Latest news with #J.C.Ames
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
An Amateur Pilot Found 3 Shipwrecks in 3 Days. 10 Years Later, Her Grandson Found Another One.
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Christopher Thuss was out fishing in Lake Michigan when he discovered a shipwreck just nine feet below the surface of the water. The wreckage turned out to be the J.C. Ames, which sank in a fiery display on that spot more than a century ago. Thuss isn't the only member of his family to make such a discovery—a decade earlier, his step-grandmother earned the nickname 'Shipwreck Suzze' for spotting three different shipwrecks over the course of three days. There's something in the water in Wisconsin. How else can you explain how a grandmother and grandson duo both unwittingly discovered a cumulative four shipwrecks decades apart? According to a press release from the Wisconsin Historical Society, Christopher Thuss was out fishing on a foggy day in Lake Michigan (off the coast of Manitowoc) when he spied—just nine feet below the water—the remnants of a wreckage. 'Thuss reported his finding to Wisconsin Historical Society maritime archaeologist Tamara Thomsen,' the press release noted, '...who worked in collaboration with Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association president Brendon Baillod to identify the wreck as the J.C. Ames.' Most of us probably wouldn't known just who to contact if we came across a shipwreck. But Thomsen was likely already on Thuss's radar. After all, per an article by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Thomsen had been one of the maritime archaeologists who had conducted surveys based on the discoveries made by 'Shipwreck Suzze' Johnson back in 2015. 'Shipwreck Suzze' made waves a decade ago when—as a byproduct of her retirement hobby of piloting an ultralight plane known as a 'powered parachute'—she discovered three different shipwrecks in the span of just three days. Remarkable as that is, the surprising twists don't stop there: 'Shipwreck Suzze' also just so happens to be Christopher Thuss' step-grandmother. So, what of the ship that Thuss discovered? Well, it's a vessel that has a story to tell all its own. According to the ship now known as the J.C. Ames began life under a different name—the J.C. Perrett. Built in Manitowoc in 1881, the fore-and-aft compound steam engine vessel is described as 'one of the largest and most powerful tugboats ever built on the Great Lakes.' Originally used to haul lumber (up to 'five barges worth' per Wisconsin Shipwrecks), the then-Perrett 'would serve a variety of roles over its long career.' It survived a collision in 1889, changed hands in 1895 to become a hauler of railroad barges between Chicago and Peshtigo, and saw its boilers replaced and its name changed to the J.C. Ames in 1896. It would be sold two more times before 1923, when it was finally retired from service and stripped for parts. After anything deemed valuable was removed, it was sent off in a fashion that might seem unusual to modern eyes: 'Its remaining hull was towed outside of Manitowoc in Maritime Bay and set ablaze for the enjoyment of spectators in 1923. This was a common practice with the elderly ships of the time. The Ames burned to the waterline and sank into 9 feet of water where it was further dismantled by wind, waves, and ice, until it was buried underneath the sand and forgotten.' Now, a century after its fiery descent, the J.C. Ames is headed for a second life as a likely tourist attraction. Per the Wisconsin Historical Society's press release, work has now begun to place the J.C. Ames on the State Register of Historic Places, with an eye towards eventually securing it a place on the National Register of Historic Places. 'Due to the wreck's unique position in Lake Michigan,' the press release noted, 'it has the potential to become a popular destination for kayaking and snorkelers.' 'These kinds of discoveries are always so exciting because it allows a piece of lost history to resurface. It sat there for over a hundred years and then came back on our radar completely by chance,' Thomsen said of the discovery. 'We are grateful that Chris Thuss noticed the wreck and reported it so we can share this story with the Wisconsin communities that this history belongs to.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Miami Herald
21-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Grandson of woman who found 3 shipwrecks in 3 days discovers one of his own
Within the fog, a fisherman discovered a century-old shipwreck that 'stretches into the extraordinary,' Wisconsin officials say. Consider it a family tradition for Christopher Thuss, whose step-grandmother earned distinction by once finding three shipwrecks in as many days. The Wisconsin Historical Society said in a May 16 news release that Thuss was recently fishing on Lake Michigan off the coast of Manitowoc when he found the wreckage of the J.C. Ames, a tugboat that sunk in 1923. 'I didn't know exactly what I was looking at at first,' Thuss told WGBA. 'I turned over that direction and the whole ship was right there.' It wasn't an ordinary tugboat. J.C. Ames — all 160 feet of it — was 'one of the largest and most powerful tugs on the lakes,' the historical society said, citing the 1990 book 'Green Bay Workhorses: The Nau Tug Line.' Built in 1881, 'the J.C. Ames was dismantled and 'set ablaze for the enjoyment of spectators in 1923,' according to It sunk into the water, where it was buried beneath sand. The website said the ship was 'forgotten,' leading the historical society to comment on its gratefulness for Thuss's discovery. 'These kinds of discoveries are always so exciting because it allows a piece of lost history to resurface. It sat there for over a hundred years and then came back on our radar completely by chance,' Tamara Thomsen, maritime archaeologist for the Wisconsin Historical Society, said in a statement. Thuss follows in the footsteps of his step-grandmother, 'Shipwreck Suzze' Johnson, who found three shipwrecks from the air during a three-day stretch in 2015. Thuss said he told his dad of the discovery, and the father relayed the news to Johnson, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 'I think it's super cool that my name is in the books as someone who found one of the shipwrecks,' he told WGBA. The resting spot of the the J.C. Ames is likely to be popular for kayakers and snorkelers because of its 'unique position,' officials said. Manitowoc is about an 80-mile drive northeast from Milwaukee.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A Ship That Vanished 100 Years Ago Was Just Discovered by a Fisherman on Lake Michigan
