Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Marengo
  • Former Type: Originally launched as a Brig; later rigged and listed as a Schooner
  • Year Built: 1873
  • Builder: Messrs. Wolf & Davidson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Owners at Launch: R.P. & John Fitzgerald; Joseph Paige
  • Official Number: U.S. 90583
  • Dimensions: Keel length 187 ft (57 m); beam 32 ft (9.8 m); depth of hold 13 ft 7 in (4.14 m)
  • Tonnage: 645 tons (1880–81); 648.25 GT ⁄ 615.84 NT (1884)
  • Cargo Capacity: 40,000 bushels of wheat
  • Home Port: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Build Cost: Approximately US $50,000 at time of construction

Vessel Type

The Marengo was a two-masted sailing vessel that transitioned from Brig to Schooner rigging—typical of late-19th-century Great Lakes grain carriers. She featured innovative pumping systems and straight-line Hull optimized for bulk cargo transport.

Description

She had a strongly built oak Hull and cargo hold designed to load wheat through large hatches. Initially configured as a Brig with square sails on both masts, later re-rigged as a Schooner (Fore-and-Aft Sails). Her deckhouse accommodated advanced pumping machinery that improved cargo-handling efficiency.

History

The Marengo was launched on April 2, 1873, and entered service soon after. In its early years, she was noted in newspapers like the Buffalo Evening Post and Commercial Advertiser for her outfitting and machinery. Records from 1880 and 1884 list her tonnage and transition in rigging. She participated heavily in the grain trade, transporting large wheat hauls across the lake system. Registered as either a Brig around 1880 and later corrected to Schooner in 1884, she retained the official number and home port.

Final Disposition

Her ultimate fate remains undocumented in available maritime and archival databases. She was likely retired or lost through wrecking or scrapping, but exact details—date, location, method—are not found in current sources.

Located By & Date Found

There is no known wreck associated with Marengo. It does not appear among documented wrecks in NOAA’s Great Lakes Shipwreck Database or other primary shipwreck lists.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No Notices to Mariners or documented obstructions linked to Marengo’s remains. If her Hull was wrecked, it has not been officially located, charted, or marked.

Resources & Links

  • Maritime History of the Great Lakes – build date, ownership, and registry confirmed
  • Merchant Vessel Lists (1880/81 & 1884) – tonnage, official number, change in rig type
  • Historic Newspapers (Buffalo Evening Post & Commercial Advertiser) – public notice of launch and machinery on April 2–3, 1873

Conclusion

The Marengo is emblematic of 19th-century Great Lakes grain carriers that adapted rigging configurations mid-life. Despite its advanced build and significant cargo capacity, its later history remains in shadow. Further research into regional newspaper archives, registries after 1884, or insurance records may reveal her final chapter.

Suggested Keywords, Categories & Glossary

Include: #Marengo #GreatLakesVessel #Brig #Schooner #GrainTrade #19thCenturyShipping #WolfAndDavidson #MilwaukeeShipbuilding

Glossary: Brig, Schooner, tonnage (gross/net), official number, pumping system, Hull rigging.