Posted by Bob Beaton on November 22, 19101 at 23:56:34:
In Reply to: Re: Ironsides (thanks bro) posted by Bob Beaton on November 22, 19101 at 23:20:37:
As I said, I did do some wreck diving back in '63-65 and then went on to become a pioneer Great Lakes surfer till present(lakesurf.com).
The only actual wreck that I dove was the Kuhka (sp?) at Charlevoix.
I did dive in the vicinity of the Ironsides (not knowing it was there) when by bud and I went out just WSW of the GH pier to do a 'deep dive' (120 ft. My deepest was in Torch Lake - 140 ft. ...yeah, with the K-valve)
On a shallow dive we explored around the GH south pier and probably past over the buried Ironside's bow section. According to a Tribune article it was found along the south pier in the 1890s.
Another article tells how for some time after she sank the top of mast was still visible on the water surface.
Years later local commercial fishermen knew exactly where she went down.
Another article tells of how Havenites would walk out to the Ironsides and party when she was stranded in the ice.
I have dozens of other Ironside articles.
The Ironsides was the wreck most recalled in the Tribune, at least up to where I have read in 1907.
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