Site Description
The William H. Wolf, a bulk freighter, was constructed in 1887 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Built by Wolf & Davidson, it was made of wood and had a single deck. The original owner of the vessel was the Wolf & Davidson Steam Ship Company, based in Milwaukee. The ship had four masts and was propelled by a screw propulsion system. Its engine was a triple expansion type with three cylinders, and it had two boilers and a single propeller. The engine, with dimensions of 20, 32, and 54 x 42 inches, generated 800 horsepower at 74 revolutions per minute. The boilers, measuring 10 feet 6 inches by 11 feet 6 inches, operated at 150 pounds of steam and were manufactured by Lake Erie Boiler Works in Buffalo, New York, in 1887.
The William H. Wolf had a length of 285 feet, a beam of 42.3 feet, and a depth of 19.2 feet. It had a gross tonnage of 2,265 and a net tonnage of 1,791. Throughout its history, the ownership of the vessel changed, and in 1899 it was owned by the West Division Steam Ship Company in Chicago, Illinois.
Tragedy struck the William H. Wolf on various occasions. On August 8, 1887, during its launch, two people were killed and five to six others were seriously injured when the Northwestern Fuel Company shed collapsed. In 1921, the ship experienced a leak and sank in Keweenaw Entry near Houghton, Michigan, in 22 feet of water. It was later raised but met its final demise on October 20, 1921. While en route to drydock for repairs, the vessel caught fire and burned to the waterline, ultimately sinking near Woodtick Island in the St. Clair River.
The wreck of the William H. Wolf was subsequently removed in 1925 and resunk at another location. Today, the remains of the wreck can be found at a drop-off north of Marshy Creek Park. The broken bow rests in shallow water, while the stern lies at the bottom of the drop-off in approximately 60 feet of water. Divers can still explore the site and discover remnants of the engine, boiler, and four-bladed propeller. The sinking of the William H. Wolf serves as a reminder of the perils faced by ships navigating the Great Lakes and the importance of safety measures to prevent such tragic incidents.
This wreck lies at a drop-off north of Marshy Creek Park. The Wolf burned and sank on Oct. 20, 1921, with the loss of 2 crew. The broken bow is located in shallow water, while the stern is at the bottom of the drop-off in approximately 60′ of water. You can still find the engine, boiler, and four-bladed propeller at the site
