AH-WR-1687

William Finch

Scow Schooner · Lost 1900 · Door County & Lake Michigan

A two-masted scow schooner wrecked while salvaging the cargo and rigging of Norma at Egg Harbor.

Become Captain of Record See Shipwreck on Map

Artistic recreation based on recorded historical documents. See the documented evidence.

Interpretive Reconstruction, drawn to convey the vessel's era, type and general form. See the documented evidence.

The Vessel and Her Loss

William Finch was built by D. Smith at Grand Haven in 1878. Captain W.P. Kirtland used the two-masted scow schooner to salvage his wrecked schooner Norma. On November 7, 1900, Finch began leaking during a northwest storm and was allowed to drift onto the beach near Norma. Kirtland and his sailor survived, but the vessel and salvaged cargo were destroyed.

Vessel

Built: 1878
Registry: US registry no. 80696
Builder: D. Smith
Yard: Grand Haven, Michigan
Material: Wood
Length: 68 ft
Beam: 17.3 ft
Tonnage: 49.49 gross tons
Propulsion: Sail
Owners: Captain W.P. Kirtland

Loss

Date: November 7, 1900
Cause: Storm
Location: Egg Harbor, Wisconsin
Water: Green Bay
Voyage: Not established
Cargo: Rigging and cargo salvaged from Norma
Aboard: 2
Lives lost: 0
Master: W.P. Kirtland

The Wreck Today

Depth: Not established
Condition: Reported destroyed on the beach near the wreck of Norma.
Orientation: Not established
Discovered: Not established
Protection: Not established

Position

Coordinates: 45.05° N 87.28° W
Accuracy: Reported, unconfirmed
Nearest: Egg Harbor, Wisconsin
Region: Door County & Lake Michigan

Wisconsin Shipwrecks inventory position; not independently verified as surviving wreck remains.

Evidence

Overall confidence: Documented (85/100)

The reported November 7 loss conflicts with a September 22 enrollment surrender; the present wreck identity, depth and condition remain unverified.

Wisconsin Shipwrecks — Wisconsin Historical Society and Wisconsin Sea Grant
Construction, registry, service, vessel-specific November 7 loss narrative and published inventory coordinates; contradictory enrollment surrender disclosed.
Wisconsin Shipwrecks — Norma vessel entry
Corroborates William Finch salvage loss, broken pump, release of anchor and rescue by villagers; no exact Finch casualty day supplied here.