Louie the chihuahua assists in mapping the main house.
Today I joined the Middle Island crew for a day of
digging, measuring and -- most of all -- sweating under the hot sun. The
sky was clear and temps were already climbing as we headed for the launch
under the competent direction of our captain, Andy Weir. Wayne Lusardi
couldn't join us today, so the crew was myself, Andy, Ryan Riordan,
Stephen Riordan and Don Weir, who gave in to pleas to stick around another
day. Also joining us was little Louie, my and Andy's pet chihuahua. Andy
piloted us safely and quickly along the smooth water, which I'm told was
much rougher in earlier days. My first impression of the island was that
it was beautiful--right out of a vacation postcard. Rocky shore, clear
water and green foliage of all different types (most of which I later
learned was poison ivy). I wish I would have had more time to explore, but
I was quickly aware that these guys get right down to business and I would
have to follow in step. Louie and I stuck with Andy for the most of the
day. We spent the morning hours mapping the east wall of the main house. I
took measurements while Andy drew and Louie rolled around in, and ate,
what could have been poison ivy. The other half of the crew, Don, Stephen
and Ryan, spent the morning excavating the cellar of one of the domestic
structures quite a distance away from us. After a few hours of work, Andy
and I had completed the wall and journeyed over to see what the guys had
dug up. Turns out they had found some very cool artifacts. Among them a
glass bottle marked with "Alpena Creamery," some coal, buttons and a bone
toothbrush. We were quite impressed.
Stephen Riordan takes a
quick swim before lunch.
This was a good time to take a break from working in
the unforgiving sun so we all happily headed to the shore. After a swim
and a lunch we were refreshed and ready to get back to our projects
at hand. Andy and I continued mapping the main house and the guys headed
back over to the domestic structures to continue their dig. Andy and I
focused then on the north wall of the house, which was collapsed and
leaning at quite an angle. Andy quickly and adeptly scaled it, but Louie
was a little harder to convince. He stayed mostly on the ground after that
and I did what I could to be helpful to them both. The best part of being
on top of the rickety structure was the cool breeze that could only be
felt from that height. The boys over yonder fared much worse and with no
breeze or shade to cool them, went a bit further in their digging and
ultimately we all agreed that we had a done a decent bit of work for a
Saturday.
Alicia Hoiles, Project Volunteer
Snorkeling over the wreck, believed to be
Portsmouth..
At lunch today we had another chance to take a look at the shipwreck
off the island. The wreck is in such a nice location, all we have to do
is put our snorkeling gear on and hop in the water, and we are there.
Since it was so hot today the water felt especially nice, the water
temperature in the bay seems like it has to be in the sixties, but that is
probably just wishful thinking. Whatever it was, it felt nice today.
Everybody, except Louie who opted to stay on shore, got to see the wreck.
The water is almost crystal clear, a real rarity in the Great Lakes.
The wreck appears to be just the starboard stern of the vessel, with the
keelson clearly visible. There seemed to be more fish on the wreck today
then we have seen yet. I have been able to clearly identify bass, perch,
and carp out there. Hopefully we have some time next week to do some
measured drawings of the wreck.
Andy Weir, Project Archaeologist
