Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lydia
- Type: Fishing Tug
- Year Built: c. 1930s
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Approximately 54 ft (16.5 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Off Grand Marais harbor entrance, Michigan
- Original Owners: Louis Larson, Thomas Larson, Alex Manilla, John Tomkiel, Fred Hazen
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
- Small motorized fishing tug, single-screw, designed for operation in Lake Superior coastal waters
Description
- Powered tug built c. mid-1930s – lost 25 November 1932
History
- Home Port: Grand Marais, Michigan (also fished near Racine, Wisconsin area)
Significant Incidents
- Date of Loss: 25 November 1932
- Location: Just off the harbor entrance at Grand Marais, Michigan
- Cause of Loss: Violent gale struck the tug while attempting to reach shelter—Lydia capsized and sank in heavy seas
- Casualties: All five aboard were lost, including the vessel’s owner-operators Louis Larson, Thomas Larson, nephew Alex Manilla, John Tomkiel, and Fred Hazen
Final Disposition
- Vessel sank overnight during the storm; no wreck recovery or salvage is recorded
- Registry and records closed soon after, with the incident firmly entered in Great Lakes loss listings
Current Condition & Accessibility
- No known modern rediscovery or dive surveys exist for Lydia
- Wreck likely lies in deep nearshore waters just outside Grand Marais harbor; harsh November storms and deep conditions may have destroyed or dispersed remains
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lydia-c1930″ title=”References & Links”]
Lydia, a small power fishing tug based in Grand Marais, Michigan, sank on 25 November 1932 as she attempted to run out to sea during a violent gale. All five crew were lost. The wreck has never been located or surveyed, and only historical loss listings and local memory document her disappearance. Further archival searches—coast guard reports, newspaper archives, and community records—may shed more light on her design, crew, and final moments.
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.
(powered tug built c. mid‑1930s – lost 25 November 1932)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lydia (no known renames)
- Built: c. 1930s (approx.), powered tug of approximately 50–60 feet in length, operated as a fishing vessel based in Grand Marais, Michigan (whimsea.net, mynorthcoastrealty.com)
- Home Port: Grand Marais, Michigan (also fished near Racine, Wisconsin area) (mynorthcoastrealty.com)
Vessel Type
- Small motorized fishing tug, single-screw, designed for operation in Lake Superior coastal waters
Final Voyage & Loss
- Date of Loss: 25 November 1932
- Location: Just off the harbor entrance at Grand Marais, Michigan
- Cause of Loss: Violent gale struck the tug while attempting to reach shelter—Lydia capsized and sank in heavy seas (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, mynorthcoastrealty.com, whimsea.net)
- Casualties: All five aboard were lost, including the vessel’s owner-operators Louis Larson, Thomas Larson, nephew Alex Manilla, John Tomkiel, and Fred Hazen (mynorthcoastrealty.com)
Disposition
- Vessel sank overnight during the storm; no wreck recovery or salvage is recorded
- Registry and records closed soon after, with the incident firmly entered in Great Lakes loss listings
Rediscovery & Condition
- No known modern rediscovery or dive surveys exist for Lydia
- Wreck likely lies in deep nearshore waters just outside Grand Marais harbor; harsh November storms and deep conditions may have destroyed or dispersed remains
Summary Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Lydia |
| Built | c. 1930s, motor fishing tug (~54 ft) |
| Home Port | Grand Marais, Michigan |
| Loss Date | 25 November 1932 |
| Loss Location | Off Grand Marais harbor entrance |
| Cause | Gale‑forced capsize amid violent seas |
| Crew Casualties | 5 (all aboard) |
| Cargo | Fishing gear (no cargo) |
| Modern Rediscovery | None known |
Research Context & Significance
The Lydia tragedy illustrates the dangers faced by small commercial tugs operating Lake Superior in late-November storm conditions. While navigating for shelter near Grand Marais, she was overwhelmed by gale-force winds and seas, resulting in the loss of all five crew. This incident joins other late-season sinkings in the region, underscoring the deadly potential of sudden storms near exposed harbor entrances (mynorthcoastrealty.com, whimsea.net, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, beavertaillight.org).
Suggested Further Research
Gaps remain in vessel documentation and crew records:
- US Coast Guard or local rescue logs (likely 1932, Grand Marais station) for official incident reports
- Local newspapers such as Grand Marais News-Tribune or Duluth regional papers (late Nov 1932) for eyewitness accounts or obituaries
- Fishing license or Manitowoc registry files for vessel specifications and owner details
- Family or community oral histories in Grand Marais archives, which may retain personal notes about the incident
Conclusion
Lydia, a small power fishing tug based in Grand Marais, Michigan, sank on 25 November 1932 as she attempted to run out to sea during a violent gale. All five crew were lost. The wreck has never been located or surveyed, and only historical loss listings and local memory document her disappearance. Further archival searches—coast guard reports, newspaper archives, and community records—may shed more light on her design, crew, and final moments.
lydia-c1930 1932-11-25 15:16:00