Identification & Site Information

Dimensions & Capacity (By 1865 Re-measurement)

Conversion & Later Career

Final Voyage & Loss

History Summary

Launched in 1855 as a propeller Steamer, Bradbury had a long, eventful life. She transformed into a lucrative Barge for heavy freight after being dismantled in 1876. After a Rebuild in 1880, she served nearly seven years before sinking in November 1886, with tragic loss of life amid heavy weather.

Final Disposition

Destroyed by grounding during a storm and declared a total wreck. Crew losses numbered three of seven. Official enrollment records were surrendered in December 1887 .

Located By & Date Found

No specific wreck survey has been recorded. The approximate location off Kewaunee suggests deep-water remains requiring detailed sonar mapping or technical diving surveys.

Notations & Advisories

  • No current charts mark the wreck.
  • Fragments may still lie near the grounding site but remain unverified by modern research.

Conclusion

T. U. BRADBURY / Florence M. Dickinson exemplifies a mid-19th-century Great Lakes vessel whose life cycle—from propeller Steamer to converted Schooner-Barge—mirrors the evolving freight demands of the region. Her loss off Kewaunee on 17 November 1886 cost three lives and ended a 31-year operational history. The wreck site remains unidentified, suggesting opportunities for future research or survey.

Suggested Follow-Up

  • Scan Kewaunee-area newspapers from November 1886 for eyewitness testimonies, specific grounding coordinates, or crew diaries.
  • Check Wisconsin Maritime Museum archives and local underwriters’ logs for salvage or insurance details.
  • Explore modern sonar surveys near Kewaunee harbor for unidentified wreckage consistent with the vessel’s size and location.