Glenorchy

© Copyright 2017-2020 Michigan Diver LLC or their respective credited artist. 

 All rights reserved.

GLENORCHY - (N43.48.580 W.082.32.721) 100 to 120 Feet Deep.  The Glenorchy is a steel freighter that collided with another ship on October 29th, 1924.  The Glenorchy is 365 feet long and sits "turtle" (upside down) in 120ft of water.  For the properly trained and experienced diver there are penetration opportunities on this wreck.

October 29th, 1924 the steel freighter Glenorchy collided with the Leonard B. Miller in heavy fog on Lake Huron about 6 miles off of of Harbor Beach Michigan. After the impact the Miller came alongside the Glenorchy to take on the crew of the sinking ship. One story from the sinking is that one of the crew members was trapped in his stateroom after the collision. Captain Burke of the Glenorchy realized this as the crew was being transfered to the Miller. Captain Burke then when to the stateroom and used an axe to chop his way into the stateroom and rescue the trapped crewman. Moments after Captain Burke and the crewmen stepped on the deck of the Miller, the Glenorchy turned to its port side, then rolled over and sand to the bottom.

After taking on all 20 crew members, the Miller returned to Port Huron with a badly damaged bow and a large hole in its port side. It was reported that the pumps were barely able to keep up with the incoming water from the damage.

Chris Roth inspecting the prop on the shipwreck Glenorchy

The Glenorchy lies upside down on the lake floor.

Debris lies around the shipwreck Glenorchy.

There are openings in the stern hull that lead to a mangled engine room.  Divers need to take care (and properly trained) if penetrating as there are many entanglement hazards inside the wreck.

The propeller is always an amazing site.  The size of the prop is impressive when compared to the diver next to it (Chris Roth)

E.P. Dorr

© Copyright 2017-2019 Michigan Diver LLC or their respective credited artist. 
 All rights reserved.

E.P. DORR - (N.44.08.790 W.082.43.960)  175 Feet Deep.  The E.P. Dorr was a wooded tugboat that was built in 1855 in Buffalo, NY.  The Dorr was lost on June 28th,, 1856 when it collided with the Oliver Cromwell.  At the time of its loss, it was carrying salvage parts from other ships including steam pumps, anchors, windlass's, and tools.  Many of these parts not scatter both the shipwreck and the area around the shipwreck.  The Dorr sits upright on the lake bottom and is intact.

A photo mosaic of the deck of the E.P. Dorr in 2018.

Anchor on the bow deck of the E.P. Dorr

Windless on the bow of the E.P.Dorr

A wood stock anchor that had previously been salvaged by the E.P. Dorr before she sank.

A diver explores the stern of the E.P. Dorr

Divers explore the stern of the E.P. Dorr.

The point of impact that sent the E.P. Dorr to the bottom of Lake Huron.

Divers explore the bow of the E.P. Dorr.

A salvaged windless sits on deck that was previously salvaged by the E.P. Dorr.

Here is a photogrammetry model of the E.P. Dorr

Fred Lee

© Copyright 2017-2020 Michigan Diver LLC or their respective credited artist. 

 All rights reserved.

FRED LEE - (N.44.12.422 W.082.45.556)  200 Feet Deep.  The Fred Lee was a wooden tugboat built in Port Huron, MI in 1896.  The Lee is 70 feet long with a 16 foot beam.  She was headed to Sault Ste. Marie when she foundered in heavy seas and sank immediately on November 13th, 1936.  All 5 crew were lost.  Today she sits upright and intact on the bottom.  The exhaust funnel used to be standing but has recently fallen on the wreck.  Triple steam whistles and the ships wheel can be seen on the wreck. 

The Fred Lee moments before its sinking with the Munson in the background

(Drawing by Robert McGreevy)

The day before the Lee had grounded at Harbor Beach and was pulled free by the Coast Guard the morning of the 13th.  Five hours later the crew of the Munson witnessed her sinking.  They reached the site fifteen minutes later but only found some floating debris

Drawing of the Fred Lee on the bottom of Lake Huron when first explored.

(Drawing by Robert McGreevy)

Additional Information from Robert McGreevy: 

Old school drawing, this was done just after she was found in 1997, from 35 mm slides. Visibility was limited to what you could see directly in front of you, everything else was pitch black. This was a remarkable accomplishment for the time by Dave Trotter and Frank Troxall.

It’s an interesting study in how technology has changed documenting wrecks.

This is a photo mosaic of the wreck that was compiled from images in 2018 of the wreck as it lies on the bottom of Lake Huron.

Below are photogrammetry images of the deck structure of the Fred Lee as it sits today on the bottom of Lake Huron (2020)