Stunning photos showing a nearly century-old shipwreck in a Michigan lake give us a rare peek into the Prohibition Era.
Keuka Shipwreck in Lake Charlevoix
Underwater photographer Chris Roxburgh, along with diver Lee Rosenberg, took a swim in Lake Charlevoix to explore the Keuka Shipwreck earlier this week, and the photos are something to see.
The 200-foot barge is still mostly intact. Roxburgh said the water was really cold for the deep dive — about 34 degrees.
Roxburgh added that pretty much anyone can snorkel across the shipwreck in the summer months because it’s considered a shallow shipwreck.
Ken Haddad is the digital content and audience manager for WDIV / ClickOnDetroit.com.
This is the original typed manuscript and memoir – 37 typed pages from G.E. Hollingsworth of Jackson Michigan. The Blue Bell Cottage was purchased by William T. and Ann Leakas (Denison) in 1969. I (William “Chip” Leakas) believe this document was given to my father soon after the purchase of the Blue Bell cottage for his records and as an important background and history for The Blue Bell Cottage, Charlevoix, and The Belvedere Club.
One day a large barge appeared in Lake Charlevoix and anchored out from Belvedere pier. It had been a dance boat. So Johnnie Knight decided to give a party on it. All the young crowd on the Belvedere were invited and we went to town where cruisers were engaged to transport everyone out to the boat. It was a very elaborate party with a fine orchestra, and was a great success. Every one returned safely in the early hours of the morning after the thrilling and unique party. The next morning the dance boat sank and is still there at the bottom of the lake.
Memoirs of Members 1878-1968 | THE BELVEDERE CLUB CHARLEVOIX MICHIGAN – Copyright 1969
ELEANOR SIMPSON ORR – Belvedere Book #1
This was the Johnnie Knight era—As he said, “Nothing Beats Fun!” and that was about the way it was. Up north about every other night in his speed boat—never worrying about those dear little children at home. We would just “catch another dawn.” Finally his birthday party on that boat, the Keuka, in Pine Lake. He knew it was about to sink but no one was allowed off until five a.m. It did sink the next day.
MEMOIRS OF MEMBERS 1878-1968 | THE BELVEDERE CLUB CHARLEVOIX MICHIGAN – COPYRIGHT 1969
To satisfy their thirst, some Americans made gin in their bathtubs. Others obtained prescriptions that allowed them to legally acquire liquor. And, in the backwaters of Michigan’s Lake Charlevoix, Captain James Gallagher, president of the Wolverine Steamship Company, turned a leaky old lumber barge, the Keuka, into a floating speakeasy.
“The Keuka represented the drinking and gambling habits of the residents of the area: shopkeepers, laborers, merchants and the common people, as opposed to the upscale casinos” frequented by wealthy out-of-towners who spent their summers at the region’s resorts, says Wiles. “The Keuka was unique, a one and only.”
Chris Roxburgh, an underwater photographer and author based south of Lake Charlevoix in Traverse City, began 2023 with a visit to the wreck of the Keuka. He got his first taste of boating within two weeks of being born and started freediving at age 5. The second day of January presented the perfect opportunity for him to explore the vessel, which sank in 1932 and is now a popular destination for divers.
“Usually you have to worry in winter dives about big floating ice,” says Roxburgh, “… the same ice that caused many of the 6,000 wrecks in the Great Lakes. But it’s been a very warm winter, like most of the world, so Lake Charlevoix was not iced over.” Under more typical winter conditions, divers would’ve had to cut a hole through 16 inches of ice to reach the Keuka.
Partying under the radar
The speakeasy’s ruse involved picking up passengers at the Mason Street dock in Charlevoix and ferrying them out to the middle of the lake. There, the Keuka opened up its gaming tables and brought out the booze, safely removed from authorities’ watchful gaze (though many law enforcement officials both in the region and further afield took bribes to look the other way).
Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce 109 Mason St., Charlevoix, MI 49720 (231) 547-2101 | Fax: (231) 547-6633 info@charlevoix.org
How fortunate we are in Charlevoix to have a Chamber of Commerce so dedicated to supporting our business owners and helping our community flourish!
In essence, the goal of our Chamber is to further the interests of our businesses……to improve the economic, civic, and cultural well-being of our Charlevoix community, and we can help by being members and being active.
Those who are our Chamber want to do all they can to support our business owners and their team members by providing leadership and support, e.g.,:
· networking opportunities · promotional opportunities · advocacy opportunities · relationship building · educational and professional development opportunities
We have a challenging business environment as a resort community in the summer and many retirees heading to warmer climates during winter months.
Our Chamber works tirelessly to help in a variety of ways, aside from the above, just a few examples being the beautification of our town, our parks, and our recreation facilities……and numerous special events which draw residents and visitors alike to “downtown” Charlevoix.
Let’s all do our part to assure that Charlevoix is a great place to make a good living and to live.
Sarah Van Horn President of The Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce
Sarah graduated from our high school, then went on the Grand Valley State University, and immediately came back to work at Castle Farms, where she had worked during summers while in school. She has great admiration for Castle Farms, as the Muellers treat their team members so well, e.g., they provide pathways for learning, help their people grow, attend conferences and they definitely have a genuine interest in the well-being of their team members. What a lesson for all business owners.
It was the mission of our Chamber that prompted Sarah to apply to become President when the opportunity arose. Simply, she loves our town and our people and believed this was her “calling”.
Sarah is a leader – she embodies humility, is a lifelong learner, and is committed to do all she can to make life easier and better for our business owners, including and certainly not limited to helping people find careers here, having a strong school system, ideas to help develop and maintain fully engaged workforces, housing for our team members, and for increasing prospects for customers – and also with a goal to help us hold steady during the winter.
We are fortunate to enjoy a solid membership base, and those who are members and are active are enthusiastic about the benefits received by being dedicated, and not just to their own business, also by being helpful and kind to our Charlevoix businesses, nonprofits and churches. A good many active members encourage others and share advice.
Thank you, Sarah, and your talented team. Your humility and dedication to our businesses and community are greatly appreciated!
