Identification & Site Information

  • Name: George Rogers
  • Built: 1889 (details on shipyard not yet identified)
  • Type: Steam-powered wooden Tug/Towboat
  • Homeport: Grand Haven, Michigan
  • Loss Date: August 29, 1914
  • Loss Location: Off Northport, Leelanau Peninsula, Lake Michigan
  • Casualties: None of the six crew aboard reportedly lost (manitouislandsarchives.org, Facebook)

Vessel Specifications & Propulsion

  • Hull: Wood
  • Propulsion: Steam-powered screw Tug; specific engine/boiler details pending archival discovery
  • Size & Tonnage: Currently unverified; typical tugs of the period ranged 40–80 ft and ~20–50 GRT

Incident & Final Disposition

  • Fire Onboard: According to local reports, a boiler fire broke out on August 29, 1914, while the Tug was off Northport near the Leelanau Peninsula (Facebook, Reddit).
  • Progression: The blaze rapidly engulfed the vessel, consuming it down to the waterline.
  • Crew Rescue: All six crew members survived; rescue details not yet documented (Wikipedia).
  • Sinking: The vessel burned through its Hull and sank shortly after the fire.

Location & Wreck Context

  • Wreck Site: Submerged near Northport, Michigan (west shore of Leelanau Peninsula), Lake Michigan (Wikipedia, Reddit).
  • Accessibility: Likely in moderate water depth; precise site coordinates and depth unknown. May be of interest for diving or remote sensing.

Archival & Research Gaps

  • Builder Records: Shipbuilding documentation (1889) to be investigated in Michigan shipyard, likely Grand Haven.
  • Official Enrollment: Enrollment and tonnage recorded in U.S. Customs or U.S. Coast Guard registry—missing Official Number.
  • Crew List: Names, roles, captain: to be found in enrollment documents or newspaper articles.
  • News Coverage: August/September 1914 local press (Northport, Grand Haven, Traverse City) may report the fire and subsequent rescue.
  • Salvage or Court Records: Potential marine court or insurance investigation; query Michigan state archives.

Next Steps for Research & Exploration

  • Archive Search: Check enrollment and registry records via National Archives, Grand Haven Marine District.
  • Newspaper Collections: Explore local papers like Grand Traverse Herald, Grand Haven Tribune, covering late August 1914 events.
  • Field Survey: Commission a targeted sonar or magnetometer survey near the Northport shoreline to locate the wreck.
  • Local Collaboration: Reach out to Leelanau Historical Society or recreational dive clubs for dive logs, oral histories, or photographs.

Significance

The George Rogers illustrates early-20th-century steam Tug operations in the Grand Haven–Leelanau region. Its fiery destruction—a sudden onboard boiler crisis leading to rapid sinking—makes it a poignant vessel for studies on steam-era maritime vessels and their vulnerabilities. Recovering technical information and mapping the wreck would enrich the historical narrative and offer a valuable archaeological resource.