Torrential rains the first part of September 1986 pushed water levels to near record heights. The flood stage on the Saginaw River is around 17 feet, but on September 15th, it crested over 7 feet higher at 24.16 feet. The water was still high and the currents in the river still very strong when the Joseph H. Frantz attempted to transit the Independence Bridge, just downriver from the Bay City Wirt Stone Dock. The currents took the Frantz and wedged her between the spans where she sat, unable to get free. Numerous attempts to move the Joseph H. Frantz were unsuccessful.
Finally, the tug Malcolm and the tug Barbara Ann, both from Malcolm Marine, Inc. based out of St. Clair, MI, arrived on location and were finally able to free the Joseph H. Frantz after being stuck for three days. The local tug, Frederick T. Kellers was also on the scene.
We were fortunate that my uncle was the Chief of Police for Bay City at the time of this incident. That allowed us access to take photos down onto the Frantz from the Independence Bridge. These are all of the photos we took that day.
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