MADISONS, Wisconsin
After over a century underwater, abandoned tug wrecks have resurfaced in Lake Michigan following a recent fishing outing by Wisconsin anglers in foggy conditions, state officials announced on Friday.
Tamara Thomsen, a maritime archaeologist with the Wisconsin Historical Society, mentioned that Christopher Tuss had stumbled upon a shipwreck at the site of J.C. Ames.
While fishing off Manitowoc on a misty Tuesday, Tuss spotted some debris about nine feet underwater from the breakwater, Thomsen shared in a message to the Associated Press.
According to a publication titled “Green Bay Workhalls: Nowtagline,” the J.C. Ames was constructed in 1881 by the Land and Burger Shipbuilding Company in Manitowoc. It was initially meant to facilitate lumber transport. This tug, known for its strength and power in the Great Lakes, boasted a 670-horsepower engine.
Tugs have historically had various roles—from moving timber to transporting rail cars—before they become obsolete. Eventually, the J.C. Ames was lost, trapped underwater in 1923, a fate not uncommon for ships that have outlived their usefulness, Thomsen said.
For decades, the ship had been buried beneath the lake’s sandy bottom, but this winter appears to have brought it to light, Thomsen noted.
The lack of Quagga mussels on the ship’s structure suggests it has only just been exposed, she explained.
Historically, there’s a race against time to locate various remnants in the Great Lakes before invasive Quagga mussels inflict damage on them.
Over the last 30 years, Quagga mussels have dominated the Lower Lake, often enveloping wooden wrecks and even aircraft, leading to significant deterioration.
“Discoveries like these are always thrilling—they allow fragments of lost history to reemerge. This ship has been hidden for over 100 years, and it’s remarkable that it’s back on our radar,” Thomsen stated. “I’m thankful to Chris Tuss for noticing and reporting this wreck, enabling me to share this story with the Wisconsin community, where it really belongs.”
