Toledo 1854-1856
The fleet was a combination of freight and passenger steamers which originally transported European immigrants traveling to Wisconsin and Minnesota.
On October 22, 1856, on her way to Chicago, the Toledo docked at Port Washington, WI. While some of the passengers ended their journey there and disembarked, an estimate of 80 passengers stayed on board. The ship took on a load of cordwood intended for fuel and prepared for departure. Once offshore, the Toledo was struck by strong gale force winds, forcing it back towards the shore. The ship used all of its power to counteract the winds and attempted to anchor to no avail.
Despite the Toledo's best efforts, she struck bottom with tremendous force and quickly pounded to pieces by the massive rolling waves. Only two passengers survived the onslaught.
Years later, in 1900, the anchor was recovered by Delos Smith's fishing tug and placed in Union Cemetery in Port Washington where it lies today as a memorial to the lives lost in the Niagara (September) and Toledo (October) tragedies that
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Erected 2018 by Eagle Scout Project created by Darian Drewitz, Troop 875, Port Washington.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 43° 23.095′ N, 87° 51.867′ W. Marker is in Port Washington, Wisconsin, in Ozaukee County. The marker is near the eastern end of the park at the end of one of the boardwalk overlooks. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Coal Dock Park, 146 S Wisconsin St, Port Washington WI 53074, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Northerner (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); In Loving Memory (about 600 feet away); Lake Michigan Habitat (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Lakefront in Transition (approx. ¼ mile away); They Had To Go A Fishin' (approx. ¼ mile away); Those That Fished (approx. ¼ mile away); The Art of Commercial Fishing (approx. ¼ mile away); Of Valor and Sorrow (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Washington.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 29, 2019. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2019, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 129 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 27, 2019, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
