A historic anchor which has long been on display at the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse is now being moved to Bullhead Point in Sturgeon Bay. The Door County Historical Society announced the relocation recently as the anchor will be moved closer its ship, the 3-masted schooner Oak Leaf whose remains are just offshore from Bullhead Point.
Built in 1866, the Oak Leaf moved bulk commodities around the great lakes until it was converted into a barge in 1891. It played a significant role in the local stone industry, particularly with the Sturgeon Bay Stone Company. At one point it was abandoned at the Bullhead Point wharf, and in 1931 it was burned down to the waterline to prevent potential hazards of the wreck. Bullhead Point remains a vital part of Sturgeon Bay’s maritime history and it is recognized as a historic district. The City of Sturgeon Bay agreed to the relocation of the Oak Leaf’s anchor and helped facilitate it’s move closer to the its shipwreck site.
It was decided that Bullhead Point is the ideal location for the anchor, and visitors to the park can now view the anchor and learn more about the schooner Oak Leaf, and the broader maritime history and stone industry activities in this area.