Survey of the Northerner
A team of 10 archaeologists led by the Wisconsin Historical Society will be conducting an archaeological survey of the schooner Northerner, five miles southeast of Port Washington, Wis., July 25 to August 2, 2009. The vessel lies in 130 feet of water.

A diver swims between the broken bowsprit and a fallen mast of the Northerner. Tamara Thomsen, Wisconsin Historical Society. High-res.

The Northerner was built by John Oades in Clayton, New York in 1850. She had one deck, and two masts. She measures 79 feet in length with 18.9 ft beam and 6.7 ft in depth of hold.

During her early career, she was owned by Henry T. Bacon, a well respected merchant of Ogdensburg, N.Y., and co-owned by Russell Disbrow, who also captained the vessel. The Northerner was a lakeshoring vessel, trading on both Canadian and U.S. sides of Lake Ontario and frequently running down the St. Lawerence and between the ports of Oswego and Ogdensburg.

The hull and deck of the Northerner are intact and encrusted with mussels. Lumber can be seen stacked in the hold. Tamara Thomsen, Wisconsin Historical Society. High-res.

In April 1859, the Northerner was caught in a violent snow and wind storm on Lake Ontario, where heavy seas broke over the vessel and caused the deck load to be washed overboard. She was driven ashore at Pultneyville, N.Y., requiring repair. The Northerner was re-built at Wells Island, N.Y. that season, and her new measurements were given at 81fee long, 18 feet 6 inches in breadth, and 7 feet, 6 inches in depth of hold. She was then listed as having a scroll figurehead.

In 1863, the Northerner began her career in Lake Michigan’s lumber trade, upon being sold to interests in Chicago. By 1865, she was co-owned by Nicholas Ronk, a cut wood dealer, from Ronksville, Wisconsin and by her master, Andreas Ryerson of Milwaukee.

At the bow is mounted a windlass, a ratcheted drum used to raise and lower anchors. It was powered by strong sailors with large levers. Tamara Thomsen, Wisconsin Historical Society. High-res.

On Saturday, November 28, 1868, the Northerner loaded wood at the pier at Amsterdam, Wisconsin. While being loaded, she pounded heavily upon the bottom. Out on the lake later that day, the crew discovered that she was leaking badly. Finding that they couldn’t keep up with the rising water, they put into Port Washington, where they discharged her deck load in an attempt to lighten her. They secured the services of the propeller Cuyahoga to tow the vessel to Milwaukee. While in tow, the Northerner filled with water and capsized off Port Ulao and had to be abandoned. The Cuyahoga was able to pick the Northerner’s crew from the water.

The event is free and open to the public. People are invited to stop by, talk with the archaeologists about the project, and view underwater photos, videos, and a photomosaic of the wreck assembled from more than 100 images.

The archaeological survey is supported with funding from the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute. The City of Port Washington has generously donated space for research boats and a scuba fill station within the city’s warehouses.