On a foggy evening, fisherman Christopher Thuss came across a large sunken vessel in Lake Michigan The boat, later identified as the J.C. Ames, was a 160-foot tugboat built in 1881 that was intentionally sunk in 1923 A research coordinator with Wisconsin's Shipwreck Coast said the vessel was notable because "we don't have any other versions of tugboats that are quite this big"A fisherman discovered a piece of history while on Lake Michigan one foggy May evening. When he peered under the water's surface, he spotted the remains of a large vessel that hadn't been seen in more than 100 years. 'I didn't know exactly what I was looking at at first," Christopher Thuss told NBC affiliate WGBA. "I turned over that direction and the whole ship was right there." Thuss had been using sonar equipment when he came across the wreckage of a tugboat north of the Manitowoc breakwater on Tuesday, May 13. At 160 feet, the vessel, which currently rests in only nine feet of water, is notable for its size. "We don't have any other versions of tugboats that are quite this big," Caitlin Zant, research coordinator with Wisconsin's Shipwreck Coast, told the outlet. Thuss is following his family's tradition of finding shipwrecks. His step-grandmother, 'Shipwreck Suzze' Johnson, has become a local legend, locating a number of shipwrecks over the years, including three sunken vessels in three days in 2015, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS). The WHS did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Now, the younger generation is making its mark. After making his discovery, Thuss contacted Tamara Thomsen, a maritime archaeologist from the historical society, who then worked with Brendon Baillod, the president of the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association, to identify the wreck. They determined it was the J.C. Ames, which was built in 1881 for the lumber trade, according to the historical society. The vessel was 'one of the largest and most powerful tugs on the lakes, developed 670 horsepower with her fore-and-aft compound engine… She reportedly cost $50,000 to build,' according to a passage from Green Bay Workhorses: The Nau Tug Line that was shared by WHS. Beyond tugging other watercraft, the J.C. Ames was used in the pulpwood trade and had multiple owners. When it aged and became less functional, it was taken apart and intentionally sunk in Lake Michigan in 1923, the WHS said. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The J.C. Ames is far from the first shipwreck to be discovered in the Great Lakes. Last fall, two maritime historians found the wreck of the John Evenson, which was lost to the water in 1895. In March, the steamship Milwaukee was found in Lake Michigan after it sank following a collision with another vessel in 1886, CBS News reported. The historical society warns divers not to remove artifacts or pieces of the ship, which is a crime. The WHS said maritime archaeologists will begin the process of listing the J.C. Ames in the State Register of Historic Places. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fisherman discovers century-old Great Lakes shipwreck
The step-grandson of a famous Great Lakes shipwreck finder recently made his own historic discovery in Wisconsin—the long-lost remains of a tugboat deemed one of the largest and most powerful of its era. But unlike many other vessels sailing in the region at the time, the story of the J.C. Ames ended with an intentionally fiery grand finale. Earlier in the month, Christopher Thuss went out angler fishing on the foggy waters of Lake Michigan about 43 miles south of Green Bay near Manitowoc. Thuss noticed his onboard sonar observing a sizable object nearby, and after steering towards the location, he saw a ship's remnants barely nine feet below the water's surface. After Thuss reported it to the state's historical society, the organization reached out to the Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association and orchestrated a dive to check out the mystery wreck. Wisconsin Historical Society maritime archeologist Tamara Thomsen matched the decaying wood hull with archival records. After 102 years resting in the shallow waters, experts had rediscovered what's left of the J.C. Ames. Built in 1881 by the Rand and Burger shipbuilding company for $50,000, the 670-horsepower tug initially named the J.C. Perrett was at the time one of the largest of its kind in the Great Lakes. The vessel was initially commissioned to haul lumber, and managed as many as five barges' worth of timber at once. In 1889, a steambarge struck Perrett and damaged its stem, requiring extensive repairs. A subsequent overhaul of the ship's boilers along with new owners six years later resulted in a name change to the J.C. Ames. In addition to lumber, the Ames also hauled railroad barges between Peshtigo, Wisconsin, and Chicago, Illinois. The tug finally reached its retirement after over four decades of service. In 1923, the Ames set on its final voyage after being stripped of anything of value, including its replacement boilers and engine. As was customary at the time, the hull was towed out near the coast of Manitowoc and set aflame for onlookers to enjoy. It