17] probably influenced specified points. Plank roads and eight feet in width was allowed farmers to defeat an effort to fund were being built from Menasha to between the two. The space between the needed repairs [18]. Some of Manitowoc (1848), Menasha to stringers was filled with earth to the flour mills were being converted Kaukauna (1850) and Menasha to one-half inch above the surface of to paper making. Minneapolis was Oshkosh (1852). A British naval the stringer. The oak planks, one becoming a major wheat center captain, Lauchlan B. MacKinnon, and one-half inches thick, three as wheat farming moved west, to newly arrived from England, inches wide, and eight feet long, be replaced in Wisconsin by dairy financed the building of a plank were placed on top of the stringers farms. In 1863 the & road from Menasha to Appleton and pounded down until they rested Northwestern Railway built a wood (also in 1852). When the village of on the stringer. To prevent injury to pile railroad bridge across the lake, Menasha was incorporated in 1853 the horses’ hooves, the planks were about a quarter of a mile north of it was connected to Appleton and not nailed down. the wagon bridge, probably contrib- Kaukauna by plank roads with toll uting to the demise of the wagon gates on both ends. The plank road boom of 1851 – 1854 ended when it was found bridge. In 1910 the railroad bridge The idea of plank roads came that the planks would only last for was rebuilt with steel, today it is from Russia and the first one in three or four years, not twelve. What part of the Friendship Trail. The North America was built in Toronto a waste of good white oak! Other railroad also lessened the need for in 1836. White oak planks were pre- kinds of early roads included cor- water transportation; consequently ferred because it was thought they duroy, made of logs laid crosswise. the Fox and Wisconsin Improvement would last for 12 years, whereas Old corduroy road logs were found Company was unable to pay the pine would last about four years. buried ten feet deep when the slough interest on its bonds. The bond A plank road, constructed between bridge on Winneconne Avenue in holders sued and in 1866 the Green Milwaukee and Watertown, was fin- Neenah was replaced in 1953. Bay and Mississippi Canal Company ished in 1853 at a cost of $103,000. became owner. In 1870 the United A railroad connecting Milwaukee A Scotsman named McAdam States appraised the value of the and Watertown was completed in developed a paving mixture of soil locks and canals at $145,000 and 1855 and hastened the demise of took possession of them. [19] The continued on page 9  Wisconsin’s Underwater Heritage December 2009

The big wooden steam fish tug Steel Gas Launch North Shore Milwaukee County Raymond was abandoned and scuttled (230121) built 1930, 60.7 x 20.0 Shipwreck Sites at Milwaukee just west of the Clinton x 7.0 ft., 63 gt. Street Bridge on August 15, 1929. continued from page 1 This steel vessel was welded Steel Car Ferry Milwaukee (93363) together on the corner of Barclay and relate that she was abandoned in built 1903 as Manistique, Marquette Lapham Streets in Milwaukee. She the Kinnickinnic River. Her remains & Northern #1, renamed Milwaukee was lost on September 30, 1930 dur- have never been identified and were in 1909, 338.1 x 56.0 x 19.5 ft., ing her maiden season on a run from almost certainly removed. 2933 gt. St. Joseph, MI to Milwaukee with a cargo of grapes and six crew, includ- Wooden Gas Yacht Tuna III The big steel car ferry Milwaukee ing the captain and his new wife. (213207), built 1915, 43.5 x 11.5 foundered on October 22, 1929 in She is believed to have gone down x 6.3 ft., 26 gt. one of the Lakes’ worst and best known disasters. Her loss was a closer to the Wisconsin shore but her The gas yacht Tuna III had come mystery until she was found by John remains have never been found. to the Lakes from Florida when she Steele and Kent Bellrichard in 120 Schooner EMBA (106706) built stranded and burned on November 2, feet of water off Whitefish Bay in 1890 as the A.C. Tuxbury, renamed 1926 at St. Francis. Her remains have May of 1972. The site is now a pop- Cotton Blossom in 1920, EMBA never been located and it is doubtful ular dive target, but the wreck has in 1924, 181.0 x 35.0 x 13.1 ft., if any identifiable