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Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Going! Going! Almost gone! Milwaukee's abandoned boat 'Deep Thought' set for public auction
Milwaukee County plans to move ahead with publicly auctioning off Deep Thought, the abandoned boat that was stranded on Lake Michigan's shoreline, provided the county can acquire legal ownership before bidding can begin. "The issue with ownership is Milwaukee County does not have title to this property," James Tarantino, deputy director of Milwaukee County Parks told the county's Parks and Culture committee on June 10. "Because it's now been abandoned, and is really more like a sculpture than a boat, we're trying to determine what that legal bill of sale looks like." Tarantino said that the county is primed to list the boat at auction as soon as the legal details are ironed out in the coming days or weeks. Mississippi-based couple Sherry and Richard Wells left Deep Thought on the lakeshore between Bradford and McKinley beaches after running out of gas during a thunderstorm in mid-October. In May, given the questionable nature of the boat's ownership as well as the Wellses' inability to pay for the boat's removal, it was determined that the county was responsible for salvaging the boat. "At the end of the day, I don't want the county to be on the hook for this," Supervisor Steve Taylor said. In May, the county was left with a $50,000 bill from Milwaukee-based company, All City Towing, for removing the abandoned boat that saw many well-wishers bidding the boat farewell. The county received $30,000 in donations from the Daniel W. Hoan Foundation and an anonymous donor to help cover costs for its removal, still leaving a $20,000 dent in the county's coffers. "I think a summer auction is the way to go," said Supervisor Sheldon A. Wasserman, whose district was home to Deep Thought. "Let's strike right now when the interest in the boat is at its highest." County Corporation Counsel attorney Scott Brown has not ruled out filing legal actions to recover costs, potentially in federal court or another state. "Short version of it, I think, at this point, it's what I would call drilling a dry well. I don't know if these people are collectible. From what my understanding is they are of I think modest means," Brown told supervisors. "We could get a judgment against them, but it may not be worth the paper." Brown said he is still evaluating legal avenues. "This is a bad precedent, you know, that somebody can just leave their boat on Milwaukee County property, and we have to take care of it," Supervisor Steven Shea said. "This is about as big a public nuisance as we can get." In May, Wisconsin lawmakers proposed a new bill that could subject any boat owners who abandon their watercrafts for longer than a month to prison time. Supervisors also asked about the possibility of establishing a policy or action plan if a similar situation arises in the future. While Tarantino said he is waiting to see how the state legislation plays out, he is reluctant to establish something as concrete as policy given the unique nature of the Deep Thought incident compared with most boats that moor on Lake Michigan's shoreline. Tarantino applauded the fact that the County Board raised the fees for illegal dumping earlier this year. "That's an example of a policy that we think is a good deterrent," he said. "We are absolutely committed to dealing with these problems as they come up. We're just unfortunately not resourced if this continues to happen more frequently." Contact Vanessa Swales at 414-308-5881 or vswales@ Follow her on X @Vanessa_Swales. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee's abandoned boat Deep Thought headed to public auction
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'We don't want to pay for it': County readies to auction off 'Deep Thought' abandoned boat
You want to bid on Deep Thought, Milwaukee? Now could be your chance. Milwaukee County is floating the idea of publicly auctioning off the infamous abandoned boat that became a staple of Lake Michigan's Milwaukee shoreline, according to Milwaukee County Board Supervisor Sheldon A. Wasserman. "Deep Thought captured the hearts and minds of Milwaukeeans," Wasserman told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "At the same time, we don't want to pay for it." And, the good news doesn't stop there. The auction might supplement the $30,000 in donations received following the epic saga of Deep Thought's removal near Milwaukee's Bradford and McKinley Beaches, Wasserman said. In May, the Daniel W. Hoan Foundation donated $10,000 to the effort. Now, the anonymous donor who contacted Milwaukee's Mayor Cavalier Johnson to provide financial support for part of its removal has offered up $20,000, Wasserman said. The money will go toward paying off the $50,000 bill from Milwaukee-based company, All City Towing, for removing the boat in early May. An MATC student even sold a handful of salvaged pieces of Deep Thought for $10 the day it was removed from Lake Michigan. County Board Supervisor Steve Taylor expressed his concerns that taxpayers would be left to foot the bill for the boat's removal in an email to County Executive David Crowley and other department officials on May 7. Deep Thought's journey began when it was left stranded by a Mississippi couple, Sherry and Richard Wells, who ran out of gas during a thunderstorm in mid-October, landing on the lakeshore. For weeks, efforts were unsuccessful to remove the boat, turning it into a temporary tourist site. On May 6, a crowd of roughly 100 onlookers gathered to cheer and mourn as Deep Thought was finally dragged off the shoreline. In May, the county was still considering pursuing legal avenues for reimbursement. But, given the tenuous nature of the boat's ownership and the Wellses' inability to pay for the boat's removal, it was later determined that Milwaukee County was responsible for salvaging the boat. The county will provide an update on the status of the boat and its future during its Parks and Culture meeting June 10. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Deep Thought readied for auction, after abandoned boat raises $30K
