Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: W.C. Kimball
- Type: Wooden scow-schooner
- Year Built: 1888
- Builder: Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: 63 ft × 17 ft × 5 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 40-50 tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 90 m / 300 ft
- Location: Near Manitou Passage, Lake Michigan
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Identity & Construction
- Name: W.C. Kimball
- Built: 1888 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Type: Wooden scow-schooner, ~63 ft × 17 ft × 5 ft (~40–50 tons)
- Cargo at Loss: Approximately 200 barrels of salt and ~250,000 wooden shingles
Description
Description
The W.C. Kimball was a wooden scow-schooner that met its fate during a severe gale on May 8, 1891. The vessel was carrying a cargo of salt and wooden shingles when it disappeared in poor visibility caused by forest fires. The wreck was discovered in September 2018, lying upright at a depth of approximately 300 feet in Lake Michigan. It is noted for its exceptional state of preservation, with features such as a clipper bow and an intact lifeboat.
History
History
The W.C. Kimball was built in 1888 and operated primarily in the Great Lakes region. On its final voyage, it departed from Manistee, Michigan, bound for Northport. The crew consisted of four members, including Captain James Stevens and Mate Charles Kehl. The vessel was overwhelmed by a northwestern gale shortly after leaving the harbor, and no survivors were found. The wreckage was later discovered to have washed ashore near Cathead Point.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- Loss occurred on May 8, 1891, during a gale amid dense smoke from forest fires.
- All four crew members were lost, and no bodies were recovered.
- Wreckage was found near Cathead Point, indicating the vessel’s final moments.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
The W.C. Kimball was lost without immediate notice due to the unusual weather conditions of the time. Its wreck remained undiscovered until 2018, when it was located using side-scan sonar. The wreck is now recognized for its archaeological significance and is considered one of the most intact shipwrecks from the 19th century in the Great Lakes.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the W.C. Kimball is located at a depth of approximately 300 feet, making it accessible primarily to technical divers. The wreck is reported to be nearly intact, with masts upright and significant structural features preserved. Ongoing dives and documentation efforts are being conducted to further explore and understand the site.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”w-c-kimball-1888″ title=”References & Links”]
Conclusion & Significance
The W.C. Kimball exemplifies the dangers faced by small schooners in unpredictable weather conditions. Its discovery has provided valuable insights into late-19th-century maritime technology and the environmental factors that contributed to its loss. The wreck serves as a significant archaeological site, offering a glimpse into the past and the challenges of navigation in the Great Lakes.
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.
Vessel Identity & Construction
- Name: W.C. Kimball
- Built: 1888 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Type: Wooden scow-schooner, ~63 ft × 17 ft × 5 ft (~40–50 tons)
- Cargo at Loss: Approximately 200 barrels of salt and ~250,000 wooden shingles
(Omena Village Preservation Association)
Final Voyage & Loss (May 8, 1891)
- Departed Manistee bound for Northport via Manitou Passage in dense smoke and smog caused by widespread forest fires, which severely reduced visibility
- Crew of four aboard: Capt. James Stevens, Mate Charles Kehl, William P. Wolfe, plus one passenger
- After clearing Manistee harbor, the vessel vanished in a northwestern gale; no one ever seen again
- Wreckage (shingles, salt barrels) later washed ashore near Cathead Point, Leelanau Peninsula; search found no survivors or bodies
(Omena Village Preservation Association, michiganmysteries.com)
Discovery & Archaeological Significance
- Discovered in September 2018 by Ross Richardson via side-scan sonar: a small vessel lying upright in nearly 300 ft (approx. 90 m) of Lake Michigan
- Technical diver Steve Wimer documented the wreck, describing it as “the most intact shipwreck I have ever encountered.”
- Notable features:
- Clipper bow typical of Manitowoc-era schooners
- Lifeboat still stowed at the stern (unusual given proximity to shore)
- Evidence of thick iron rope used in rigging, indicating post-Civil War construction
(michiganmysteries.com, michiganmysteries.com)
- Reddit eyewitness description: “The wreck sits nearly 300′ deep near the Manitou Passage … sitting neatly on the bottom with the lifeboat resting perfectly behind it.”
(Reddit) - Deep dives in 2022–2023 yielded interior cabin imaging and further preserved artifacts
(Blueyes Below, Blueyes Below)
Summary Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Built | 1888, Manitowoc, WI |
| Type & Size | Wooden scow-schooner (~63′ × 17′ × 5′) |
| Loss Date | May 8, 1891 |
| Route & Cargo | Manistee → Northport; salt & shingles |
| Crew | 4 (including captain and mate); all lost |
| Cause of Loss | Overwhelmed during northwest gale amid dense smoke |
| Discovery | 2018, sonar and underwater ROV |
| Depth & Condition | ~300 ft; nearly intact with masts upright |
| Unique Features | Clipper bow; intact lifesaving boat; iron rope rigging |
Research & Archival Context
- Loss occurred amid unusual spring forest fire conditions, contributing to the vessel’s disappearance without immediate notice
(Omena Village Preservation Association, Blueyes Below, michiganmysteries.com) - Historical absence of wreck records likely due to small cargo tonnage and remoteness of route; only local debris indicated fate until modern discovery
(Omena Village Preservation Association) - Preservation conditions at ~91 m depth in cold freshwater minimized wood decay—explaining exceptional intactness
(DeeperBlue.com)
Recommended Next Steps
- Search for crew and passenger personal records (birth, grave, obituary) using names James Stevens, Charles Kehl, William Wolfe to document identity and memorials.
- Review 1891 local newspapers (Traverse City Record-Eagle, Chicago Tribune) for departure notices or reports on forest fire and shipping disruptions.
- Access hydrological and meteorological archives documenting Great Lakes ice and fire-condensed visibility conditions on May 7–8, 1891.
- Archival imagery and registry documentation confirming vessel builder, ownership, and construction logs held at Manitowoc historical societies or Patrick Labadie Archive.
- Survey and dive logs analysis—NOAA, private maritime archaeology reports, or Blueyes Below team notes on wreck mapping and orientation.
Conclusion & Significance
- W.C. Kimball exemplifies the peril small schooners faced in unanticipated weather compounded by environmental smoke; her disappearance went virtually unnoticed until recent decades
- Her discovery is archaeologically exceptional—the most intact intact 19th-century wooden schooner yet documented in the Great Lakes; a rare case where structural preservation rivals surface intent
- The presence of lifeboat undisturbed, iron rigging, and subtle construction features offers insight into late-1800s coastal schooner technology and catastrophic loss mechanisms