Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: William Finch
- Type: Scow schooner
- Year Built: 1878
- Builder: Perry or D. Smith
- Dimensions: Length 68 ft (20.73 m); Beam 17.3 ft; Depth of hold 5.2 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 49 gross tons / 47 net tons
- Location: Near Egg Harbor, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Official Number: 80696
- Original Owners: D. Smith, E. H. Graham
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Identification & Profile
- Name: William Finch
- Official Number: 80696
- Year Built: 1878
- Builder: Perry or D. Smith
- Build Location: South Haven, Michigan
- Vessel Type: Scow schooner
- Hull Material: Wood
- Decks: 1
- Masts: 2
Description
Dimensions
- Length: 68 ft
- Beam: 17.3 ft
- Depth: 5.2 ft
- Tonnage: 49 gross tons / 47 net tons
History
Ownership & Service History
- 1878–1879: Owned by D. Smith, South Haven, MI
- 1883: Owned by E. H. Graham, South Haven, MI
- 1885: Registered in Milwaukee
Significant Incidents
Incident Chronology
- 1898, Aug 29: Struck by unknown steamer on Lake Michigan; lifesaving crew from Point Betsy Station rescued crew
- 1900, Nov 9: Wrecked near Egg Harbor, Green Bay, Wisconsin (Lake Michigan) during a storm while salvaging gear from the schooner Norma
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
- Cause: Wrecked in a storm during salvage operations
- Location: Near Egg Harbor, Green Bay, Lake Michigan
- Casualties: None reported
- Condition: Total loss; presumed unrecovered
Current Condition & Accessibility
Historical Significance
The William Finch served the Lake Michigan region for over two decades, typical of small scow schooners involved in cargo and salvage work. The wreck occurred during a storm while aiding recovery from another wreck, underscoring the perils faced even by support vessels. Her service life included a notable 1898 collision with an unknown steamer, followed by a dramatic crew rescue.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”william-finch-us-80696″ title=”References & Links”]
Sources & Archival References
- C. Patrick Labadie Collection
- Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directory
- R. L. Polk Co. Marine Directory, Detroit
- Newspaper clippings (local Wisconsin and Michigan papers, 1900)
- Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley
- Notes from Peter J. VanderLinden
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 Identification & Profile
- Name: William Finch
- Official Number: 80696
- Year Built: 1878
- Builder: Perry or D. Smith
- Build Location: South Haven, Michigan
- Vessel Type: Scow schooner
- Hull Material: Wood
- Decks: 1
- Masts: 2
Dimensions
- Length: 68 ft
- Beam: 17.3 ft
- Depth: 5.2 ft
- Tonnage: 49 gross tons / 47 net tons
Ownership & Service History
- 1878–1879: Owned by D. Smith, South Haven, MI
- 1883: Owned by E. H. Graham, South Haven, MI
- 1885: Registered in Milwaukee
Incident Chronology
- 1898, Aug 29: Struck by unknown steamer on Lake Michigan; lifesaving crew from Point Betsy Station rescued crew
- 1900, Nov 9: Wrecked near Egg Harbor, Green Bay, Wisconsin (Lake Michigan) during a storm while salvaging gear from the schooner Norma
Final Disposition
- Cause: Wrecked in a storm during salvage operations
- Location: Near Egg Harbor, Green Bay, Lake Michigan
- Casualties: None reported
- Condition: Total loss; presumed unrecovered
Historical Significance
The William Finch served the Lake Michigan region for over two decades, typical of small scow schooners involved in cargo and salvage work. The wreck occurred during a storm while aiding recovery from another wreck, underscoring the perils faced even by support vessels. Her service life included a notable 1898 collision with an unknown steamer, followed by a dramatic crew rescue.
Sources & Archival References
- C. Patrick Labadie Collection
- Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directory
- R. L. Polk Co. Marine Directory, Detroit
- Newspaper clippings (local Wisconsin and Michigan papers, 1900)
- Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley
- Notes from Peter J. VanderLinden
Keywords and Categories
- Region: Green Bay, Lake Michigan
- Vessel Type: Scow schooner
- Cause of Loss: Storm during salvage
- Material: Wood
- Era: 1878–1900
- Dive Difficulty: Unknown (location unconfirmed)
- Hazards: Storm, support vessel risk