Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Kellogg (1882)

Explore the wreck of the Kellogg, a wooden scow that foundered in a gale in 1910, located in Lake Michigan. A dive site for those interested in maritime history.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Kellogg
  • Type: Wooden unrigged stone scow
  • Year Built: 1882
  • Builder: Thomas Thompson, Ludington, Michigan
  • Dimensions: 162 ft × 36 ft × 12 ft (49.4 m × 11.0 m × 3.7 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 489 GRT
  • Location: 12 miles (19 km) NW of Little Sable Point, Lake Michigan
  • Official Number: Not listed
  • Original Owners: Tow of the tug Leatham Smith; exact ownership net unspecified
  • Number of Masts: Unrigged

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden unrigged stone scow.

Description

Built in 1882 by Thomas Thompson in Ludington, Michigan, the Kellogg was a large scow schooner repurposed as an unrigged scow, relying on tug assistance. Her broad beam (36 ft / 11 m) and shallow hull (12 ft / 3.7 m) were typical for stone transport. Despite sizeable capacity (489 GRT), she lacked sails and depended on tows.

History

During her career, Kellogg likely hauled stone or aggregate along the Lake Michigan coast. By 1910, she was being towed by the tug Leatham Smith, owned by Leathem & Smith Towing & Wrecking—a prominent Door County maritime firm. On September 8, 1910, while bound possibly toward Ludington or southward in ballast, she encountered a severe northeast gale approximately 12 miles northwest of Little Sable Point. The storm overwhelmed the unrigged scow, leading to foundering. Both crew—likely consisting of the two-man towing team—survived. No artifacts or further details of salvage are recorded.

Significant Incidents

  • September 8, 1910: Foundered in a gale approximately 12 miles NW of Little Sable Point, Lake Michigan.

Final Disposition

The Kellogg foundered and sank during the storm. Wreckage likely settled on the lakebed with no recorded recovery.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No known dive surveys or identified wreck site; location remains unverified.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”kellogg-1882″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]

The story of Kellogg illustrates the vulnerability of unrigged scow barges during early 20th-century Great Lakes storms. Dependent on tug tows and lacking self-propulsion, scows like Kellogg were perilous in heavy weather. The incident underscores the need for robust securing of tows and vigilance during northwest gales. The intact records of her construction and loss offer a clear, factual snapshot of maritime commerce in 1910.

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.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Kellogg
  • Official Number: Not listed
  • Date Built: 1882
  • Builder: Thomas Thompson, Ludington, Michigan
  • Dimensions: 162 ft × 36 ft × 12 ft (49.4 m × 11.0 m × 3.7 m)
  • Gross Tonnage: 489 GRT
  • Date Lost: September 8, 1910
  • Place of Loss: 12 miles (19 km) NW of Little Sable Point, Lake Michigan
  • Cause of Loss: Foundered in a gale, storm-related
  • Cargo: Light (empty or ballast)
  • Crew: 2; no fatalities
  • Ownership: Tow of the tug Leatham Smith; exact ownership net unspecified (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, facebook.com)

Vessel Type

Wooden unrigged stone scow.

Description

Built in 1882 by Thomas Thompson in Ludington, Michigan, the Kellogg was a large scow schooner repurposed as an unrigged scow, relying on tug assistance. Her broad beam (36 ft / 11 m) and shallow hull (12 ft / 3.7 m) were typical for stone transport. Despite sizeable capacity (489 GRT), she lacked sails and depended on tows.

History

During her career, Kellogg likely hauled stone or aggregate along the Lake Michigan coast. By 1910, she was being towed by the tug Leatham Smith, owned by Leathem & Smith Towing & Wrecking—a prominent Door County maritime firm (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, thelodgeatls.com). On September 8, 1910, while bound possibly toward Ludington or southward in ballast, she encountered a severe northeast gale approximately 12 miles northwest of Little Sable Point. The storm overwhelmed the unrigged scow, leading to foundering. Both crew—likely consisting of the two–man towing team—survived. No artifacts or further details of salvage are recorded (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).

Final Disposition

The Kellogg foundered and sank during the storm. Wreckage likely settled on the lakebed with no recorded recovery.

Located By & Date Found

No known dive surveys or identified wreck site; location remains unverified.

Notmars & Advisories

No navigational markers or advisories. Area remains hazardous during northwest gales.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The story of Kellogg illustrates the vulnerability of unrigged scow barges during early 20th‑century Great Lakes storms. Dependent on tug tows and lacking self-propulsion, scows like Kellogg were perilous in heavy weather. The incident underscores the need for robust securing of tows and vigilance during northwest gales. The intact records of her construction and loss offer a clear, factual snapshot of maritime commerce in 1910.

kellogg-1882 1910-09-08 23:22:00