remains survive. begun to deteriorate significantly 679.51 gt. Wooden Barge Progress (150205), from age. The big schooner barge EMBA built 1880 as a steamer, 255.2 x Steam Fireboat M.F.D. No. 17 was scuttled well off Milwaukee in 37.0 x 19.8 ft., 1596 gt. Rebuilt as (130654) built 1893 as the James 165 feet of water on December 10, a barge in 1908, 248.0 x 37.6 x Foley, renamed in 1901, 99.0 x 1932. Her remains were located by 14.0 ft., 844 gt. 24.4 x 10.2 ft., 136 gt. Kent Bellrichard and Richard Zaleski The big wooden barge Progress The M.F.D. No. 17 was the City in December 1975 and she is now a was abandoned off Milwaukee of Milwaukee’s second fireboat, per- popular dive target with her substan- Harbor on July 13, 1927. She had manently posted in the harbor at the tial A frame hoist still on her deck. outlived her usefulness and was foot of Water Street. Fireboats wore Gas Yacht Nomad (209909) built scuttled, probably a few miles off out quickly from the need to keep 1912 as Mary II, renamed Gul in the straight cut. Her owner, Edward their boilers fired at all times and 1917, Althea II in 1920, Nomad in Gillen removed her engine before the No. 17 was laid up in December 1922, 69.7 x 12.0 x 5.9 ft., 33 gt. scuttling her. Her remains may have 1922. She was scuttled with her been located by Jerry Guyer, but no On July 2, 1933 the Nomad machinery 5 miles NE of the harbor conclusive ID has been made. burned to the water’s edge and piers on May 12, 1930. The No. 17 sank at the Milwaukee Yacht Club. Wooden Steamer Raymond has yet to be located and probably A young girl was seriously burned (208205) built 1910 as a fish tug, has findable remains. in the accident. The wreck was sold 52.8 x 15.4 x 6.0 ft., 27.00 gt. for $25 and towed to South Shore Park a few days later. Although the Steamer Sandoval – author’s collection hull remained on the books for a few years, she is believed to have been abandoned. It is speculated that she was removed for inland use. Wooden Sidewheel Steamer Sandoval (220423) built 1895, 108.0 x 15.5 x 9.2 ft., 93 gt. The wooden steamer Sandoval was built for the Spanish govern- ment as a gunboat, and in 1898 she was captured by the United States near Havana becoming part of the U.S. Navy. In 1921, she was con- December 2009 Wisconsin’s Underwater Heritage  verted to a yacht at Milwaukee and in 1927 she was refitted as a pack- age freighter, running in the fruit trade from Saugatauk to Milwaukee. In June of 1933, she was aban- doned in the Kinnickinnic River. Her remains are believed to have been removed. Wooden Gas Propeller Lois Pearl (92651) built 1895, 61.0 x 14.4 x 7.8 ft., 33 gt. Tug Fearless – author’s collection This wooden vessel was pur- chased by Captain George Lawrie of Gas Yacht Pinta (150651) built while bound across the lake from Milwaukee in 1924 for the passen- 1893 as a schooner, rebuilt as a gas Pentwater. She had just been pur- ger and package freight trade. She yacht in the 1920’s, 92.6 x 24.4 x chased by new owners in Milwaukee was sunk and abandoned in 1935 9.8 ft., 100 gt. who temporarily put a Buick auto at the foot of the Kilbourn Street The Pinta sank in a storm at the engine in her for the trip and lashed Bridge. She was dropped from reg- entrance to the Milwaukee Yacht their trailer to her roof. Some felt istry in 1941. It is unknown if her Club piers on November 5, 1938. she may have iced up and rolled, but remains are still in the area. She was raised by Edward E. Gillen conventional wisdom holds that she exploded due to the hastily installed Steam-Powered Wooden Fish Tug in May of 1939, towed out 10 miles NE of the piers and scuttled. Her engine. Her remains are unlikely to Grayling (85444) built 1876, 54.0 be found. x 13.5 x 5.0 ft., 17.25 gt. remains have never been located. Wooden Gas Yacht Oh Lou On May 30, 1936, the big Wooden Fish Tug Two Brothers (207580) built 1910 as the fish tug was towed to (145600) built 1891, 54.0 x 14.0 Grayling E.E.E.E., renamed Alquinot in 1929, Milwaukee from Sheboygan where x 6.6 ft., 37.90 gt. Oh Lou in 1931, 79.8 x 13.6 x 6.4 she had been sunk in the shallows This big fish tug was owned by ft., 57.0 gt. of the Sheboygan River. She soon brothers John and Ole Hansen of sank near the Holton Street Bridge. Milwaukee, who abandoned her for The Oh Lou was laid up for the th