Bethune Blackwater Schooner facts for kids

The Bethune Blackwater Schooner is an old shipwreck from the 1800s. It is found near Milton, Florida, in Santa Rosa County. This shipwreck is a very important historical site for Milton.

It was named after Mr. and Mrs. John Bethune. They found the ship and owned the land next to where it sank. The ship is also named after the Blackwater River nearby.

This schooner is about 96 feet long and weighs around 93 tons. It is one of many shipwrecks in or near the Blackwater River. The schooner rests in a quiet water area called “Morton’s Basin.” Its exact location is kept secret. This helps protect it from damage by people.

Most of the ship is still underwater. It is partly covered in mud, which has kept it safe. This mud protects the ship from erosion (wearing away) and weathering (damage from nature). About 90% of the ship is still whole. This includes the entire hull (the main body of the ship). Parts of the deck and rail are also still there. Even though some parts like a cabin are gone, you can still see where they once were. It is one of the best-preserved schooners of its kind ever found.

Experts called underwater archaeologists have studied it many times. In 1988, the Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research said the ship was very important historically. On August 8, 1991, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places important to American history.

Discovering the Schooner

The Bethune Blackwater Schooner was found by accident. Mr. and Mrs. Bethune were trying to build a dock next to their property. They contacted a local amateur historian and archaeologist for help.

The Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research learned about the wreck. In 1988, they confirmed it was a 19th-century schooner. They also said it had great historical value. Dr. Roger C. Smith used video to survey the site in 1988. This helped gather early information about the ship.

In 1989, David R. Baumer and local volunteers carefully studied the schooner. They were very detailed in their work. They measured every part of the ship that was visible. This helped them create maps of the wreck. They also looked at old stories and documents. This helped them understand the ship's history better.

The main goal of this work was to learn about schooners from the 1800s. They wanted to know how these ships were built and used. They also wanted to understand their role in the history of the Gulf Coast. Not much is known about the economy of West Florida in the mid-1800s. Studying this schooner could give us valuable clues.

What Was It Used For?

Archaeologists believe the Bethune Blackwater Schooner was built between the 1830s and 1870s. It was likely a "light draft coasting schooner." This means it was built to sail in shallow waters along the coast.

We don't know the ship's exact name. Some old papers from 1866 mention two shipwrecks. This makes some people think the schooner might be named The Hornet. However, this has not been proven. The Hornet was reported to be a bit smaller. It also sank in a slightly different spot.

Even without knowing its name, we can guess its purpose. Schooners like this were common along the Gulf Coast in the mid-1800s. It probably carried lumber to cities like New Orleans and Mobile. It might have also brought materials like coal to Pensacola.

West Florida's economy in the mid-1800s relied a lot on maritime trade (shipping goods by sea). Lumber and bricks from West Florida were sent to New Orleans, Mobile, Cuba, and even South American ports. The Blackwater River had many brick and lumber businesses. There were also several shipyards (places where ships are built) along its banks.

It's also possible the schooner helped with military trade. It is near an old brickyard. This brickyard supplied bricks to the U.S. Army. These bricks were used to build fortifications (strong buildings for defense) before the Civil War. These forts protected ports along the Gulf Coast.

Even though they are not part of the schooner site, there are other nearby clues. These include old kilns (ovens for making bricks), bricks, cut lumber, and ballast stones. These clues show that brick and lumber industries were active here in the mid-1800s. This makes it very likely that the Bethune Blackwater Schooner was part of these important industries.