Jon Paul’s Maritime Diaries

The most exciting find in the Great Lakes in 2008 was the discovery of the HMS Ontario, a British Warship that was lost October 31, 1780. Covered in issues 18 and 19 of the Pulse, shipwreck hunters Jim Kennard and Dan Scoville found the oldest shipwreck so far located on the Great Lakes on May 24, 2008. Not since the finding of the American War Schooners of the Hamilton and Scourge – which were lost in the War of 1812, located in 1973 and verified in 1975 – have such amazing images come to the surface. Kennard and Scoville have signed a contract with Mission Media Co. from Canada, and a documentary will be made about the history and the finding of the HMS Ontario.

The Alvin Clark was the subject of a three-piece column in 2008, published in issues 5, 6, and 7. These three articles revisited the rise and fall of the Mystery Ship that was built in 1846, sank in 1864, recovered in 1969 and sadly destroyed in 1993. The Clark was very personal to me, like others, and we have learned from the ship and are still learning today through countless pictures, drawings and research. Perhaps the biggest legacy to the Clark is Charles T. McCutcheon’s set of comprehensive drawings.

The Baileys Harbor Project was also in the news this year with the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeological Society (WUAA) back in Door County for more survey work. The wrecks along the shore near the old lighthouse were mapped along with new finds, and next year more work will be done in this ongoing project. Jeff Stanley, a summer resident of Door County, reported a new wreck close to the Baileys Harbor Yacht Club that will be part of these future efforts.

Another project of mine reported on in this column this year was the typologies study of Great Lakes Wheels and Mechanisms. This study has concluded that the wheel that was believed to be from the Rouse Simmons (Christmas Tree Ship) was indeed actually from that ship. Although the study is not yet complete, many interesting things have been learned thus far, including the fact that the wheel from the Alvin Clark was not the original ship wheel but rather replaced the original sometime after 1861 and before the time she sank in 1864.

Another project that came from the study was the creation of a workshop in “Artifact Interpretation and Curation” for adults and students. This seven-week, 21 – 28 hour workshop is designed to give interested participants a hands on experience with artifacts and the procedures, techniques, and processes a museum uses to professionally curate an artifact in its collection.

The course is laid out chronologically to follow an artifact from acquisition to display. Subjects include artifact photography, measuring, researching, conservation, drawing, and museum curation. Each participant will take a museum artifact through the processes from start to finish. Participants interested in continuing their education in the field of history, archaeology, museum work or other related fields are encouraged to apply. Volunteers interested in participating more in working with artifacts are also encouraged to apply.

The workshop is limited to the first 12 applicants and will start on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, running until April 4, 2009. For more information call the Door County Maritime Museum at 920.743.5958 or Jon Paul Van Harpen at 920.743.4647.

It has been and interesting year in the maritime world, and who knows what 2009 will bring. If you have any ideas for a future column or something you would like to see addressed in this column please call me at 920.743.4647 or email me at [email protected].

Happy Holidays and best wishes for 2009.