On September 20, 1936, she was age and condition at Milwaukee in winter at the foot of 25 Street at towed off Milwaukee by the Coast October of 1940. Her final disposi- the Milwaukee Gas Light Company Guard and scuttled. Her remains tion is unknown. dock when she burned to her decks on February 23, 1942, possibly have not been identified. Wooden Steamer Mayflower Jr. due to the overheating of a kero- (211304) built 1913, 85.6 x 15.0 Scow No. 10 (168606) built 1914, sene heater left near her generator. x 5.2 ft., 94.0 gt. 120.0 x 32.0 x 7.5 ft., 229 gt. Her documents were surrendered This unrigged scow was aban- The little wooden passenger in 1943, but her final disposition doned at Milwaukee and scuttled steamer Mayflower Jr. was aban- remains unknown. She may have in December 1937. Her remains doned at Milwaukee near First and been scuttled out in the lake. may be one of the barges found by Becher Streets in August 1940 by Wooden Fish Tug Fearless Jerry Guyer around the Prins Willem her owner George Lawrie, due to (120943) built 1893, 59.2 x 14.6 wrecksite. poor condition. Her remains were x 6.8 ft., 28 gt. probably removed as this Tug Mistress – author’s collection area has been dredged. The big fish tug Fearless was abandoned at Milwaukee near the Wooden Fish Tug Mistress St. Paul Railroad Bridge in 1943 (222610) built 1922, due to her extreme age. Her remains 38.7 x 10.5 x 4.0 ft., have never been identified and it is 15.0 gt. possible that they were towed out The fish tug Mistress into the lake and scuttled. vanished off Milwaukee on March 3, 1941, continued on page 8  Wisconsin’s Underwater Heritage December 2009

The M.H. Stuart was burned and was a total loss. Her final disposition Milwaukee County scuttled at Milwaukee on June 10, is unknown. Shipwreck Sites 1948. She was then towed out into the Wooden Dredge 906 (165186) built lake and sunk at an unknown location. continued from page 7 1912 as the Defiance, 120.0 x 39.6 Her remains have yet to be located. x 11.4 ft., 742 gt. Wooden Fish Tug Satisfaction Steel Steamer M.F.D. No. 29 The Dredge 906 was in tow of the (116628) built 1894, 64.0 x 16.0 (203072) built 1906, 88.0 x 25.6 tug E. James Fucik when she cap- x 8.0 ft., 47.75 gt. x 13.0 ft., 171 gt. Later rebuilt, sized and foundered in rough weath- 96.0 x 25.8 x 11.6 ft., 137.38 gt. The tug Satisfaction had been er off Milwaukee Harbor with the loss rebuilt as a fish tug after serving for The M.F.D No. 29 was one of of nine lives. She is now a popular many years as a harbor tug. She was Milwaukee’s longest serving fireboats. Milwaukee area sport diving site. abandoned at Milwaukee in 1946, She was sold for scrap on June 28, Wooden Tug Edward E. Gillen but later taken to Green Bay where 1948 and dismantled at Milwaukee on (227538) built 1928, 73.0 x 19.1 she was dismantled in 1947. October 1, 1948. Her hull was likely x 9.3 ft., 68 gt. cut up and melted down. Steel Steamer Wolverine (211085) The tug Edward E. Gillen was one built 1913 as the passenger ship Steel Dredge General George G. of three vessels to bear this name. Seeandbee, 484.5 x 58.1 x 24.0 ft., Meade, built 1904 as General This vessel was used by the Gillen 6381 gt. Gillespie, renamed in 1909. Towing Company until being sold in After a notable career, the famous The big steel dredge General 1964 for scrap. She was abandoned and massive passenger steamer Meade was scrapped at Milwaukee in 1965 in the Kinnickinnic River Seeandbee was converted in 1942 in 1950. She was almost certainly between First and Becher Streets. to a Navy aircraft carrier trainer cut up and melted down. Her remains were moved by dredg- called Wolverine based at Chicago, Steel Freighter Prins Willem V, ing after an archeological assess- Illinois. During her career as an air- built 1949. Construction began in ment in 2008. craft carrier, the Wolverine saw over 1940 but she was scuttled to block Steel Cargo Ship Photinia 70,000 takeoffs and landings before Rotterdam Harbor during WWII. (BR187933) built 1961. being purchased by the A.F. Wagner 258.0 x 42.1 x 14.7 ft., 2763 gt. The British cargo ship Photinia Iron Works at Milwaukee for scrap. The Prins Willem V was inbound grounded in a storm off St. Francis The Wolverine was dismantled at at Milwaukee with a cargo of miscel- on May 13, 1978. The crew were Milwaukee in 