Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Annie Tomine
- Type: Wooden scow-schooner
- Year Built: 1867
- Builder: Soren Anderson, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: Length: 103 ft (31.39 m); Beam: 23 ft (7.01 m); Depth: 9 ft (2.74 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 127 tons (127 t)
- Location: 5 miles west of the entrance to Grand Haven, Michigan Harbor
- Official Number: 1900* (US#29360 in 1869)
- Original Owners: Mizner & Jones, homeported in Muskegon, Michigan
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Annie Tomine was a wooden scow-schooner, a type of vessel primarily used for hauling cargo.
Description
The Annie Tomine was a wooden scow-schooner built in 1867 by Soren Anderson in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The vessel was 103 feet long, 23 feet wide, and had a depth of 9 feet. It had a gross tonnage of 127 tons and was primarily used to transport cargo such as lumber and lath.
In October 1885, the Annie Tomine was en route to Chicago, carrying a load of lumber and lath. However, the vessel encountered a fierce storm on Lake Michigan, causing it to spring a leak. The storm proved too much for the vessel, and it eventually went on its beam ends (capsized). The crew, described as being “in a perishing state,” managed to survive the disaster. They were rescued by the U.S. Lifesaving Service and the tug Arctic.
After the crew was safely rescued, the Annie Tomine drifted ashore and eventually broke up about 7 miles south of the entrance to Grand Haven harbor. The vessel was homeported in Muskegon, Michigan, and was owned by Mizner & Jones. The Annie Tomine‘s master at the time of the wreck was Captain John Rowland Disbrow.
History
The Annie Tomine was built in 1867 and served primarily in the transportation of lumber and lath. It was owned by Mizner & Jones and operated out of Muskegon, Michigan. The vessel’s service history included various cargo runs across the Great Lakes until its loss in 1885.
Significant Incidents
- October 4, 1885: The Annie Tomine capsized in a storm on Lake Michigan, resulting in the loss of the vessel but no loss of life among the six crew members.
Final Disposition
After the vessel capsized in the storm, the Annie Tomine was rescued by the lifesaving service and the tug Arctic. Despite this initial attempt to save the ship, it drifted ashore and was eventually broken up 7 miles south of the Grand Haven harbor entrance. The vessel was a total loss, and no significant recovery of the wreck is noted in historical records.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Annie Tomine broke up ashore south of the entrance to Grand Haven harbor. There is no record of the wreck being rediscovered in more recent years, and it is presumed that the remains were likely dispersed over time. There are no known advisories or hazards related to the wreck at present.
Resources & Links
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The Annie Tomine was a wooden scow-schooner that met its unfortunate end on October 4, 1885, when it capsized in a storm off Grand Haven, Michigan. Despite the perilous circumstances, the crew survived the ordeal, rescued by the U.S. Lifesaving Service and the tug Arctic. After the sinking, the Annie Tomine drifted ashore and broke apart, marking the end of its brief career on Lake Michigan. The wreck serves as a reminder of the perils faced by Great Lakes vessels in the 19th century, particularly those navigating the unpredictable weather of the region.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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