One of Our Own...

[LKunze]

Mystery crib’s story still unknown
Jana Hollingsworth Duluth News Tribune
Published Tuesday, January 09, 2007

The saga of the mysterious crib that washed ashore on Lake Superior in December continues, and its origin will decide whether to preserve it or chop it up for firewood.
A team of divers explored an area — the old harbor breakwater cribs — behind Duluth’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Saturday afternoon to test a theory.
Local divers were certain the 50-foot long timber structure emerged from a line of cribbing built in the 1870s that supported a wharf for Elevator A in Duluth. But after measuring, studying and photographing the underwater cribs, the theory doesn’t stack up.
“The one on shore is practically brand-new compared to the ones in the water,” said Steve Daniel, president of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society, one of four who dived Saturday. “The hardware — bolts — look newer onshore than in the water … the ones in the water are really weathered, deteriorated.”
The underwater cribs, which extend at an angle for about 200 yards and 20 feet deep to a red buoy, were 30 feet wide, and the crib on shore is 20 feet wide.
Divers recall that the 55-foot gap in the line of cribs — what made some first believe the crib originated in that area — had been noticed years before.
“This could be from anywhere in the harbor,” Daniel said, adding that the outer harbor was most likely.
More research is needed to pinpoint a location. Divers have heard of other underwater structures northeast of the cribs near the memorial, and plan to dive again soon.
“Now more than ever, I kind of want to find out what this thing is and where it came from,” said Jay Hanson, owner of Superior Scuba Center, who made the 45-minute dive Saturday in 37-degree water.
The crib rests on Minnesota land, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation is taking responsibility for it. The crib is staying put for now. MnDOT recently had plans to dismantle it and have a salvager haul it away, but Mayor Herb Bergson asked the state to hold off until more is known about the pine structure, said Tom Kasper, lead worker for the city’s street and park maintenance division.
“Where it came from is going to have an impact on what happens with it,” he said. “If there were no historic connection I think it would be less important.”
Many groups are interested in it, including the Minnesota Historical Society and the Lake Superior Maritime Museum Association, Kasper said, and MnDOT said it would allow time for more exploration.
“The structure is in excellent condition,” Daniel said. “It would be nice if they could find a home for it.”