IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Wreck Name: AIMEE (alternatively referred to as AIMIE or AIME)

• Wreck Type: Propeller Tug (originally built as a yacht)

• Dimensions: Exact dimensions not recorded

• Location: Off Thunder Bay Island, Lake Huron

• Coordinates: Not specified

• Depth: Not provided; presumed shallow

• Construction: Wooden Hull

• Tonnage: 10 tons

• Build Date: 1879

• Builder: Ahnapee, Wisconsin

• Original Owner: Thunder Bay Boom Co.

• Final Cargo: Light station supplies and a pet deer for President-elect James A. Garfield

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The AIMEE was a small wooden-hulled vessel, originally designed as a yacht in 1879. It was later converted into a Tugboat, reflecting the flexibility and practicality of maritime operations during the late 19th century. With its modest 10-ton tonnage, the vessel was primarily used for localized towing and transport missions. Despite its size, the AIMEE played an important role in servicing the logging and maritime industries around Lake Huron.

HISTORY

The AIMEE began its life as a private yacht built in Ahnapee, Wisconsin. It was later repurposed as a Tugboat under the ownership of the Thunder Bay Boom Co., which operated primarily in the Thunder Bay region of Lake Huron. The vessel’s duties included towing, delivering supplies, and assisting with various local operations.

In November 1880, the AIMEE embarked on a mission to deliver supplies to a light station near Thunder Bay Island. The voyage also carried an unusual cargo—a pet deer intended for delivery to President-elect James A. Garfield in Ohio. After completing its first stop at Thunder Bay Island, the AIMEE faced growing difficulties due to the onset of severe weather and ice accumulation.

The Incident:

• The vessel became trapped by ice near Thunder Bay Island, sustaining rudder damage that left it nearly impossible to navigate.

• On November 20, 1880, worsening conditions caused the AIMEE to break free from its moorings and drift uncontrollably into open water.

• Unable to withstand the violent waves and sub-zero temperatures, the AIMEE was wrecked. Its wooden Hull succumbed to the harsh conditions, and the vessel, along with its supplies and the pet deer, was lost to Lake Huron.

The wreck of the AIMEE underscores the constant risks posed by the Great Lakes’ unpredictable weather and the challenges faced by small vessels attempting to navigate its vast and often treacherous waters.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The AIMEE was lost off Thunder Bay Island after being trapped in ice and rendered unmanageable by rudder damage. It eventually broke free and was destroyed by the severe weather conditions. No lives were reported lost, but the wreck was declared a Total Loss, along with its cargo.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

• Current Status: The exact location of the wreck has not been documented, and the remains of the vessel are presumed scattered or buried.

• Advisories: No current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are issued for the area, though divers and mariners should exercise caution near Thunder Bay Island due to underwater hazards and historical wreckage.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Great Lakes Ships Database: Comprehensive records on vessels lost in the Great Lakes.

• David Swayze Shipwreck File: Archival shipwreck details and incident reports.

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Historical accounts and vessel records.

• NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary: Preservation efforts in the Thunder Bay region.

CONCLUSION

The AIMEE’s story is emblematic of the challenges faced by small vessels operating on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. From its origins as a private yacht to its Conversion into a hardworking Tug, the AIMEE exemplified the adaptability of Great Lakes vessels. Its loss in 1880 is a poignant reminder of the dangers of ice, storms, and mechanical failure in these unforgiving waters.

While the wreck remains undiscovered, the AIMEE continues to hold historical significance, offering insights into the maritime culture and industrial activity of its time.

KEYWORDS

AIMEE, Thunder Bay Island, Lake Huron, Tugboat Wreck, Great Lakes Shipwrecks, 19th Century Maritime History, Wooden Hull Vessel, Ice Damage, President Garfield, Thunder Bay Boom Co.