Schooner Tennie & Laura
Lake Name: Lake Michigan
Shipwreck Name: Tennie & Laura
Vessel Type: Scow-Schooner
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Vessel Build Info: 1876, Gunder Jorgenson, Manitowoc, WI
Shipwreck Specs: 73x19x5, 57g 54n
Official Number: 145115
Names Other: none
Sinking Detail
Built in 1876 by Gunder Jorgenson in Manitowoc, the 73-foot scow schooner was bound for Milwaukee from Muskegon, Michigan with a load of lumber on August 2, 1903, when she founded in a storm off Port Washington, taking one of her crew with her. Resting in over 300 feet of water, this small scow schooner has only been tentatively identified as the Tennie & Laura. As the most intact scow schooner located to date in Wisconsin waters, this site holds unlimited potential to learn about how these unique vessels were constructed, as well as how sailors lived and worked aboard small Lake Michigan coasting schooners.
Loss Date: 8/2/1903
Loss Place: NE of off Milwaukee
Loss Life: 1 of 2
Loss Reason: Foundered, storm
Vessel Cargo: Lumber
Shipwreck Description
The Tennie & Laura was discovered in 1999 while searching for the lost fish tug Linda E off Port Washington. She is a small shipwreck that’s very deep and the visibility can be less than ideal. Her mast is still upright and four foot burbouts have been seen around there.
Dive Type: Expedition
Depth Deck(ft): 300 ft
Depth Bottom(ft): 318 ft
Depth Deck(m): 91 m
Depth Bottom(m): 96 m