then sank a few feet to the bottom of Maritime Bay, where it has remained for over a century. While buried under sand for decades, it appears the lake currents only recently re-exposed the J.C. Ames. The hull portions currently sticking out from the sediment are only partially covered in quagga mussels—a destructive and invasive species of mollusks that have caused problems across the Great Lakes for the last 30 years. Quagga mussels can grow so dense on sunken aircraft and ship remains that they ultimately crush the surfaces beneath them. Discovering wrecks runs in Thuss' family. According to the Wisconsin Historical Society's announcement, the fisherman's step-grandmother is 'Shipwreck Suzze' Johnson. Johnson took up powered parachute and ultralight plane piloting after retirement, and made headlines for discovering three Lake Michigan shipwrecks in three days while flying over them in 2015.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Wisconsin angler discovers one of the largest tugboats in Great Lakes history off Manitowoc
A Wisconsin angler with a family legacy of shipwreck discoveries has discovered one of the largest tugboats to ever tow on the Great Lakes, scrapped more than a century ago off the shores of Manitowoc. Christopher Thuss was out fishing in the evening on May 13 when he noticed a wreckage north of the Manitowoc breakwater in Maritime Bay just nine feet below the water's surface. The wreck was later determined to be the J.C. Ames, a 160-foot tugboat known for towing large schooners. And while Thuss said he didn't catch any fish that day, he caught a piece of history. "It's pretty unique that I am the first person to lay eyes on this boat since it was last seen," Thuss told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Thuss is no stranger to shipwreck discoveries. His step-grandmother is 'Shipwreck Suzze' Johnson, who — after she retired — was an experimental aircraft pilot, known for operating a powered parachute and ultralight plane. Johnson discovered three Lake Michigan shipwrecks in three days in 2015. In fact, Thuss thought of Suzze as soon as he spotted the remains, and immediately called his dad, who relayed the message to her. The J.C. Ames is the first major confirmed and released shipwreck discovery this year, according to Brendon Baillod, president of Wiconsin's Underwater Archeological Association. Manitowoc's Maritime Bay was a graveyard for ships that were scrapped, including some important passenger steamers, like the Sheboygan and Muskegon. These Lake Michigan ships, like the Ames, were towed out and burned in the shallows as a spectacle, Baillod said. Many of these wrecks have eluded historians because the bay is too shallow for survey vessels to navigate. But Thuss' fishing boat, equipped with side scan sonar, was able to pick it up. Thuss reported the remains to the state historic office, which conferred with Baillod. After narrowing it down to a few possibilities, Baillod said the huge propellor and engine bed gave it away. 'It took some detective work, but we were able to put an end to its story, which is the important part,' Baillod said. More: Freight steamer, fireboat among another record number of Lake Michigan shipwreck discoveries The Ames was a powerful towing tug built in Manitowoc in 1881. It was designed specifically for the demands of the lumber trade. Unlike typical tugs of the time, which ranged from 40 to 50 feet in length, the Ames was large enough to tow heavily laden schooners, Baillod said. The tug, originally operated by the Nau family of Green Bay, was especially helpful in towing schooners unable to navigate challenging passages like the St. Mary's River between Lakes Erie and Huron. However, the Ames was primarily active in the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal. In 1889, the vessel sustained stern damage in a collision but was repaired and later sold to the Lake Michigan Car Ferry Transportation Company of Peshtigo for use in hauling railway cars. Over its 41-year career, the Ames also worked in the pulpwood trade, served as a salvage tug and towed various vessels across the Great Lakes. By 1923, the hull had begun to leak. The ship was returned to Manitowoc, where its engines were removed, and the hull was stripped and burned for its steel and iron scrap metal, Baillod said. The remains were deliberately sunk in the bay, marking the end of a long life on the Great Lakes. More: Wisconsin's national marine sanctuary is a museum beneath the water. Here's what to know. The wreck is located only 700 feet offshore within the boundaries of the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary, which is co-managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the state. Because of its accessibility, it's expected to be a popular spot for paddlers and snorkelers. The Wisconsin Historical Society plans to list it on the state historic registry. Wisconsin's national marine sanctuary is one of three in the Great Lakes. The other two are the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Huron and Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary. A site has also been proposed in Lake Erie. The designation helps support conservation and science efforts, which is very much needed in the Great Lakes, where less than 15% of the lakebeds have been mapped. In fact, Wisconsin's shipwreck sanctuary is one of the most well-understood places in all of Lake Michigan. This story was updated to add new information. More: Want to explore a Lake Michigan shipwreck? Wisconsin's marine sanctuary just made it easier. Caitlin Looby is a Report for America corps member who writes about the environment and the Great Lakes. Reach her at clooby@ follow her on X @caitlooby and learn more about how she approaches her reporting. This story has been updated to add video. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Historic tugboat scrapped off Manitowoc discovered by Wisconsin angler
