Certainly, Tom. Here’s the complete Shotline Diving-style shipwreck report for the J.C. Ames, integrating all available historical and rediscovery data:

J.C. AMES

  • Type: Tugboat (steam-powered)
  • Lengths: Approx. 90 feet (27.4 meters)
  • Deaths: None reported
  • Location: Manitowoc, Wisconsin – Lake Michigan
  • GPS: Not yet published (Located near Manitowoc Breakwater)

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

Vessel Name: J.C. Ames

Official Number: Unknown

Type: Wooden steam Tug

Built: 1881

Builder: Rand & Burger Shipbuilders, Manitowoc, Wisconsin

Owner(s): Originally built for hauling operations; later ownership unclear

Propulsion: Steam engine, approx. 670 horsepower

Length: Approx. 90 feet (27.4 meters)

Beam: Unknown

Depth (Hold): Unknown

Gross Tonnage: Not listed

Construction: Wood Hull, single screw

Final Status: Scuttled in 1923, rediscovered in 2025

Site Location: Lake Michigan, off Manitowoc, Wisconsin, near the Breakwater

Water Depth: Approx. 9 feet (2.7 meters)

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The J.C. Ames was a high-powered, wooden-hulled Tug designed during the peak of the steam-powered Great Lakes lumber and cargo boom. At 670 horsepower, she was among the more capable towing vessels of her era, tasked with hauling rafts of timber and even rail cars across lake routes.

Built in 1881 by Rand & Burger of Manitowoc, she reflects the transitionary period of robust steam tugs servicing both industrial and commercial operations before the dominance of steel-hulled vessels.

HISTORY

Serving throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the J.C. Ames was a workhorse along Lake Michigan and nearby waterways. Her role included transporting lumber, rail cars, and possibly Barge traffic along industrial routes between Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois.

By the early 1920s, she had fallen into disrepair. The decision was made to scuttle the vessel in 1923, likely at or near the Manitowoc harbor, a common practice at the time for aging wooden tugs.

LOSS & FINAL VOYAGE

Officially scuttled in 1923, the J.C. Ames was left to deteriorate beneath the harbor sands. Over the decades, her story was largely forgotten. The winter storms of 2024–2025 shifted the sediment near Manitowoc’s Breakwater, partially uncovering the Tugboat once again.

On a foggy day in May 2025, local angler Christopher Thuss spotted the wreck in shallow water and alerted authorities. Divers confirmed that the exposed Hull matched the dimensions and construction of the long-lost J.C. Ames. The vessel was found intact, upright, and in shallow water (approx. 9 feet deep), with no visible quagga mussel infestation—suggesting recent exposure.

PRESENT CONDITION

The wreck rests in shallow, cold freshwater and retains a surprising amount of structural integrity. Key features such as the Hull outline and engine mounts are visible. However, due to the low depth and environmental exposure, it is susceptible to erosion, ice damage, and potential souvenir removal.

Efforts are underway to document the wreck with high-resolution imaging and potential 3D photogrammetry, led by the Wisconsin Historical Society and maritime archaeologist Tamara Thomsen.

REFERENCES & LINKS

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