Identification & Site Information
- Name: ELLEN PIKE
- Official Number: 7520
- Built: 1855, New Buffalo, Michigan — by builder Bailey
- Hull: Wood, single-Deck Schooner
- Masts: Two
- Final Loss: Driven ashore 3 miles south of Kenosha, WI (Lake Michigan), wrecked on September 21, 1873
Vessel Type
Two-masted wooden Schooner primarily used in the mid-19th century for routine cargo transport on Lake Michigan.
History & Operational Events
- 1857 – Capsized in a gale off Waukegan, Illinois; survived without loss of life
- 1858 (July) – Again capsized near St. Joseph, Michigan; one crew member drowned
- 1860–1866 – Ownership shifts: T. S. Boyd (Chicago), then George Hammer (Chicago), followed by McCollum (Milwaukee)
- 1868 – Registered as approximately 69.73 gross tons
- 1870 (July 14) – Refloated and towed off the beach south of Milwaukee during storm-related grounding
- 1873 (September 21) – Final wreck: Driven ashore in a storm and wrecked south of Kenosha, WI
Final Disposition
- Type of Loss: Total Loss; grounded and wrecked during a severe storm
- Casualties: Not documented for the final event
- Site condition: Likely broken apart in surf zone; designated as “stranded” in Wisconsin historic shipwreck databases (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, newyorkalmanack.com)
Archival Sources & Citations
- Listed in Wisconsin Historic Shipwrecks database under surf zone strandings (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Loss details and location derived from Wisconsin-held maritime records
- Prior capsizings recorded via Great Lakes Shipwreck Files entries (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Research Gaps & Suggested Next Steps
To finalize the historical profile, further archival work is recommended:
- Newspaper research (Sept–Oct 1873): Search Kenosha News, Milwaukee Daily-Press, Chicago Tribune or Waukegan/St. Joseph papers for eyewitness accounts, storm details, and casualty names.
- Registry records: Access U.S. Enrollment records via National Archives (NARA Region 5) for master/owners during 1860–1873.
- Harbor logs: Inspect Kenosha and Milwaukee harbor or pilot logs for grounding assistance or wreck response.
- Local historical societies: Reach out to Kenosha and Waukegan maritime archives for records of wreck clearance, artifact recovery, or memorial plaques.
Summary Table
| Event & Date | Details |
|---|---|
| Built (1855) | New Buffalo, MI by Bailey |
| Capsized (1857) | Gale off Waukegan; crew survived |
| Capsized with fatality (1858) | Off St. Joseph; one man lost |
| Grounded recovery (1870) | Refloated near Milwaukee |
| Final wreck (1873) | Driven ashore 3 mi S Kenosha; Total Loss |
Conclusion
The ELLEN PIKE endured nearly two decades of service across Lake Michigan before succumbing to repeated storm damage. Her final wreck in 1873 south of Kenosha reflects the perilous nature of Great Lakes transport during this era. While part of a recognized surf-zone wreck inventory, her story remains underdocumented—particularly regarding the final storm and its human toll.