Freddie (Gas Tug, 1901)
Identification & Site Information
- Vessel Name: Freddie
- Registry Number: 237558
- Type: Gas‑powered wooden fishing Tug
- Dimensions:
- Length: 32.10 ft (9.78 m)
- Beam: 9.40 ft (2.87 m)
- Depth of Hold: 3.20 ft (0.98 m)
- Tonnage: 8 gross tons
- Propulsion: Gas Screw (single propeller)
- Masts: None (purpose-built Tug/fishing vessel)
- Hull Material: Wood
- Builder: Burger & Burger, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Year Built: 1901
- Home Port / Owner (original):
- George A. Heitl, West Allis, Wisconsin
- Captain: Herman Krones
Reported Wreck Coordinates:
- Latitude: 43° 01.728’ N
- Longitude: 87° 53.640’ W
- Approximate Location: Inner harbor, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Lake Michigan
Construction & Vessel Description
The Freddie was a small, wooden gas‑powered fishing Tug, typical of early 20th‑century Great Lakes commercial fisheries.
- Built by Burger & Burger, a Manitowoc shipyard later famous as Burger Boat Company, which transitioned from small wooden craft to steel yachts and government vessels.
- Compact and shallow‑Draft for harbor and near‑shore fishing or towing service.
- Intended for individual or family operation, with gas propulsion reflecting the period shift from steam to internal combustion for small utility boats.
Operational History
- Entered service in 1901, likely operating in Milwaukee and Racine fishing grounds and performing small harbor towing tasks.
- Known owners include:
- George A. Heitl (West Allis, WI) – documented as original owner
- Captain Herman Krones – associated with operation and probable fishing work out of Milwaukee
- Freddie represents a transitional era of small Great Lakes working craft, bridging the gap between 19th‑century steam tugs and mid‑20th‑century steel fishing vessels.
Final Voyage & Abandonment
- Year of Loss: 1945
- Cause:Abandonment in Milwaukee Harbor
- No sinking event recorded; the vessel was laid up, likely deteriorated, and declared Abandoned.
- The remains were likely removed by harbor or Corps of Engineers authorities, as per standard mid‑20th century harbor clearing practice.
- Casualties: 0 (no lives lost)
Wreck Site & Archaeological Assessment
- Depth: Listed at 0 ft, consistent with harbor abandonment rather than deepwater loss
- Status: Probable removal of wreckage; no confirmed remains visible today
- Survey Notes:
- Harbor abandonment sites of this era are poor archaeological candidates due to harbor maintenance and dredging
- A side-scan or sonar survey of Milwaukee inner harbor could confirm presence of any buried timbers or pilings
Historical Significance
- Example of early gas‑screw fishing Tug, reflecting technological transition on the Great Lakes
- Represents Milwaukee’s commercial fishing heritage, which peaked in the early 20th century
- Built by Burger & Burger, linking to the heritage of Burger Boat Company, a still‑operating Wisconsin shipyard
Primary Sources & Archival Links
- Wisconsin Historical Society Shipwreck Database – Tug Freddie
- Burger Boat Company Historical Timeline
- U.S. Registry of Motor and Gas Fishing Boats, 1901 – Entry #237558
- Milwaukee Harbor Maintenance & Abandonment Reports (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1940s)
- NOAA Great Lakes Wrecks Reference: Thunder Bay Shipwrecks – comparative record for small gas tugs
Summary Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Freddie |
| Type | Wooden gas fishing Tug |
| Year Built | 1901 |
| Builder | Burger & Burger, Manitowoc, WI |
| Registry Number | 237558 |
| Dimensions | 32.10 × 9.40 × 3.20 ft |
| Gross Tonnage | 8 GT |
| Propulsion | Gas Screw |
| Fate | Abandoned in Milwaukee Harbor, 1945 |
| Lives Lost | 0 |
| Current Status | Likely removed / no remains |