Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: A.H. Pitz
• Type: Wooden Steam Screw Tug
• Year Built: 1923
• Builder: McMullen & Pitz Construction Company
• Dimensions: 69.66 ft (21.23 m) length × 18.00 ft (5.49 m) beam × 8.42 ft (2.56 m) depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: 52.00
• Depth at Wreck Site: 3 m / 10 ft
• Location: Mouth of the Amnicon River, Lake Superior, Douglas County, Wisconsin
• Coordinates: 46° 41.29′ N / 91° 51.25′ W
• Official Number: 222872
• Original Owners: E.C. Knutson Co. (final owner)
• Number of Masts: Not specified

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The A.H. Pitz is classified as a wooden steam screw tug, designed for harbor service and light coastal operations.

Description

The A.H. Pitz was a 21.23 m (69.66 ft) wooden steam screw tug built in 1923 by the McMullen & Pitz Construction Company of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Its hull was of wood construction, powered by a steam screw propulsion system typical of early 20th-century tug design. The vessel’s modest dimensions and 52 gross tonnage made it suitable for harbor service, towing, and light coastal operations. Today, the wreck is partially buried in shallow water at the mouth of the Amnicon River, retaining elements of its hull and framing.

History

Built for the McMullen & Pitz Construction Company, the tug was named after company partner Armond Pitz. In 1944, the vessel was sold to the Northern Hardwood Veneers Company of Duluth, Minnesota, and the following year to Walter W. Bowe. In 1947, the vessel was purchased by E.C. Knutson, a dry dock company in Superior, Wisconsin. By 1951, the vessel was deemed surplus and abandoned at the mouth of the Amnicon River, where it has remained since.

Significant Incidents

• 1944: Sold to Northern Hardwood Veneers Company.
• 1945: Sold to Walter W. Bowe.
• 1947: Purchased by E.C. Knutson.
• 1951: Abandoned at the mouth of the Amnicon River.

Final Disposition

The A.H. Pitz was abandoned in 1951. No lives were lost. The wreck lies in shallow water, partially buried but still discernible, and was charted as a visible feature with high positional accuracy during NOAA hydrographic surveys in 1981–82.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is partially buried in shallow water, with visible structure remains. It is accessible via shore entry at the Amnicon River mouth, but divers should be aware of variable visibility and seasonal weed growth.

Resources & Links

As a diver, remember to respect the site by adhering to the principle of ‘leave only bubbles, take only memories.’ The A.H. Pitz serves as a reminder of maritime history and the importance of preserving our underwater heritage.