Beach Treasure
I think everyone loves to walk the beach and discover beach treasure...... and this spring I hit the jackpot! Two shipwrecks from the late 1800's, one on the Empire Beach and a second wreck on the beach about a mile from Glen Haven, going south around Sleeping Bear Point.

The Empire wreck (to the left) is very visible at the shoreline. Local authorities believe that it is either the James McBride or the Jennie and Annie.
The James McBride sank near Sleeping Bear Point in 1857. She was a wood two-masted Brig bound from the Manitou Islands to Chicago with a cargo of wood when she was forced ashore by a storm and wrecked. The Jennie and Annie was a wooden schooner lost in 1872 just north of Empire after being driven aground in a gale.

The shipwreck remains I found on the Sleeping Bear Point beach area are thought to be the General Taylor (photo to right), a wooden steam driven ship lost in 1862, driven aground by a storm, with no lives lost.

Back in 1979 I think I came across the same shipwreck, only a lot more of the wood was out of the water. (left photo)

While a week or so ago friends could hardly find any sign of the shipwreck.

Seems like Lake Michigan is reclaiming the ship for now. Who knows what I'll find next year.
So I will keep on enjoying my beach walks, enriching my soul with beauty and serenity and always on the lookout for that next treasure.

We'd love to hear about your beach walking experiences while you were visiting Duneswood, Write your comments to us.