Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago
June 27, 2018
Meeting Minutes
President Dean Nolan welcomed 17 members and guests.
The minutes written by secretary Carol Sommers were accepted.
Treasurer John Bell stated that funds remained the same as last month and we would be giving a donation in memory of Bob Gadbois.
Discussion about a plaque in Bob’s memory followed. Jim Jarecki said he could make one and donate it, but suggested it be placed on a wreck that divers see more often than the Seabird. Keith said that a 3-D plaque could be made with the model being put into sand and brass poured in for a final product. He has a crucible and the necessary torch. The Welles Burt needs a new plaque because the ones which Jim made are vinyl and wearing out and he said a metal frame with a lexan front would be better. Sam Polonetsky mentioned that the Tritons had made one for the Jim Everton with the help of Steve Liebowitz. To put something on a wreck in Wisconsin, paperwork is involved and we will need clearances from Illinois to put something on a wreck because that would be “violating a wreck”. It was decided that Jim will engrave a plaque and Claire will decide on which wreck it should be placed. A letter will be needed from the Preservation Society.
Keith seeking permission to scrape the zebra mussels off the Mystery Wreck since doing so may involve wood being removed in the process which could damage the wreck. In Canada, one can’t even disturb silt around a wreck. He recently had 5 divers search for artifacts on it, but nothing was found..
Illinois Council of Skin and Scuba Divers – There will be a clean-up on Greenwood Beach in Evanston in September.
Chicago Maritime Museum – There are plans for a large new exhibit about Skip Novak. The problem is that 90% of the visitors to the museum come because of the programs and it will be located in the room where they are held. At present, 100 attendees can be accommodated. It is the 200th anniversary of the founding of Illinois so "passports" have been made which you can have stamped when you visit different places around the state. You get a prize with 20 stamps. CMM is #2 on the list in the booklet—see Jim if you want a passport
Miscellaneous announcements – The Highland Park Library has a talk at 7pm Thursday about the Calumet which sunk the same time as the David Dawes. Steven Draska and Jim Jarecki will be participating in a panel discussion on July 8 at the Looking Glass Theatre after the play 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. There is an event this Friday at the Hilton Asmus Gallery.
Website – Colin said that the write-up on the David Dows is detailed and needs proofreading. Seven ship descriptions are now on-line.
Member Presentations – Sam has a 21-minute presentation which he can give in July.
Newsletter – It was decided that it would be good to have another one come out soon.
Nautical Archaeological Society – Dave Thompson will be giving a class all day Sunday, July 29 at CMM. The Direct Survey Measuring Course will be followed by a Photomosaic Course. Each costs $25 and lasts 3 hours. They will start at 9 am and Dean will get more details on the photomosaic course and post them. Let him know if you are interested in attending.
Dive Co-Ordination – We should start another wreck while waiting for permission to clean the Mystery Wreck. The Maia Tug was recommended. Keith needs the location from John Loftus and four divers are necessary to have the boat go out. The cost of a trip is $350, but each diver pays $40 and UASC makes up the difference. Keith will send out an e-mail with a list of other wrecks he has available to dive.
As the project leader of the Mystery Wreck, Keith said that he needs to get all the documentation together. Tony Kiefer has mylar of one section and maybe some photographs, Keith has some information, and Dean has some sketches. Dean said that a project leader also needs to keep all the records and how much work is done and when. Tony added that there must be an organized map. A notice will be sent out to new members who get a free dive to encourage them to work on the wreck. The Flora Hill and Iowa need to be photographed and can be done in one day, with a dive on each. Keith said he may have some extensive video on the Flora Hill made by Bob Gadbois.
The member presentation “The Key to a Sucessful Survey Dive”was given by John Bell. Highlights of his talk follow: Do as much as you can on land with each diver having a logsheet of which task he is to perform and observations to made. The sheet can be put onto mylar at Kinko’s. When making the Car Ferry #2 survey, tags were placed at twenty-foot intervals because the wreck was the size of a football field and the centerline and cross tape system was too unwieldly. The history of the wreck was known, so the survey was more of a learning experience. A table or diagram of the wreck with blanks is needed to show what needs to be done. Kevin Magee surveyed wrecks by having a basic sketch of the wreck with blanks which show what measurements need to be made. (Colin asked for bullet points and John said that the best take out from his talk would be “Put as much relevant information on your mylar before you dive.”) After a dive, it’s important to have everyone sit down as soon as possible for debriefing and clarifying what was written underwater. On the next dive, you can go back down for details that weren’t clear or were missing.
The twenty-minute video of the wreck of the Lady Elgin by Bob Gadbois was shown. It happened during a squall at 2:30am on September 8, 1860 when the schooner Augusta impaled the ship with its bowsprit and didn’t stop to help. The entire crew was later arrested—the captain was only 26 years old and did not follow sailing rules—he should have given way. It was the worst disaster on the Great Lakes and 300 people died. Survivors hung onto floating debris much of which was wood chopped from the deck for that purpose by the crew when they saw that the ship was sinking. Many died in the 12-foot surf on the Evanston shore. There was one exceptional hero, Edward Spencer, who went into the surf and saved sixteen people. Divers found the two thirty-foot long boilers and a debris field including pieces scattered miles away.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Carol Sommers.