Identification & Site Information

  • Original Name(s): Commerce
  • U.S. Official Registry Number: 4363
  • Home Port: Chicago, Illinois
  • Year Built: 1857
  • Builder: David Dibble, Sandusky, Ohio
  • Dimensions:
    • Length: 141.50 ft (43.12 m)
    • Beam: 31.80 ft (9.69 m)
    • Depth of Hold: 10.80 ft (3.29 m)
    • Gross Tonnage: 327.43 GRT
  • Construction Material: Wood (oak Hull, typical of mid‑19th century Great Lakes freighters)
  • Rig Type: Initially two‑masted Brigantine, rerigged to two‑masted Schooner c. 1870–1871
  • Propulsion: Sail only
  • Number of Masts: 2
  • Final Wreck Coordinates:
    • Latitude: 43° 45.633′ N
    • Longitude: 87° 41.356′ W
    • Nearest City: Sheboygan, Wisconsin
    • Body of Water: Lake Michigan
  • Approximate Depth at Loss: Shallow, near‑surface breakup; wreckage dispersed and partially salvaged

Vessel Type & Description

  • Type: Wooden two‑masted Schooner, formerly Brigantine
  • Intended Service: Bulk cargo carrier for lumber, hardwood slabs, shingles, and wood products
  • Notable Construction Features:
    • Shallow Draft for harbor and river access
    • Strengthened for heavy timber cargoes
    • Converted from Brigantine to Schooner rig for simpler, smaller‑crew operation typical of the post‑1870 lumber trade

Ownership & Service History

  • Known Owners (chronological, partial):
    • L.H. Pratt, Buffalo, NY
    • Winslow & Smith, Buffalo, NY
    • Whibeck & Co., Chicago, IL
    • A.G. VanSchaick, Chicago, IL
    • Captain Edward Mullem, Chicago, IL
    • Eph Nelson, Chicago, IL
    • George Flood, Chicago, IL
  • Operational Record:
    • Primarily lumber and hardwood slab transport for firms such as Milwaukee‑Western Fuel Co.
    • Frequent routes between Lake Michigan ports, Buffalo, and Chicago
    • Typical late‑19th century “lumber Schooner/bulk Barge” service pattern
  • Major Incidents Before Final Loss:
    • Nov 6, 1887 – Racine Reef, Lake Michigan
      • Hull caved in on reef, towed into Racine piers, sank in harbor; refloated and repaired.
    • 1895 – Seul Choix Point, Northern Lake Michigan
      • Wrecked and declared Total Loss; recovered May 1896 and returned to service.
    • Oct 21, 1905 – Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie
      • Sank near Cedar Point, declared Total Loss, later raised and repaired again.
  • Last Enrollment Surrendered:
    • Chicago, 29 Dec 1909: “Vessel Lost”

Final Voyage & Loss

  • Date of Loss: November 16, 1909
  • Cargo: Hardwood slabs for Milwaukee‑Western Fuel Company
  • Voyage: Lumber‑laden, bound for Chicago under tow of Steamer Sanilac
  • Incident:
    • Eight miles off Sheboygan, Commerce became waterlogged in heavy seas
    • Sanilac went to Sheboygan to summon help
    • Tug Reiss reached the Barge, but Commerce capsized before tow could be secured
    • Crew and captain rescued, no fatalities
    • Vessel broke up, cargo lost, some salvage attempted
  • Disposition:
    • Wooden Hull destroyed and scattered
    • No known recovery of intact structure
    • 0 lives lost

Located By & Site Condition

  • Modern Wreck Coordinates: 43° 45.633′ N / 87° 41.356′ W
  • County: Sheboygan, WI
  • Condition:
    • Wreckage broken and dispersed; portions likely buried or removed during salvage
    • No confirmed diveable structure; low archaeological potential unless sediment shifting reveals timbers

NOTMARs & Advisories

  • None noted; vessel loss occurred offshore but in shallow water

Resources & Archival Links

Shore Dive Information

  • Dive Status: Not diveable; dispersed wreckage and shallow hazard area
  • Nearest Harbor Access: Sheboygan Marina
  • Emergency Services: Sheboygan Police/Fire (911 US)
  • Permits: Not required; no confirmed submerged cultural site remains

Conclusion

The Schooner Commerce is a remarkable survivor of repeated 19th‑century maritime disasters, declared a Total Loss at least three times before her final sinking in 1909.
She illustrates the longevity of wooden Lake Michigan schooners and the economic imperative to salvage and Rebuild well past their prime.
Her final loss marked the end of an era for lumber‑carrying Schooner‑barges on the Great Lakes, just as steel‑hulled freighters and powered barges dominated.

Keywords & Categories

  • Region: Lake Michigan, Sheboygan County
  • Vessel Type: Two‑mast Schooner (ex‑Brigantine)
  • Cargo: Hardwood slabs, lumber
  • Cause of Loss: Waterlogging and capsize
  • Material: Wood
  • Period: 1857–1909
  • Dive Difficulty: None; wreckage scattered