The scow schooner Contest was built in 1863 in Holland, Michigan and was lengthened at Kenosha, Wisconsin in 1872. The Contest spent her time on western Lake Michigan loaded with cord wood, posts, ties, stone and general merchandise. Her ports of call were usually Kenosha to the south and Door County to the north; Bailey's harbor, Jacksonport, Laurie's quarry.

Last Document Surrendered: Milwaukee: 5/15/97: "Total Loss".
On April 16, 1897 the three masted scow schooner Contest was driven ashore 100 feet to the south of the harbor pier during a northerly gale while attempting to enter Kenosha harbor. The crew was taken off by lifesavers without any loss of life. The vessel was released from the beach on April 19, 1897 and towed to Milwaukee for close examination. At first, it was believed that she was only slightly damaged. Later, however, after drydock examination it was realized that her hull was badly twisted and her forward planking badly damaged. Since repairs could have reached $1,000, her owners had her abandoned and towed to the Jones Island marine cemetery (boneyard).
It is possible that the Contest was removed during the harbor development around early 1919. Nineteen wrecks were removed from along the Kinnickinnic River on the west side of Jones Island to allow for the area to be dredged. The contractor broke up the wrecks with dynamite and loaded them onto a wrecking barge and then deposited them at the foot of Greenfield Avenue.