Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: J.C. Ames
- Type: Tugboat (steam-powered)
- Year Built: 1881
- Builder: Rand & Burger Shipbuilders, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: Approx. 90 ft (27.4 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Not listed
- Depth at Wreck Site: 2.7 m / 9 ft
- Location: Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Coordinates: Not yet published (Located near Manitowoc Breakwater)
- Official Number: Unknown
- Original Owners: Originally built for hauling operations; later ownership unclear
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The J.C. Ames was a high-powered, wooden-hulled tug designed during the peak of the steam-powered Great Lakes lumber and cargo boom. At 670 horsepower, she was among the more capable towing vessels of her era, tasked with hauling rafts of timber and even rail cars across lake routes.
Built in 1881 by Rand & Burger of Manitowoc, she reflects the transitionary period of robust steam tugs servicing both industrial and commercial operations before the dominance of steel-hulled vessels.
Description
The J.C. Ames was a wooden steam tugboat, approximately 90 feet long, built to serve the bustling trade routes of the Great Lakes. With a steam engine generating around 670 horsepower, she played a crucial role in transporting lumber, rail cars, and barge traffic across Lake Michigan and nearby waterways.
History
Serving throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the J.C. Ames was a workhorse along Lake Michigan and nearby waterways. Her role included transporting lumber, rail cars, and possibly barge traffic along industrial routes between Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois.
By the early 1920s, she had fallen into disrepair. The decision was made to scuttle the vessel in 1923, likely at or near the Manitowoc harbor, a common practice at the time for aging wooden tugs.
Significant Incidents
- Officially scuttled in 1923, the J.C. Ames was left to deteriorate beneath the harbor sands.
- The winter storms of 2024–2025 shifted the sediment near Manitowoc’s breakwater, partially uncovering the tugboat once again.
- On a foggy day in May 2025, local angler Christopher Thuss spotted the wreck in shallow water and alerted authorities.
- Divers confirmed that the exposed hull matched the dimensions and construction of the long-lost J.C. Ames.
Final Disposition
The J.C. Ames was scuttled in 1923 and remained largely forgotten until its rediscovery in 2025. The vessel was found intact, upright, and in shallow water, with no visible quagga mussel infestation, suggesting recent exposure.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck rests in shallow, cold freshwater and retains a surprising amount of structural integrity. Key features such as the hull outline and engine mounts are visible. However, due to the low depth and environmental exposure, it is susceptible to erosion, ice damage, and potential souvenir removal.
Efforts are underway to document the wreck with high-resolution imaging and potential 3D photogrammetry, led by the Wisconsin Historical Society and maritime archaeologist Tamara Thomsen.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”j-c-ames-1881″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
As divers explore the J.C. Ames, they are reminded to leave only bubbles and take only memories, ensuring that this historical site is preserved for future generations.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Certainly, Tom. Here’s the complete Shotline Diving-style shipwreck report for the J.C. Ames, integrating all available historical and rediscovery data:
J.C. AMES
- Type: Tugboat (steam-powered)
- Lengths: Approx. 90 feet (27.4 meters)
- Deaths: None reported
- Location: Manitowoc, Wisconsin – Lake Michigan
- GPS: Not yet published (Located near Manitowoc Breakwater)
IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
Vessel Name: J.C. Ames
Official Number: Unknown
Type: Wooden steam tug
Built: 1881
Builder: Rand & Burger Shipbuilders, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Owner(s): Originally built for hauling operations; later ownership unclear
Propulsion: Steam engine, approx. 670 horsepower
Length: Approx. 90 feet (27.4 meters)
Beam: Unknown
Depth (Hold): Unknown
Gross Tonnage: Not listed
Construction: Wood hull, single screw
Final Status: Scuttled in 1923, rediscovered in 2025
Site Location: Lake Michigan, off Manitowoc, Wisconsin, near the breakwater
Water Depth: Approx. 9 feet (2.7 meters)
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The J.C. Ames was a high-powered, wooden-hulled tug designed during the peak of the steam-powered Great Lakes lumber and cargo boom. At 670 horsepower, she was among the more capable towing vessels of her era, tasked with hauling rafts of timber and even rail cars across lake routes.
Built in 1881 by Rand & Burger of Manitowoc, she reflects the transitionary period of robust steam tugs servicing both industrial and commercial operations before the dominance of steel-hulled vessels.
HISTORY
Serving throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the J.C. Ames was a workhorse along Lake Michigan and nearby waterways. Her role included transporting lumber, rail cars, and possibly barge traffic along industrial routes between Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois.
By the early 1920s, she had fallen into disrepair. The decision was made to scuttle the vessel in 1923, likely at or near the Manitowoc harbor, a common practice at the time for aging wooden tugs.
LOSS & FINAL VOYAGE
Officially scuttled in 1923, the J.C. Ames was left to deteriorate beneath the harbor sands. Over the decades, her story was largely forgotten. The winter storms of 2024–2025 shifted the sediment near Manitowoc’s breakwater, partially uncovering the tugboat once again.
On a foggy day in May 2025, local angler Christopher Thuss spotted the wreck in shallow water and alerted authorities. Divers confirmed that the exposed hull matched the dimensions and construction of the long-lost J.C. Ames. The vessel was found intact, upright, and in shallow water (approx. 9 feet deep), with no visible quagga mussel infestation—suggesting recent exposure.
PRESENT CONDITION
The wreck rests in shallow, cold freshwater and retains a surprising amount of structural integrity. Key features such as the hull outline and engine mounts are visible. However, due to the low depth and environmental exposure, it is susceptible to erosion, ice damage, and potential souvenir removal.
Efforts are underway to document the wreck with high-resolution imaging and potential 3D photogrammetry, led by the Wisconsin Historical Society and maritime archaeologist Tamara Thomsen.
REFERENCES & LINKS
- AP News Article – Discovery of J.C. Ames
- Facebook Post by Discoverer
- Wisconsin Historical Society – Maritime Program
- 3DShipwrecks.org (no model posted yet)
- David Swayze Shipwreck File – Pending inclusion
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Ships, Bowling Green State University
M
j-c-ames-1881 1923-05-18 04:47:00