Milwaukee Lake Schooner, Ltd.

History of the Lake Schooner Construction Project

Unofficial Progress Report.
March 12, 1994

        The Milwaukee Lake Schooner construction project slipped its lines, and started making way on Thursday with a thunderous crash as the first of six giant white pines were felled in Wisconsin's north woods. The trees, which will eventually become the lower masts for the schooner, were generously donated to the Milwaukee Lake Schooner project by the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, and with the kind help of Menominee Tribal Enterprises.

The transformation of trees into masts is a long and exacting process, according to Captain David Falzetti, Director of Milwaukee Lake Schooner, Ltd. Initially, the trees will need to be open-air dried, which is a slow operation lasting approximately two years. Then, using the time honored method, the trees will be squared off, yielding a large four sided timber. The edges of the square will then be cut to produce a timber with an octagonal cross-section. This will be repeated twice more to create a 16-sided, and then a 32-sided cross- section. The remaining edges are then taken down to complete the raw shaping of the mast.

It was a cold, gray, late-winter morning as the small group gathered in the forests of the Menominee Indian Reservation near Neopit, Wisconsin. Many diverse interests were represented, including representatives from the Menominee Tribal Legislature and Menominee Tribal Enterprises, as well as foresters and loggers. A preliminary survey had already been completed to locate suitable trees. Only those trees were considered which had at least 60 to 80 feet of perfectly straight growth before any branches, and had a diameter of approximately two to three feet for the entire length.

The group was guided to the location of each individual tree which had been identified. Capt. Falzetti then carefully examined the tree, and would silently nod, or shake his head. The gravity of the situation could easily be read on his face. As Capt. Falzetti noted, the making of spars was no science, but rather a dying art where ever fewer people had any direct experience. He was making decisions that both he and the schooner would live with for years to come. He was also deciding the fate of trees which, judged to be approximately 160 years old, dated well back into the golden age of sail.

Once the final decisions had been made, everyone returned to the location of the first tree to be felled, and the loggers began their work. The cutter, chain saw in hand, took only minutes to notch and cut the pine, which stood approximately 100 feet overall. It slowly toppled, pushing aside or crushing everything in its path. Two skidders, heavy equipment unique to loggers, drove in and attached cables to the massive tree and pulled it free from the underbrush, and onto the logging road.

Lawrence Waukau, Menominee Tribal Enterprises President, explained that normally each harvested tree would be cut into 12- to 14-foot sections on the spot -- the typical sizes for cut lumber. The trees that had just been felled could be trimmed to no less than approximately 70 feet, and hence presented a unique challenge. As each tree in turn was loaded onto a logging truck by itself, with 20- to 30-feet of the tree hanging off the end of the trailer, the true size of these masts-to-be was obvious. The trees will be stored at the sawmill in Neopit, and eventually transported to the Milwaukee lakefront. Even that will present its own difficulties since special State permission will be required to transport such long loads.

The Milwaukee Lake Schooner will carry masts which originate from the shores it will call home. It is fitting that the timber was donated by the Menominee Indians, a woodland people whose ancestral home extends throughout most of what is now Wisconsin. Culturally adapted to, and harmonious with the environment, the Menominee Indians have practiced a system of sustained-yield management of their forests through selective harvest. This far-sighted vision was conceptualized by early Menominee leaders, and allows the forest to be harvested at a rate that would achieve a perennial balance between annual growth, natural mortality, and the production of timber through selective harvest. Particularly in view of the history of logging in the Lake States since the 19th century, the fact that the Menominee Forest remains largely intact despite the conversion of vast areas of surrounding land to agriculture speaks eloquently for the wisdom of their system of forestry. The mere fact that trees of the size and quality essential for making masts still exist is a tribute to the Menominee People.

With the falling of these pines, Milwaukee Lake Schooner, Ltd. has begun the long process of constructing a full-sized reproduction of a Great Lakes schooner. These vessels were built by the thousands along the shores of Lake Michigan and, during much of Milwaukee's past, as many as 30 vessels were arriving per day at the port of Milwaukee. The schooners themselves were based loosely on Baltimore clippers but differed in many important respects. Great Lakes schooners tended to be longer, somewhat narrower, and utilized a centerboard instead of a keel. The construction of this vessel is of significance because there are currently no full-sized reproductions of a Great Lakes Schooner in existence.

The Milwaukee Lake Schooner will serve many important functions. As an educational tool, the schooner will provide a catalyst for renewed interest in maritime education. It will enhance academic study and develop a deeper sense of stewardship for the precious resource that is the Great Lakes. Naturally, the ship will also serve as a goodwill ambassador for the City of Milwaukee and the State of Wisconsin as well as providing a focal point for tourism on Milwaukee's lakefront.

The Milwaukee Lake Schooner has been named the Denis Sullivan. It was named after one of the most famous Great Lakes Ship Captains. She has two retractable centerboards, a length on deck of approximately 95 feet, a sparred length of approximately 130 feet, and three gaff-rigged masts with a raffee (a triangular topsail typical of Great Lakes schooners).

For more information contact:

Telephone: +1 (414) 276-5664.

Disclaimer: The sender has no official connection with Milwaukee Lake Schooner, nor the Menominee Indian Tribe. The information contained in this article is partially original material, as well as adapted from material by the Milwaukee Lake Schooner, Ltd. and Marshall Pecore, a forest manager for the Menominee Tribal Enterprises. References available upon request.

Summer 1999
The planking and fairing of the hull is completed, as well as the interior ceiling planking.
The schooner is given the name, Denis Sullivan, after one of the most prominent
Great Lakes ship captains through the turn of the 19th century.

What had started as a dream and initially operated out of a post office box is 
becoming a reality. The fact that the dream is coming true is directly connected
to these masts. The first gift to the project were six virgin white pines valued 
at more than $40,000 on the stump donated and blessed by the Menominee Indian Nation
of Northern Wisconsin. These represent one of the largest donations ever made from
a Native-American tribe to a non Native-American charity. The pines were the first
pieces of wood to arrive at the site and the impetus that led to laying the keel
and a mostly volunteer labor force beginning work.

Fall, 2000
The dream becomes reality! Wisconsin will finally have its flagship! 
As construction of the vessel moves toward completion with the 
 rigging work continuing and the interior cabins being fitted out. The Sullivan will be ready in the Summer, 2001.
 

Link to Denis Sullivan Ship website