By James Heinz
The large anchor in the accompanying photos stands in South Shore Park on Milwaukee’s lakefront. I was told of it by Milwaukee Public Library Manager of Arts Humanities and Rare Books Kirsten Thompson, who saw it while passing through the park.
A bronze plaque on a nearby boulder states:
“1800S WROUGHT IRON ANCHOR FROM A LAKE SCHOONER FOUND ALONG SOUTH SHORE PARK BEACH. WOODEN STOCK REPLACED BY WIS. MARINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY SOUTH SHORE WATCH, 2007.”
This type of anchor was referred to as a bower anchor, because it was one of two anchors carried in the bow of the ship. The anchors could be used to moor the ship in open water, or to be dropped in an effort to stop the ship in an emergency, like a maritime emergency brake.
Wikipedia tells us that the anchor: “consists of a central shank with a ring or shackle for attaching the rode (the rope, chain, or cable connecting the ship and the anchor).
“At the other end of the shank there are two arms, carrying the flukes, while the stock is mounted to the shackle end, at ninety degrees to the arms. When the anchor lands on the bottom, it generally falls over with the arms parallel to the seabed. As a strain comes onto the rope, the stock digs into the bottom, canting the anchor until one of the flukes catches and digs into the bottom.”
Many anchors were lost when they became stuck in the bottom and could not be lifted, as was apparently the case with this one.
This is the second WMHS related anchor on Milwaukee’s lakefront. The other is one of the anchors from the famous Christmas Tree ship the Rouse Simmons, which is on display in front of the Milwaukee Yacht Club.
Photos by James Heinz
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James Heinz is the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society’s acquisitions director. He became interested in maritime history as a kid watching Jacques Cousteau’s adventures on TV. He was a Great Lakes wreck diver until three episodes of the bends forced him to retire from diving. He was a University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee police officer for thirty years. He regularly flies either a Cessna 152 or 172.
