Lifeboat’s story one of tragedy at sea

A precious piece of maritime history — a lifeboat from the SS Milwaukee, which sank in 1929 — is being refurbished by the Port Washington Historical Society, which recently sought approval from the City of Port Washington to build a shelter to protect the boat from the elements when it is back on display at the Light Station.

The city’s Plan Commission and Design Review Board, gave approval to the concept plan, with Ald. Paul Neumyer saying it is important that the shelter be built.

“It’s a unique piece of history they’ve got there,” Neumyer, a member of the Plan Commission, said Dec 17.

That history goes back to Oct. 22, 1929, when  the SS Milwaukee sank in a northeaster while heading from Milwaukee to Grand Haven, Mich. — a trip most other captains thought was irresponsible since the storm was one of the most tempestuous seen on the lake.

She was last seen passing a lightship three miles east of Milwaukee, pitching and rolling heavily and was never seen again.

Lifeboats were launched but none of the people on board — some reports put the number at 46 and others as 52 — survived.

One of those lifeboats had four crew members on board, and it apparently came close to shore but was then pushed out again.

“The weather was so inclement they basically froze to death,” Jackie Oleson, collections manager for the Port Washington Historical Society, said.

The boat and bodies were found four days later near Holland, Mich.

Another lifeboat, this one empty, was found near Grand Haven. The ship’s message case was found nearby with an apparent final message recorded at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 22. “The ship is taking water fast. We have turned around and headed for Milwaukee. Pumps are working but sea gate is bent in and can’t keep the water out. Flicker is flooded. Seas are tremendous. Things look bad,” purser A.R. Sadon wrote.

A message later found in a bottle read, “This is the worst storm I have ever seen. Can’t stay up much longer. Hole in side of boat.”

Whether the Historical Society owns the lifeboat that was found empty or occupied isn’t known, Oleson said, noting the boat was donated to the Society about 2003.

The lifeboat, which was on display at the Light Station, has been refurbished and has been in storage for a little more than a year as the Historical Society tried to figure out how to protect it, she said.

The society’s plan calls for an open-air shelter to be built just east of the Light Station at 311 Johnson St. to both protect the boat from the elements and ensure it is accessible to the public, Bob Harris, the city’s director of planning and development, told both the commission and the Design Review Board, which recommended approval of the plan on Dec. 8.

The structure would have eight posts and a pitched roof, with a canvas cover used in winter to make the shelter weather-tight, Oleson said. 

“In the past, we’ve thrown tarps over it (the boat) but it didn’t look the best,” she said.

  Plans call for the roof to be red to match the Light Station, although budgetary considerations may cause that to change, Dawn St. George, executive director of the Port Washington Historical Society, said, noting it could be a brown roof with red accents like piping.

“I’d like to see the red shingles extend to this building,” board member Marc Eernisse said. “It would really tie it in.”

That recommendation was echoed by the Plan Commission members

“I think it should match,” Mayor Marty Becker, chairman of the commission, said.

Commission members debated whether to make installation of a red roof matching that of the Light Station a condition of approval, but decided against it.

“I think it would be great, but the Historical Society is working with a finite amount of money,” Neumyer said. “I’d like to give them flexibility.”

Commission member Tony Matera concurred, saying, “I don’t want to kill the project.”

Eernisse also asked if the building would be lighted, something Society members said isn’t expected.

“From a security standpoint, it might be a good idea,” Eernisse said. “With the overhang, it’s going to be dark at night.”

Oleson said the Society is working to obtain funds for the project, adding the group would like to see the shelter constructed in spring or summer.

That may help with the project costs, commission member Jeremy Hartline, an architect, said. 

“Construction costs right now are just exorbitant. I’m seeing lumber prices that are 40% higher now than  I saw just a couple months ago,” he said, adding prices are expected to fall by mid-summer. 

While the lifeboat will remain in Port Washington, the wreck of the  SS Milwaukee was located in 1972 in 120 feet of water about 10 miles off the Milwaukee breakwater.