The Alpena is undoubtedly one of the most famous shipwrecks on the east shore of Lake Michigan. She disappeared in October 1880 during a storm known as "The Big Blow" due to the devastation it caused throughout the Great Lakes. She is also near the top of MSRA's "Most Wanted" list.

The Alpena

The Goodrich side wheel steamer Alpena was built by Thomas Arnold of Gallagher & Company at Marine City, Michigan in 1866. She was 197 feet in length, with a 26.66 foot beam, a depth of 12 feet and was rated at 654 tons. The wood-hulled steamer was powered by a single cylinder, vertical beam engine which drove a pair of 24' radius side wheels. She was distinctive due to her "walking beam" engine, which was plainly visible above the massive side wheels. She had a pilothouse forward, strengthening arches along each side and a single stack. WHEN the wreck of the Alpena is found, it will be these distinctive paddlewheels and the vertical beam engine that will enable researchers to identify her..
The Goodrich line had purchased her from Gardner, Ward & Gallagher in April, 1868. She was completely overhauled at Manitowoc, Wisconsin in the winter of 1875-1876 and was under the capable hand of Captain Nelson W. Napier of St. Joseph, Michigan.

The Wreck

The Alpena left Grand Haven, Michigan bound for Chicago on Friday evening, October 15, 1880 at 9:30 PM. The weather was beautiful -- Indian Summer like. But the barometer was indicating a storm was coming and storm signals were out. She was met on her southwest journey by the steamer Muskegon at about 1:00 AM and everything seemed normal.

At about 3:00 AM Saturday, October 16, 1880 the "worst gale in Lake Michigan recorded history" swept across the lake. The Alpena was seen at 6:00 AM, 7:00 AM and at 8:00 AM by the schooner Irish and by Captain George Boomsluiter of the barge City of Grand Haven about 35 miles off Kenosha, Wisconsin, laboring heavily in the high seas.

She was seen later by several other vessel captains --one of whom reported her lying on her side with one of her paddlewheels out of the water. Ten car loads of apples were stowed on her main deck and some speculate this cargo became unmanageable in the storm, shifted, and led to the capsizing.

Reports indicate she may have drifted the rest of the day -- and perhaps until Sunday morning -- back toward the west side of the lake. The wind shifted to the west/northwest and brought debris onto the beaches at Holland, Michigan.

The weekly Holland City News reported on October 23: "The wreck is complete. She is broken into small fragments. The stern part of her hull lies near the harbor. The whole coast for 20 miles is strewn with the debris, freight, etc." The largest piece to land near Holland was the piano, "it being barely able to float, our sailors concluded that she did not come very far. And the arrival of other heavy pieces of the wreck would seem to corroborate this."

The Saugatuck Commercial Record newspaper reported shingles, lath, lumber and other pieces of the ill-fated Alpena were scattered thickly on the shore there. It was also reported that thousands of apples were found bobbing in the surf at Saugatuck.

The Lives Lost

No exact count of the victims is available, though the Holland City News stated 80 souls were lost. The following names were acquired from microfilm of the Holland City News at the Herrick District Library in Holland, MI. Some may be misspelled due to the condition of the microfilm and photocopy.

Crew members

Captain Nelson W. Napier, St. Joseph, MI
First Officer J. H. Kelly, Green Bay, WI
First Engineer Robert W. Johnson of Grand Haven, MI
Second Engineer Robert Patton of Grand Haven, MI or Chicago, IL
Steward William Shepard
Steward John Brown, Chicago, IL
Clerk Arthur E. Haynes, Chicago, IL
Porter Thomas Lynch
Fireman Harry Falls
Frank F. Pope, St. Johns, Michigan, formerly listed as a passenger!
Perhaps Stewardess Maggie Mockes and about 15 more unnamed crew members

Passengers

U. Crossman, foreman of Stearns Mfg. Co, Grand Haven
Mrs. B. F. Curtis, Grand Haven
Heber Squier Jr., Grand Haven
Mrs. Newton Bradley, Sante Fe, NM
Miss Lou Bradley, Sante fe, NM
Miss Kate Bradley, Sante Fe, NM
F. Spaeth, Grand Rapids, MI
G. Hottinger, Grand Rapids, MI
C. Kuaterer, Grand Rapids, MI
H. Landreth, Muskegon, MI
Mrs. S. B. Cole, Ottawa, IL
H. T. Locke, agent of Hills Brothers, NY
Rev. Farrell Hart and wife, White Pigeon, MI
Mr. Ryder, agent of the glass works of Syracuse, NY
John J. Bowen, ex-steward of the Alpena
---------- Bobolinsky, old-iron dealer, Chicago, IL
L. D. Peyton, Philadelphia, PA
Harry L. St. Clair, NY
W. C. Pettibone, NY
John Osborn(e), wife and 3 children, Chicago, IL
Neal McGillvray, St. Joseph, MI
Maggie Mack, ex-stewardess of the Alpena
Mrs. Decoudres, Evanston, IL

Also, according to the McHenry Plaindealer (local newspaper of McHenry County, Illinois):
Frank A. Best of McHenry County, IL and A. Blanchard, "an old and highly respected citizen of Huntley, IL"

Other sources list a number of persons who are supposed to have been passengers or crew member on the Alpena. The Muskegon News and Reporter lists the following, in addition to those listed above, in a number of articles following the disaster:

E. A. Angel of Lamont MI
Mrs. Sarah M. Bragg of Chicago, IL
Andrew Murdock of Philadelphia
H. L. Sinclair of Lawndale, IL
Mrs. Vander Car of Chicago, IL
Mrs. S. B. Cole

Also, a group of Swedes, who had boarded the ship including: John Holmquist, E. Forsman, P. I. Quist, and John E. Strohm. Plus a number of people who "have been inquired for, and are supposed to be victims of the Alpena Disaster" including R. E. Heth of Grand Rapids, MI, J. D. Carr of Detroit.

There were many others whose names may never be known since the only passenger list went down with the ship.

Several artifacts from the Alpena, including a piano leg, may be seen at the Holland Museum at 10th Street and River Avenue in Holland, Michigan.

The location of the Alpena remains a mystery. No doubt she will be found eventually -- but will she reveal the secrets of her last few hours on Lake Michigan. Only time will tell.

(Some images used with permission. Historical Collection of the Great Lakes, Bowling Green State University.)