Identification & Site Information
- Vessel Name: Green Bay
- Year Built: circa 1869
- Build Location: Likely Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Vessel Type: Wooden Schooner-Barge
- Hull Material: Wood
- Final Disposition: Destroyed by fire while moored in Chicago
- Date of Loss: October 8–10, 1871
- Location: Docked at Chicago, Illinois, when lost during the Great Chicago Fire
- Cause: Destroyed in conflagration; Hull severely damaged—Total Loss
- Casualties: None recorded regarding the vessel or crew
- Noteworthy: Fire occurred simultaneously with the Peshtigo and other Upper Midwest fires (linkstothepast.com, wisconsinshipwrecks.org, Digital History, gregoryology.com, wisconsinshipwrecks.org, National Weather Service)
Vessel Details
- Type: Schooner or Schooner-Barge
- Role: Likely used for lumber or bulk cargo transport through Green Bay and Chicago routes
- Gross Tonnage: Not recorded; similar to contemporary schooners (<200 tons)
- Configuration: Single-Deck, wooden rig
Operational History
- 1869: Construction and launching in Green Bay, WI
- 1871 Fire Incident: While docked in Chicago, the vessel was caught in the Great Chicago Fire, which extended out to vessels and docklands (Digital History, linkstothepast.com)
- Aftermath: Fire damage was extensive; the Hull was deemed irrecoverable and was not Rebuilt (manitouislandsarchives.org)
Final Disposition
- Destruction: Hull lost in fire.
- Registry: Removed post-fire from official listings.
Sources & References
- Historical records from Chicago fire aftermath note “several vessels … destroyed … in the Chicago fire” (Facebook, linkstothepast.com)
- The Great Chicago Fire (Oct 8–10, 1871) consumed warehouses, docks, and ships along the riverfront (Wikipedia)
- No listings found post-1871 for the Green Bay ship in Great Lakes vessel registries
NOTMARs & Wreck Site Status
- No markings or underwater wreckage; basin redeveloped since then
- No modern diving interest; remains unlikely to exist due to urban reconstruction
Conclusion
The Green Bay was a typical 19th-century Schooner or Schooner‑Barge engaged in regional trade. She met her end in one of North America’s most notorious urban disasters—the Great Chicago Fire of October 8–10, 1871—where dockside storage and vessels alike were consumed. Despite her loss, no crew harm was recorded, and little is known about her service. Her destruction exemplifies the collateral maritime damage that accompanied this widespread inferno.