Steam Screw Tug & Lumber Steambarge

Identification & Specifications

  • Name: Grace Patterson
  • Official No.: 85634
  • Type: Wooden-hulled steam screw Tug/freighter later converted to steambarge
  • Built: 1880 by J. Callister, Grand Haven, MI
  • Tonnage: Approx. 111 GT

Final Voyage & Wreck – March 15, 1882

  • Route & Cargo: Laden with lumber and lath, bound from Manistee to Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Incident Location: 15 miles offshore near Two Rivers Point, Lake Michigan
  • Damage Event: Sprang a leak during a severe storm; sank into shallow water (~3 ft above Deck) and drifted ashore broadside to the beach north of Two Rivers; subsequently caught fire and was destroyed.

Wreck Site & Condition

  • Location: Near Two Rivers Point, WI (offshore beach)
  • Condition: Remains burned by fire and destroyed post-stranding; significant structural remnants unlikely.
  • Survey Status: Site was evaluated and deemed ineligible for National Register—little Hull structure remains above sediment (wisconsinshipwrecks.org).

Historical & Maritime Context

  • Demonstrates risks of early steel-hulled and steam-powered Conversion vessels operating in heavy weather on Lake Michigan.
  • Lifesaving efforts reflect integrated maritime rescue operations of the late 19th century.

Research Opportunities

  • Archival Newspapers: Examine Milwaukee and Two Rivers local newspapers (March–April 1882) for incident reports and crew narratives.
  • Life-Saving Station Logs: Confirm rescue operation and possible follow-up salvage details in Station No. 17 records.
  • Sonar & Shore Surveys: While unlikely to yield visible wreckage, nearshore sediment surveys may detect small debris still present.

Summary

The Grace Patterson wreck on March 15, 1882, exemplifies maritime peril on Lake Michigan: leaking into a gale, Abandoned by its crew, and ultimately destroyed by fire upon stranding north of Two Rivers. Rescuers saved all aboard, but the vessel itself was a Total Loss. The site holds limited physical remains and low archaeological potential, as confirmed by the Wisconsin Historical Society assessment (wisconsinshipwrecks.org).