Our Blog
Wisconsin Marine Historical Society is a self-supported nonprofit organization committed to collecting, preserving, archiving, and sharing materials that illuminate the rich heritage of the Great Lakes maritime industry. Check out our blog to dive deep into the fascinating narratives and events that have shaped the Great Lakes maritime legacy. Search our blog index to find your favorite stories.
The History of the LILY E. and South Shore Yacht Club I
May 22, 2026On this day, May 22, 1869, the LOUISA McDONALD was launched at Manitowoc by Jasper Hanson. The two masted schooner was built for Captain A. D. Jones of Manitowoc, later around 1876-77, a third mast would be added. In 1882 she would be renamed the LILY E. which would…Read more
Two met in the fog and not in a good way
May 20, 2026On this day May 20, 1960, the STANDARD PORTLAND CEMENT and the AUGUST ZIESING met, and not in a good way. This meeting occurred in the Lake Huron Cut Channel about 1130 am in dense fog. The Lake Huron Cut Channel is about 800 feet and connects the…Read more
On this day the LEM ELLSWORTH foundered
May 18, 2026On this day May 18, 1894, the Milwaukee built canal schooner LEM ELLSWORTH foundered on Lake Michigan taking her crew of seven with her. She was loaded with a cargo of stone blocks bound from Jacobsville, Michigan, to Chicago. She passed the Straits on May 15th and is believed…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Throttle Watch
May 16, 2026By Chris Winters Throttle watch on the S.S. WILFRED SYKES, downbound on Saginaw Bay with a cargo of construction aggregate for Essexville, Michigan, June 2005. The WILFRED SYKES was built in 1949 at Lorain, Ohio, by the American Ship Building Co. for the Inland Steel Co. Her namesake was…Read more
A SWEETHEART IN EVERY PORT
May 13, 2026This is an amusing story of a sweetheart of a captain who sailed the WILLIAM F. STIFEL. The STIFEL was built in 1908 at St. Clair, Mich., by the Great Lakes Engineering Works for the Ashtabula Steamship Co. as the NORMANIA. She was a 420 foot steel bulk cargo…Read more
The TREGURTHA is in Duluth
May 10, 2026Elmer Engman, our Duluth correspondent, reports that May 6th was a cold and windy day in the harbor where the PAUL R. TREGURTHA was taking on a cargo of taconite at the CN ore docks in Duluth. You would normally see her load coal at the Midwest Energy Terminal in…Read more
Can you hear me now?
May 10, 2026Sixty years ago on this day May 10, 1966, the 730 foot bulk carrier A. S. GLOSSBRENNER was launched by Davie Shipbuilding in Lauzon, Quebec for the Labrador Steamship Company joining their fleet alongside the AUGUSTUS B. WOLVIN and the POINTE NOIRE. In 1971 she was sold to Algoma Central.…Read more
WISCONSIN BUILT WARSHIPS ARE FIGHTING IN THE PERSIAN GULF TODAY
May 9, 2026By James Heinz Between 1987 and 1994, fourteen Avenger class mine counter measure (MCM) ships were built in Wisconsin for the US Navy. All but two were built at the now gone Peterson Brothers shipyard in Sturgeon Bay, and the other two at Marinette Marine, now Fincantieri Marine, on the…Read more
On this day the WILLIAM H. DONNER was launched
May 7, 2026On this day May 7, 1914, the WILLIAM H. DONNER was launched at Ashtabula, Ohio, by the Great Lakes Engineering Works for the Mahoning Steamship Co. Named in honor of the president of the Cambria Steel Co., the DONNER was christened by Miss Margery Russel, the daughter of John…Read more
A Treasure of Whiskey and Wine
May 3, 2026On this day May 3, 1936, three adventurous men sailed out of Milwaukee to salvage a cargo of anywhere from 220 – 350 barrels of whiskey and wine that went down on the WESTMORELAND in 1854 off the Manitou Islands. The WESTMORELAND was also rumored to have had…Read more
The E. C. POPE is launched
May 3, 2026On this day May 2, 1891, the steel steamer E. C. POPE was launched. It was kind of a big deal as is told in the following article from the Marine Record of April 30, 1891. About 600 important guests were invited “along with them a fair sprinkling of…Read more
Long Ships Passing – Loading Cement
April 26, 2026By Chris Winters SOUTHDOWN CHALLENGER loading Type I Portland cement at Charlevoix, Michigan, January, 2004. The SOUTHDOWN CHALLENGER was built in 1906 at Ecorse, Mich., by the Great Lakes Engineering Works for the Shenango Steamship Company as the WILLIAM P. SNYDER. She was a 530 foot steel bulk cargo…Read more
