Henley Wollak, a 5-year-old with a vivid imagination, discovered a 150-year-old shipwreck on Lake Michigan last summer. While boating with her dad, Tim, she spotted something under the water, which turned out to be the remains of the George L. Newman, a ship that sunk in 1871 during the Peshtigo Fire. The Wollaks’ discovery was a surprise, as the ship had never been seen before and was largely forgotten.
The ship, built in 1855, was transporting lumber from Little Suamico, Wisconsin when it became lost in the smoke from the fire and ran aground on Green Island. The crew was rescued by the lighthouse keeper, and the ship was never recovered until Henley and her dad found it last summer.
Despite her young age, Henley has a love for the outdoors and is excited for next summer when she can go swimming in the lake again. Her father believes that as she grows older, she will come to understand the significance of her discovery. For now, Henley’s love for nature and the experience of finding the shipwreck will hold a special place in her heart.
Photo credit
www.usatoday.com
