By Jim Schwartz
Of the many islands that surround Door County, none may be more beautiful than Plum Island. This 325 acre island lies “plumb” in the middle of Death’s Door (hence its name) between Gills Rock and Washington Island.
As part of the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge, it is open to boaters from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It is a historically significant island boasting a rich maritime history. On the northeast corner lies the U.S. Lifesaving Service Lifesaving Station built in 1896. Adjacent to the pier sits the “Roosevelt Style” Boathouse built in 1939. On the opposite end of Plum Island are the front and rear range lights. The rear range light is a 70 feet tall cast iron and steel skeleton tower built in 1896. Behind the rear range light sits the Lighthouse Keeper’s House also built in 1896. Further east of the rear range light you will find the cream-city brick Fog Signal building (1896).
Plum Island is the home of two shipwrecks: the GRAPESHOT which ran aground in 1867 just west of the boathouse; the RESUMPTION went aground in 1914. Very little is left to see of the RESUMPTION but the GRAPESHOT is a whole different story!
The GRAPESHOT was built in 1855 by the B.B. Jones shipyard in Buffalo, NY. She was a two-masted schooner with a length of 129.67 feet and a beam of 23.35 feet. The depth of the hold was 10.30 feet. Owned by George Holt and Charles Ensign, her home port was Chicago. She spent her career mostly on Lake Michigan (but also sailed Lakes Erie and Huron) hauling lumber, wheat, coal and other commodities and goods. In June 1866 she ran aground on Poverty Island. Two months later she ran aground on Plum Island.
In early November 1867, the GRAPESHOT found herself in the midst of a gale while traversing Death’s Door passage. She was heading for her home port of Chicago with a cargo of lumber and salt. For the second time in two years, she ran aground on Plum. She ran up on the rocks so far that her bow was lifted four feet in the air. The tug LEVIATHAN was sent from Chicago to free her from the rocks. Later, the steamer GEORGE DUNBAR, also from Chicago steamed north to help. There appeared to be little damage to the ship GRAPESHOT and the hope was that she could be refloated once her cargo of 50,000 board feet of lumber was removed and hold pumped out. Their efforts were futile. In 1868, she was stripped and abandoned.
Today, the GRAPESHOT lies in eight feet of water 200 feet north of the boathouse: latitude N 45 degrees 18.843’ and longitude W 086 degrees 57.084’. On calm days you can see the wreck beautifully from your boat. It is a fantastic shipwreck to snorkel. Her starboard side and most of her lower hull remain intact. The entire wreck is very well preserved.
Photo on top of page:
GRAPESHOT August 2020 with Avery Lederhaus looking her over. Photo Credit: Tim Sweet of the Friends of Plum & Pilot Islands.
More photos:
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Jim Schwartz has been involved with the Friends of Plum & Pilot Islands for 11 years. For the past six years he has been a Board Member and the Volunteer Coordinator. In addition to his full time job he is also the Membership Services Coordinator for SailTime Door County which operates from Wave Pointe Marina in Sturgeon Bay. He holds a degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
