Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Pere Marquette No. 8 (ex–H.W. Williams, Tennessee) US 95952

Explore the history of the Pere Marquette No. 8, a wooden screw steamer that met its end in a fire while moored in Manistee, Michigan.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Pere Marquette No. 8
  • Type: Wooden screw steamer
  • Year Built: 1888
  • Builder: John B. Martel, South Haven, Michigan
  • Dimensions: 170.8 ft (52 m); Beam 35.2 ft; Depth of hold 11.5 ft
  • Registered Tonnage: 692 gross tons
  • Location: Manistee Lake, Manistee, Michigan
  • Official Number: 95952
  • Original Owners: Henry and Charles Williams, Pere Marquette Line Steamers

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Type: Wooden screw steamer

Description

The Pere Marquette No. 8, originally launched as H.W. Williams, was a wooden screw steamer that underwent significant modifications throughout its service life. It was built to accommodate the evolving demands of passenger and freight transport on Lake Michigan.

History

Ownership and Service History:

  • 1888-1910: Operated as H.W. Williams by Henry and Charles Williams, South Haven, Michigan.
  • 1910-1913: Renamed Tennessee; modernized for passenger service.
  • 1913-1927: Renamed Pere Marquette No. 8 under Pere Marquette Line Steamers.
  • Service Routes: South Haven to Chicago, and later Pentwater, Frankfort, Ludington, Manistee, Onekama, Arcadia (Lake Michigan).

Significant Incidents

Significant Incidents:

  • October 25, 1927: The vessel caught fire while moored in Manistee Lake, resulting in total loss.

Final Disposition

The Pere Marquette No. 8 was destroyed by fire on October 25, 1927, while idle in the harbor of Manistee, Michigan. There were no reported casualties, and the vessel was deemed a total loss.

Current Condition & Accessibility

As the vessel was destroyed by fire while moored, there are no remains to explore. The site is not accessible for diving.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”pere-marquette-no-8-ex-h-w-williams-tennessee-us-95952″ title=”References & Links”]

The Pere Marquette No. 8 serves as a historical example of late 19th-century wooden screw steamers and marks the end of an era for wooden-hulled passenger freighters on Lake Michigan.

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.

Shipwreck Report: Pere Marquette No. 8 (ex-H.W. Williams, ex-Tennessee)

Vessel Identification & Profile

  • Official Number: 95952
  • Original Name: H.W. Williams
  • Later Names: Tennessee (1910), Pere Marquette No. 8 (1913)
  • Launch Date: March 24, 1888
  • Builder: John B. Martel, South Haven, Michigan
  • Construction: Wooden screw steamer
  • Original Dimensions: 140 ft (length) × 28 ft (beam) × 10.3 ft (depth)
  • Post-Rebuild Dimensions (1897): 170.8 ft × 35.2 ft × 11.5 ft; 692 gross tons
  • Propulsion: High pressure steam engine (24 x 28 in), later upgraded to compound engine (375 hp); single screw propeller
  • Technological Upgrades: Dynamo and wireless telegraph installed in 1910

Ownership and Service History

  • 1888-1910: Operated as H.W. Williams by Henry and Charles Williams, South Haven, Michigan
  • 1910-1913: Renamed Tennessee; modernized for passenger service
  • 1913-1927: Renamed Pere Marquette No. 8 under Pere Marquette Line Steamers
  • Service Routes: South Haven to Chicago, and later Pentwater, Frankfort, Ludington, Manistee, Onekama, Arcadia (Lake Michigan)

Final Disposition

  • Date of Loss: October 25, 1927
  • Location: Manistee Lake, Manistee, Michigan (moored)
  • Cause of Loss: Fire; vessel burned while idle in harbor
  • Casualties: None reported
  • Outcome: Total loss; vessel destroyed

Evidence & Verification

  • Confirmed by:
    • Facebook post from Manistee historical group: “Burned Manistee 10-25-1927.”
    • Post from Sun ‘n Sand Resort: “91 years ago the PERE MARQUETTE 8 caught fire while idling in the harbor of Manistee, MI.”

Notmars & Advisories

  • None noted

Resources & Links

Historical and Archaeological Significance
The Pere Marquette No. 8, originally launched as H.W. Williams, is representative of the late 19th-century wooden screw steamers that evolved through successive rebuilds to meet changing industrial and passenger demands on Lake Michigan. Its destruction by fire in 1927 marked the end of an era for many wooden-hulled passenger freighters.

Glossary and Keywords

  • Region: Lake Michigan, Manistee
  • Vessel Type: Wooden screw steamer
  • Cause of Loss: Fire
  • Material: Wood
  • Period: 1888–1927
  • Dive Difficulty: Not applicable (burned while moored)
  • Hazards: None currently known
pere-marquette-no-8-ex-h-w-williams-tennessee-us-95952 1927-10-25 13:27:00