SS Frank O'Connor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Frank O'Connor (bulk carrier)
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The O'Connor in dock
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 Location in Wisconsin
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| Location | Lake Michigan off the coast of North Bay, Door County, Wisconsin |
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| NRHP reference No. | 94000656 |
| Added to NRHP | June 1, 1994 |
The Frank O'Connor was a large ship called a bulk carrier. This means it was built to carry huge amounts of loose cargo, like coal or grain. The Frank O'Connor went down into the water in Lake Michigan, near North Bay, Door County, Wisconsin, in the United States. In 1994, the place where the ship sank was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which is a special list of important historical sites.
Contents
The Story of the Frank O'Connor
Building and Renaming
The ship we know as the Frank O'Connor was first built in 1892 in West Bay City, Michigan. Back then, it had a different name: the City of Naples. It wasn't until 1916 that the ship was given its new name, Frank O'Connor.
The Fire and Rescue
On September 29, 1919, the Frank O'Connor began a journey from Buffalo, New York. It was on its way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, carrying a huge load of 3,000 tons of coal. Three days later, the ship passed through the Straits of Mackinac, a narrow waterway. Everyone expected it to reach port earlier than planned.
But on October 3, at 4:00 p.m., something went wrong. A fire suddenly started in the front part of the ship, called the bow. About an hour later, the fire got so bad that it destroyed the ship's steering gear. This meant the ship couldn't be steered anymore and was just floating without control about two miles off the coast of Cana Island.
Luckily, the person who looked after the Cana Island Light (the lighthouse keeper) saw the burning ship from the land. He and his helper quickly went out in their own boats. They were able to help the O'Connor's crew get safely to shore in their lifeboats. Even though some of the coal cargo was later saved, the ship itself was lost forever.
Exploring the Shipwreck Today
Even though the Frank O'Connor caught fire, most of its machinery and parts stayed in good shape and stood upright when it sank. This makes it a very cool place for divers to explore and learn about history. It's a popular spot for both archaeology (studying old things) and recreation (fun activities).
The State of Wisconsin now owns the ship. The site is looked after by the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The Frank O'Connor lies in about 50 to 67 feet (15 to 20 meters) of water, about 2 miles (3.2 km) away from Cana Island.