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Over 100 spectators gather to cheer and mourn 'Deep Thought' for what could be its final hours in Milwaukee
More than a hundred people swarmed Milwaukee's lakefront. A stretch of North Lincoln Memorial Drive was completely closed. A helicopter whirred overhead. You'd think someone important was in town. But no. It wasn't someone, but rather something — Milwaukee's iconic abandoned boat. Starting at 7 a.m. on May 6, crew members kicked off a sixth attempt to remove the boat, 'Deep Thought,' from the shoreline between Bradford Beach and McKinly Marina. Around noon, owner of All City Towing Jeff Piller announced the boat would likely remain on the beach for several more hours. 'It's a lot heavier than I thought,' Piller said. 'Now's a good time for a bathroom break." Milwaukee County contracted the Milwaukee-based towing company to lead the latest attempt to rescue Deep Thought, which has also been nicknamed 'The S.S. Minnow' by locals. Throughout the morning, crew members used two cranes to rotate the boat 90 degrees and drag it out of the water and onto the lakeside rocks. Earlier that morning, the crew also successfully salvaged the mangled remnants of a pontoon boat that got stuck next to Deep Thought in late April in a previous, failed rescue attempt. Cheering — and at times, lamenting — the removal attempts were at least 100 spectators. As the sun glinted off Lake Michigan on the 70-degree day, runners, bikers, families and dogs alike gathered for the what could be boat's final hours. What do resident think should happen to the defunct boat? Work is done to remove the abandoned boat "Deep Thought" from the shoreline of Lake Michigan near Bradford Beach in Milwaukee on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. The boat has been stuck since October after its Mississippi-based owners ran out of gas while operating it. By mid-morning on May 6, the grass was littered with backpacks, bikes, strollers and sweaters of the spectating crowd. Some, like Milwaukee resident Paul Fredrichs, said he planned to stay the entire day. Fredrichs said he's visited the boat regularly since October and worries it's become 'a bit of a hazard.' "Seems very Milwaukee-esque," he said of the spectacle. "One of our cheap amusements." In recent weeks, the Daniel W. Hoan Foundation donated $10,000 to rescue attempts, on top of an undisclosed amount already proffered by an anonymous donor. Milwaukee resident Elizabeth Ketter said she wonders about the time and resources funneled into the effort. During the boat's removal, a portion of North Lincoln Memorial Drive was closed to traffic for most of the day. Traffic was even at a near total stop a little before 9 a.m. as commuters navigated the detour. "It's become an inconvenience to the city,' Ketter said. Deep Thought has become a 'Milwaukee landmark,' others say Work is done to remove the abandoned boat "Deep Thought" from the shoreline of Lake Michigan near Bradford Beach in Milwaukee on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. The boat has been stuck since October after its Mississippi-based owners ran out of gas while operating it. Not everyone was ready to say goodbye to what they called a modern-day 'Milwaukee landmark.' West Allis resident Kelly Haessly said she's been following the boat's story since last fall and visited it for the first time May 6 with her son, who she did not identify and her dog, Bodie. 'We happened to be off work, and today was the big day,' Haessly said. For others, it was far from their first trip to the site. In the past few weeks, Milwaukee resident Alexander Minik said he's helped organize a boat "funeral," lit a candle at a boat vigil and even visited the site a final time in the early morning hours of May 6. "The boat has brought so many people together — artists, dancers, community members. It's funny, iconic, whimsical," Minik said. "I hope it continues to be this monkey wrench in the city's side." Shorewood resident Peter Froelich said he's biked past the boat almost every day since it got stuck. As crew members dragged 'Deep Thought' up the rocks, inch by inch, he said he hopes it won't be the last he sees of the boat. If its owners are willing, Froelich said he would like to see the boat attached to a trailer as a traveling attraction for Milwaukee's summer beer gardens. 'I'd buy a little chunk of it if that was an option,' Froelich added. MATC student sold 'S.S. Minnow' keepsakes to onlookers In fact, it was. Magnus Bonde, a 19-year-old first-year Milwaukee Area Technical College student, had the same idea. As the removal effort was underway, he was selling wood cut-outs he and his father salvaged from inside Deep Thought for $10. The wood, which included an engraving that read 'deep thought MKE,' was taken from the boat by Bonde and his father on May 5. 'The Minnow is an iconic piece of Milwaukee history," Bonde said, as he sold the last of the half-dozen or so of the keepsakes he had made. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee abandoned boat finally dragged out of Lake Michigan
