Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: AGNES
- Type: Gas screw, wooden passenger vessel
- Year Built: 1906
- Builder: Frankfort, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length: 26 ft (7.92 m); Beam: 9 ft (2.74 m); Depth of hold: 3 ft (0.91 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Gross Tonnage: 7 tons; Net Tonnage: 6 tons
- Location: Arcadia, Michigan, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 203484
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Small wooden gas screw passenger vessel.
Description
The AGNES was a small, wooden passenger vessel powered by a gas screw engine, a relatively new technology in the early 20th century as internal combustion engines began to replace steam propulsion in smaller craft. Built in 1906 in Frankfort, Michigan, she measured just 26 feet in length with a 9-foot beam and a shallow draft of 3 feet. With a gross tonnage of only 7 tons, she was a light vessel designed for short trips, ferrying passengers or small cargo loads along the Lake Michigan coast. Her homeport was Grand Haven, Michigan, a bustling port town known for its maritime activity.
History
The AGNES operated along the eastern shores of Lake Michigan, serving the small coastal communities that relied on such vessels for transportation and communication. In an era when roads were often unreliable and slow, boats like the AGNES played an essential role in connecting towns like Grand Haven, Frankfort, and Arcadia. Her gas screw engine represented a technological shift, offering more reliable and efficient propulsion compared to traditional steam engines, especially for smaller vessels.
On October 7, 1912, the AGNES foundered off the coast of Arcadia, Michigan. Despite the vessel’s loss, all seven people aboard survived the incident, suggesting that the foundering occurred close to shore or in manageable conditions. Unfortunately, specific details regarding the cause of the foundering, such as weather conditions, mechanical failure, or hull damage, are not documented. Given the size of the vessel and the time of year, it is possible that sudden weather changes or rough lake conditions contributed to the incident.
Significant Incidents
- Foundered off Arcadia, Michigan on October 7, 1912; all seven aboard survived.
Final Disposition
Foundered off Arcadia, Michigan; total loss of vessel with no casualties.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Nil (No records available confirming the discovery or documentation of the wreck site).
Nil (No current navigational obstructions or maritime advisories related to this wreck near Arcadia, Michigan).
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”agnes” title=”References & Links”]
The AGNES reflects a transitional period in maritime history, where gas-powered engines began replacing steam in smaller vessels on the Great Lakes. Though her loss off Arcadia, Michigan, in 1912 remains somewhat of a mystery, her story is part of the broader narrative of early 20th-century Great Lakes transportation. The survival of all aboard speaks to the resilience of the crew and the close-knit maritime communities along Michigan’s shoreline.
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