"Uncovering History: The Remarkable Discovery of the J.C. Ames Tugboat Wreck in Lake Michigan"
Read "Uncovering History: The Remarkable Discovery of the J.C. Ames Tugboat Wreck in Lake Michigan" on WALY Radio
"Uncovering History: The Remarkable Discovery of the J.C. Ames Tugboat Wreck in Lake Michigan"
[!CDATA[A fisherman in Wisconsin made a remarkable discovery this week while fishing in the fog on Lake Michigan. The Wisconsin Historical Society confirmed that Christopher Thuss found the wreck of the J.C. Ames, an abandoned tugboat that had been submerged in the lake for over a century. The tugboat was built in 1881 by the Rand and Burger shipbuilding company in Manitowoc to assist in moving lumber. It was one of the largest and most powerful tugs on the Great Lakes, equipped with a 670-horsepower engine. Thuss spotted the wreckage in nine feet of water off a breakwater in Manitowoc while fishing in foggy conditions. The J.C. Ames had various uses beyond moving lumber, including transporting railway cars. After falling into disrepair, the tugboat was intentionally scuttled in 1923, a common practice for ships that had outlived their usefulness. The wreck had been buried in the lake's sand for decades until recent storms uncovered it, as indicated by the absence of quagga mussels attached to the ship. Historians are working diligently to locate shipwrecks and sunken planes in the Great Lakes before quagga mussels destroy them. These invasive mussels have become a significant threat to underwater artifacts, attaching themselves in thick layers that can crush the wreckage over time. The discovery of the J.C. Ames is a thrilling moment for historians and maritime enthusiasts, as it brings a piece of lost history back to the surface after more than a hundred years. The Wisconsin Historical Society expressed gratitude to Chris Thuss for noticing the wreck and reporting it, allowing the story of this historic tugboat to be shared with communities in Wisconsin. In conclusion, the finding of the J.C. Ames tugboat wreck in Lake Michigan is a fascinating glimpse into the maritime history of the region. The accidental discovery by a local angler highlights the importance of preserving and documenting these underwater relics before they are lost to invasive species like quagga mussels. The Wisconsin Historical Society continues to uncover and share these hidden stories to connect communities with their past.]]