The wooden two masted schooner Northerner was launched from the John Oades shipyard in Clayton, New York on March 12th, 1850. John Oades was the oldest shipbuilder on the lakes at the time. Her official registry number was 18176. In 1861, she was valued at $2,500 and rated B1 by the Board of Lake Underwriters. She was rebuilt in 1859 at Wells Island, N.Y. On April 1, 1859, the Northerner got caught in a heavy gale where part of her deck load of hoops washed overboard and later more had to be thrown overboard to prevent her from being wrecked.
11/29/1868. "Waterlogged and capsized-The schooner Northerner pounded heavily upon the bottom while loading with wood at the pier at Amsterdam on Saturday, and after getting out into the lake was discovered to be leaking badly. Finding that he could not keep her free, the captain brought her alongside of the pier at Port Washington where the deckload was discharged in order to lighten her. This done, the services of the propeller Cuyahoga were secured to tow the disabled vessel to Milwaukee. She filled with water and capsized off Port Ulao, however, and had to be abandoned . The Cuyahoga picked up her crew and brought them to this port. We understand the tug Tift has been chartered to go to the assistance of the Northerner." Milwaukee Sentinel November 30, 1868.
The vessel Northerner lies upright and reasonably intact in 140 feet of water. The main mast is still in place, rising 75 feet above the deck. The stern mast had been recovered for a local museum. The hold still contains the cargo of cordwood, the logs still stacked up to the deck openings. The deck cargo of wood was removed at Port Washington prior to the accident. The windlass, anchor chain, center board winch along with the bow sprit and figure head are still in place.