Dive Log 2017

Rediscovering the Forgotten Shipwrecks of the Thumb Area

In the summer of 2017, Cindy Lynch, Mike Lynch, and Chris Roth teamed up to explore the Thumb Area’s previously discovered but largely forgotten shipwrecks. Join them and their dive friends as they re-explore shipwrecks such as the Emma Nielson, E.P. Dorr, Hunter Savidge, James W. Curran, John A. McPhail, and several others, as they reflect on “Dive Log 2017: Under The Thumb.”

The quagga mussel explosion has drastically changed the appearance of these rarely visited wrecks, but it has also brought with it incredible visibility, offering a whole new perspective on these underwater treasures!

Twin Car Ferries
(James W. Curran & John A. McPhail)

The Journey of the James W. Curran and John A. McPhail

The James W. Curran was launched on June 14, 1947, and the John A. McPhail followed on June 4, 1955. Both vessels served the International Transit Company, crossing the St. Mary’s River year-round between the twin cities of Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Each vessel measured 115 feet in length, 36 feet in width, and could carry eighteen cars and 450 passengers. In 1961, ownership transferred to the Ontario Department of Highways. The vessels were retired when the new International Bridge connecting the two cities opened on October 30, 1962.

On a sunny morning with partial cloud cover, the Canadian Dredge and Dock Company tug GW Rogers departed Sault Ste. Marie at 6:40 am on Friday, May 8, 1964, towing the empty ferries James W. Curran and John A. McPhail. Now owned by the Ontario Department of Highways, the ferries were en route to Kingston, where they were to await the completion of new docks and roads for a Wolfe Island to Kingston ferry run. Unfortunately, history would reveal that they would never reach their final destination.

Emma Nielson

The Story of the Emma Nielson

Built in 1883 at Manitowoc, WI by Hanson & Scove, the Emma Nielson was a wooden, three-masted schooner measuring 74.58 feet in length. On June 26, 1911, while navigating through fog, the Nielson suddenly encountered the steamer Wyandotte dead ahead. The Nielson collided with the Wyandotte, crushing its wooden bow and rapidly taking on water. Fortunately, the captain and crew managed to escape the sinking vessel in the yawl boat. Today, the wreck of the Emma Nielson lies upright in approximately 190 feet of water.

Metropole

The Remarkable Story of the Metropole

The Metropole is one of the most intact steamers found in the Great Lakes. Originally built in 1883 in Huron, OH as the Sakie Shepard, the vessel was lengthened in 1901 after a fire destroyed its stern, and it was subsequently renamed the Metropole. In August of 1903, the Metropole sank in relatively calm weather, 12 miles north of Port Austin. Her cargo of barrel staves kept the vessel afloat for several hours before it slowly descended to the floor of Lake Huron.

Hunter Savidge

The Tragic Tale of the Hunter Savidge

The Hunter Savidge was a 117-foot-long, two-masted schooner built in Grand Haven, MI in 1879. On August 20, 1899, she capsized and foundered during a squall on Lake Huron. Tragically, all five crew members and ten passengers were lost in the incident. Today, the remains of the Hunter Savidge lie broken up on the bottom of Lake Huron.

E.P. Dorr

The Story of the E.P. Dorr

The E.P. Dorr was a wooden tugboat built in 1855 in Buffalo, NY. Tragically, the Dorr was lost on June 28, 1856, following a collision with the Oliver Cromwell. At the time of its loss, the tugboat was carrying salvage parts from other ships, including steam pumps, anchors, windlasses, and tools. Many of these parts are now scattered both within the shipwreck and around the surrounding area. Remarkably, the Dorr sits upright on the lake bottom and remains intact.

CONTACT
US

Have "Dive Log 2017" presented at your next event...

Address

Port Austin
967 Port Austin Road
Port Austin, MI 48467

Attica
1265 Mitchell Lake Road
Attica, MI 48412

Contacts

Email: info@michigandiver.com
Phone: (810) 214-0082

Links

Michigan Shipwreck Preserves
Thumb Area Charter Captains