On this day February 5, 1906, the Milwaukee built 3 masted schooner STARKE stranded on Chandeleur Island, Louisiana.  She was built by Robert Allan and George McClelland of the Milwaukee Shipyard Co. in 1876.  Alex Allan was her master builder.  She was 124 feet in length and 27 feet in beam.  She also sported an eagle figure head.

The STARKE was built for the Lake Michigan lumber trade and in her first year of service she carried timbers for the construction of the St. Paul Elevator E. which was being built at the time.  She also carried coal in her Lake Michigan service.

In 1895 she was sold by Theodore Plathner, H. Bennett and H. Oertling of Milwaukee to David Kaufman of Lake Charles, Louisiana for $4500.  She left in the fall for Ogdensburg and wintered there.  In spring 1896, she went back to Oswego, loaded coal and went to the coast.  She was damaged by a storm at Cape Hatteras and had to be repaired before heading south to the Gulf of Mexico where Kaufman used her to carry lumber.

On February 5, 1906, the STARKE stranded on Chandeleur Island, Louisiana.   There were six on board and all were rescued.  The Chandeleur Islands are an uninhabited 50 mile chain of barrier islands.  They are the easternmost point of Louisiana and are part of the Breton National Wildlife Refuge.  They are an important migrating stop for many birds.

Suzette Lopez

PHOTO: Tied up at Clinton Street in Milwaukee.  This was called the lumber market.  Behind you can see the old East Water Street wooden arch bridge.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Great Lakes Marine Collection of the Milwaukee Public Library and Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.