Shipwreck Society announces discovery of the Marvin

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society is thrilled to announce the discovery of two vessels that sank in Lake Superior during a November Gale almost a century ago.

November 18th, 1914, the Steamship C.F. Curtis was towing the schooner barges Selden E. Marvin and Annie M. Peterson from Baraga, Michigan to Tonawanda, New York, all with a load of lumber.

The three ships soon found themselves battling through howling winds, snow squalls and punishing waves. Sadly, the Curtis, Marvin, and Peterson were never seen again.

These missing ships have been a puzzle for researchers for quite some time. Back in 2021, they found the Curtis, one of three that went down in the fateful storm.

After a lot work and a hint of luck- they found the Marvin.

“It was a career highlight to have witnessed the discovery of the Marvin.” GLSHS board member and maritime historian, Ric Mixter, said, “As it not only solved a chapter in the nation’s darkest day in lumber history, but also showcased a team of historians who have dedicated their lives towards making sure these stories aren’t forgotten.”

Both of these ships are significant historical discoveries because they were part of Hines, one of the biggest lumber companies of this era. They lost a quarter of their fleet in that fateful storm.

Not one person survived and 28 lives were lost.

“The combined losses of the C.F. Curtis, Selden E. Marvin and Annie M. Peterson have comprised one of the more tragic stories of shipwreck on the Great Lakes and certainly became one of the Lake Superior’s enduring mysteries.” Executive Director, Bruce Lynn, of the GLSHS said, “To locate the Curtis and Marvin in a space of two years has been amazing…now we just have to find the Peterson!”

The Great Lake Shipwreck Historical Society continues the search for the third, the Peterson.