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Craig Rich
Author Historian Shipwreck Hunter

 

 

 

 

 

Read what others are saying about "For Those in peril: Shipwrecks of Ottawa County"

"Craig Rich has done a great job of exploring and recreating for us the dreadful shipping accidents around historic Ottawa County. Their stories will captivate western Michigan residents, historians, and divers alike. For Those in Peril is a wonderful resource!" - C. Patrick Labadie, Historian, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Alpena, MI


"For Those In Peril: Shipwrecks of Ottawa County" is an important addition to any Great Lakes maritime book collection. Craig Rich chronicles the exciting rescues and devastating losses of over a hundred vessels decade by decade from the 1850s through the modern era in what is the most comprehensive tally ever compiled for the region." - Geoffrey Reynolds, Executive Director, Joint Archives of Holland


"This book has appeal for and makes important contributions to several areas of interest. For those interested in local or state history, it has the rare combination of being filled with detailed information and great human interest. Craig’s style takes what could easily be a dry database and breathes life into it. For those interested in Great Lakes maritime history, it provides a highly readable, geographically focused look at the progression of marine practice and technology. For the recreational diver, it is a great resource on potential dive sites. I highly recommend it."  - Bob Vande Vusse, Director, Fennville District Library, Fennville, MI


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

"For Those In Peril" is now available!

For Those in Peril: Shipwrecks of Ottawa County Michigan is available to pre-order! You can be among the first to receive a copy when they are shipping in February 2010.

The book is 136 pages, soft-cover and priced at $17.95.

If you order now, you will receive FREE SHIPPING!

Click on "Add to Cart" to order using PayPal.

Read a synopsis of the book below.

The lyrics of the hymn "Eternal Father Strong to Save" pay homage to sailors who risk their lives in the course of everyday work and aptly express the intriguing maritime heritage of Ottawa County, Michigan, a region along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan that saw many a ship and sailor lost.

The lakeshore communities of Grand Haven and Holland became thriving commercial ports in the latter half of the 19th century and bore witness to the evolutionary changes in Great Lakes transportation. Early wooden sailing vessels were replaced by wooden steamers, which soon made way for steel vessels, which grew to include today's "thousand footers." Schooners laden with lumber and stone gave way to luxury passenger steamships ferrying Chicago’s wealthy tourists to Ottawa County’s grand tourist hotels.

Families were changed forever when husbands and sons were lost to the gales of November, and fortunes were lost when vessel owners tried to get just one more trip in before the harsh winters closed the ports. Many of these vessels were simply overtaken by age, mechanical failure or shifting sands. Some broke up on shore while others were refloated to sail again. Some were left to rot at the dock while others simply sailed over the horizon into oblivion never to be seen again. Many now serve as “ice water museums,” attracting scuba divers, explorers and historians to these shipwrecks that comprise an important part of the early history of Ottawa County and the Great Lakes region as well.

Regional Studies

136 Pages - 55 photographs

ISBN:978-0-9801750-2-8


Since 1987 I have been with advertising department of  the Grand Rapids Business Journal -- a weekly business-to-business newspaper in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The G. R.  Business Journal is an incredible newspaper that reaches (through paid subscriptions) over 20,000 business decision makers throughout the west Michigan area.

I serve as an Advertising Sales Consultant. You can start a subscription or request advertising info by contacting me .


Genealogy is a big part of my life. I am mostly working on my "Rich" family history. I am a lifetime member and current President of the Rich Family Association of Wellfleet, Massachusetts and have designed a web page for the association. Through Rootsweb I administer two email mailing lists -- the Mayflower list and the Rich list. So, whether you're searching for your Pilgrim roots or you have Riches in your past, you've come to the right place!


As a SCUBA diver and wreck researcher, I spend almost as much time underwater as I do in the library or on the Internet researching "ships gone missing". I am a part of the team which recently discovered the wreck of the long-lost "H. C. Akeley", the car ferry "Ann Arbor no. 5" , the "SS Michigan", Hennepin and several other significant shipwrecks. We've formed the 501(c)3 non-profit group Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates to assure proper documentation and research of these historic vessels and others we plan to locate.


Check out this historic photo book on Holland, Michigan!

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Twitter: @oldpirate

Contact Me:
@ home:
oldpirate@comcast.net
 @ work:
crich@geminipub.com