1947. laneous fright when she struck the rescued by USCG helicopter, but the Wooden Steamer M.H. Stuart tow line of the oil barge Sinclair XII vessel remained stranded for most (221409) built 1921, 104.5 x 25.5 in tow of the tug Sinclair Chicago off of the year and was declared a total x 8.7 ft., 192.0 gt. Milwaukee Harbor, tearing a 20-foot loss. She was purchased by Selvick hole in her starboard side. She foun- Marine and towed to Sturgeon Bay dered quickly, settling where she was scrapped. Steamer M.H. Stuart – author’s collection on her side in 70 feet of Steel Tug Edward E. Gillen water. All crew were res- (205312) built 1908 as the steamer cued by USCG Hollyhock. Erastus C. Knight, renamed Aubrey The wreck is now the in 1928, Edward E. Gillen in 1958, most heavily dived site 56.5 x 15.3 x 7.9 ft., 47 gt. on the . The diesel tug Edward E. Gillen Gas Yacht Luckime was conducting towing winch (227790) built 1923 as tests with the USCG Westwind off Rose Marie, renamed in Milwaukee when she capsized and 1954, 48.0 x 10.0 x 5.1 foundered two miles east of the har- ft., 16.0 gt. bor. Her four crew were picked up The yacht Luckime by the Westwind, but the tug was a was sunk at her dock at total loss. The tug is now a popular the Milwaukee Gas Light dive target, resting upright in 73 feet Company in 1955. She of water. December 2009 Wisconsin’s Underwater Heritage 

6. Harney, Richard G., History of Bridge Across Winnebago County, Wisconsin Little Lake Butte and Early History of the Northwest, Allen & Hicks, Book des Morts Printers, 1880, 219. 7. Easton , Larry E., Early Wagon continued from page 5 Bridges, Town of Menasha and stone aggregate, called macadam, Sesquicentennial 1855-2005, and embanked roads higher than the Jason Weber, editor, 2006, 123- surrounding terrain, causing water to 124. drain away. Because the roadbed was 8. Easton, Larry E., The Winnebago higher the term highway came into Whistle, the official quarterly use. Later, when tar was employed newsletter of the Winnebagoland to reduce erosion, it became known Division MWR, NMAR, vol. 39 No. 1. as tarmacadam, or tarmac. Toll roads required a gate, often simply a pike, 9. Harney, 194. or pole mounted on a swivel. When 10. Menasha Advocate, March 19, the toll was paid the pike was turned, 1855. thus the term turnpike. 11. Menasha Advocate, May 17, References 1855. 1. Smith, Alice E., Millstone and 12. Menasha Advocate, April 26, Saw. The Origins of Neenah- 1856. Menasha. State Historical Society 13. Menasha Advocate, May 3, of Wisconsin, 1966, 43. 1856. 2. Whitbeck, Ray Hughes, The 14. Harney, 203. Geography of the Fox-Winnebago 15. Menasha Weekly Manufacturer, Valley, Wisconsin Geological and August 29, 1861. Natural History Survey, Bulletin XLII, 1915. 16. Menasha Weekly Manufacturer, December 19, 1861. 3. Mason, Richard P., Archeology and Early History of the West 17. Glaab Charles N., and Lawrence Shore of Little Lake Butte des H. Larsen, Factories in the Valley, Morts. Report prepared for the Neenah-Menasha, 1870-1915, Blue Ribbon Committee for the 1969, 103. Development of Conceptual 18. Cunningham, G. A., History of Master Plans for the Fritse Park Neenah, Neenah, 1878, 100. Area, 2004. 19. Smith, Leonard S., The Water 4. Twin City News Record, March Powers of Wisconsin, Wisconsin 20, 1962, 2. Geological and Natural History 5. Lawson, Publius V., History of Survey, Bulletin XX, 1908, 39. Winnebago County, Chicago: C.F. 20. Cunningham, 13. Cooper, 1908, 667. 21. Easton, 6. Rescue of the Photinia – author’s collection Wisconsin Underwater Archeological Association P.O. Box 6081 Madison, WI 53716

For those interested in the study and preservation of Wisconsin’s underwater history and cultural resources.

Coming Events

February 19-21, 2010 Our World Underwater, Rosemont, IL. Scuba diving show. For information check their web site at www.OurWorldUnderwater.com. February 27, 2010 Dive Into The Past, in Mounds View, MN. Shipwreck-Scuba Show sponsored by Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society. For information check their web site at www.glsps.org. March 5-6, 2010 Ghost Ships Festival, in Milwaukee. Films, seminars and presentations about great Lakes Shipwrecks. Sponsored by Great Lakes Shipwreck Research Foundation. For information check their web site at www.ghost-ships.org.