Floretta (1868)
Gallery
img
Photomosaic of Floretta
img
Port side anchor of the Floretta
img
Floretta
By The Numbers
0
Built
0
Sank
0
Lives Lost
0
Depth (ft)
 
 
Service History

The wooden two masted schooner Floretta was built in 1868 in Detroit, Michigan by J. Stupinsky. The vessel was rated B1 and valued at $15,000 in 1874 and was insured at the time of loss at $6,600.

1868, Enrolled Detroit, Michigan
1868 June: The Floretta passed Detroit on her first trip westward.
1869 July: Damaged in collision, Lake Michigan.
1869 October: aground Point Abino, Lake Erie, grain laden; released by tugs Perew & Nims.
1871 March: The sails & outfit burned, Detroit, Michigan.
1872 November: The Floretta sunk as a result of a collision with the propeller Ironsides, Milwaukee Later raised.
1876: Owned by John Long, Chicago.
1877 August: Withdrawn as floating hospital & refitted for grain trade.
1878: Chartered to transport deals Grand Haven, Mich. - Europe.
1878 August: outfitted for ocean travel at Detroit.
1880 October 15: During the Alpena Gale, the Louisa McDonald collided with the anchored Floretta which sank off Door County in North Bay. Later raised.
1881: The Floretta was repaired at the Hanson & Scove Shipyard.
1882 August: damaged in collision with schooner R.B. King outside Chicago.
1883 November: towed, leaking to Chicago.
1885 September: wrecked, Lake Michigan.

Last Document Of Enrollment Surrendered: 9/25/1885: "Vessel Lost".
Final Voyage

September 18, 1885. The crew of the schooner Floretta reached Manitowoc and reported that the Floretta foundered fifteen miles off that port. The schooner was enroute from Escanaba to Chicago with a cargo of iron ore consigned to Joliet Steel Works. She sprung a leak in the heavy sea during the night and the water gained so fast on the pumps that the crew took to the yawl. When half a mile from the vessel, they heard a loud crash. Pieces of the cabin flew in the air and she sunk. The crew of seven reached Manitowoc in the yawl. She was valued at $8.000 but insured for $6,600.
Today

The Floretta was discovered in 1980 11 miles southeast of Manitowoc, Wisconsin and was documented by the Wisconsin Historical Society in 2013. The Floretta sits in about 180 feet of water and is partially broken up. The remains are draped with commercial fishing nets The stern shows the most damage, but on the rest of the wreck the decking is intact. The holds still contain the iron ore cargo and there are three anchors on her bow.
 
Map
Confirmed Location     Unconfirmed location
 
Nearby
Shipwrecks (122)
A.L. Hopkins (1880 or 1888)
Alma (1887)
Alvin Clark (1864)
Andromeda (1847)
Antelope (1861)
Arendal (1873)
Ariel (1843)
Aurora (1902)
Badger State (1844)
Blazing Star (1873)
View 112 more
Shipwrecks (122)
A.L. Hopkins (1880 or 1888)
Alma (1887)
Alvin Clark (1864)
Andromeda (1847)
Antelope (1861)
Arendal (1873)
Ariel (1843)
Aurora (1902)
Badger State (1844)
Blazing Star (1873)
C.G. Breed (1862)
Captain Kidd (1880)
Challenge (1852)
City of Freemont (1884/91)
City of Oshkosh (1889/91?)
Coaster (1836)
Collingwood (1855)
Columbia (1895?)
Coquette (1858)
Delaware (1846)
Detroit Harbor Wreck
Dollie M. (1893)
E.G. Grey (1854)
E.M. Carrington (1866)
E.P. Weston (1863)
Emily (1853)
Eva M. Cone (1857)
Evaline (1861)
Evelyn (1883)
Express (1864)
F.J. King (1867)
Fish Hawk (1858)
Flea (1870)
Flora (1849)
Florence M. Dickinson (1855)
Flying Cloud (1852)
Forelle (1908)
Forward (1884)
Frank W. Gifford (1868)
G. Ellen (1854)
G.P. Heath (1872)
Geneva (1894?)
George (1891)
Glen Cuyler (1859)
Griffon (1679)
Guiding Star (1869)
Hamburg (1849)
Helvetia (1873)
Henry Gust (1893)
Hippogriff (1863)
Ira H. Owen (1887)
Island City (1859)
J.M. Jones (1855)
James Reid (1863)
Jo Vilas (1857)
John Lynch (1877)
Joseph G. Masten (1867)
Kate Williams (1862)
Lac La Belle (1864)
Lem Ellsworth (1874)
Lenzema (1882)
Libbie Carter (1882)
Liberty (1889)
Lilly Hamilton (1874)
M.A. Gagnon (1874)
Majestic (1891)
Manistee (1867)
Marion Dixon (1864)
Mary (1872)
May Corgan (1883?)
Mediterranean (1859)
Milwaukee (1903)
Mojave (1863)
Monitor (1870)
Montgomery (1866)
Mosher (1890)
Newsboy (1862)
Nora (1869)
North Shore (1930)
Northport Belle (1869)
Ontario (1846)
Ossian Cook (1880)
Otter (1863)
Our Son (1875)
Ozaukee (1861)
Pearl (1857)
Peytona (1850)
Polynesia (1885)
Prussia (1873)
Pup (1894)
R. Hayes (1853)
R.G. Peters (1880)
R.P. Mason (1867)
Red River (?)
Reindeer (1863)
Robert C. Pringle (1903)
Rocky Mountain (1852)
Rosabelle (1863)
Sassacus (1867)
Satisfaction (1871)
Sea Bird (1857)
Silver Cloud (1869)
Sir William Wallace (1836)
Solon H. Johnson (1876)
St. Albans (1868)
St. Ignace (1882)
St. Lawrence (1848)
St. Mary's (1848)
St. Peter (1868)
Starlight (1897)
Success (1862)
Sue (1897)
Surprise (1856)
Surveyor see Julia (1843)
Thomas McRoberts (1865)
Tiger (1863)
Transit (1854)
Trinidad (1867)
Vernon (1886)
Welland
William J. Livingstone Jr. (1874)
Winfield Scott (1852)
View fewer
© 2024 - Wisconsin Sea Grant, Wisconsin Historical Society