Underwater Crucifix Shrine
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| Crucifix In Little Traverse Bay March 9, 2019 Photo by Jill Moyer |
Tucked away underwater, in a little corner of Petoskey, Michigan, 22 feet below Little Traverse Bay, rests an 11 foot crucifix. It is viewed only once a year, weather permitting. The condition were not good for viewing in 2016, 2017, and 2018. But on March 9, 2019, the weather conditions were perfect for viewing. In fact, on the Petoskey Area Visitors Facebook page they noted that 1,372 guests made their way to view the crucifix, down from 2,021 visitors in 2015, the last time it was viewed.
I arrived there early expecting a long line that may have already started to form. To my surprise, there were only a few people trickling in at 10am that morning. I made my way down a rocky slope from the edge of Bayfront Park onto the frozen water. I expected a smooth path to the 1200 foot hike to the site of the crucifix but that was not the case. I would take a few steps and one foot would fall through some snow. Then my other foot would fall again through some more snow. I would take a few more steps and then fall though the semi-packed snow. I did see one person with snow skis on and realized he was smart in doing so.
When the hole was completed and the crucifix was presentable to the public for viewing, the crew placed a metal tub that is on a wooden board over the hole. A tent is placed over the hole to help block out extra light. This creates a tunnel like viewing that allows light in making it possible for the best viewing. One of the workers said cold water is more transparent than warmer water and that is why it is better to view the crucifix above ground in the winter time than above the waters in a boat in the summer. There is a buoy marking the exact location when the bay is not frozen for divers to see and explore for themselves.
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| Almost to the spot of the Crucifix in the bay. March 9, 2019 Photo by Jill Moyer |
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| Start of the journey out to the Crucifix in Little Traverse Bay March 9, 2019 Photo by Jill Moyer |
I was lucky to be one of the first people to arrive. The men were still digging the hole and removing layers of ice that rested above the statue. They claim the ice was a little over 6 feet deep. They were using augers, chainsaws, shovels, and even their bare hands to remove the layers of ice.
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| Men working hard to dig out the viewing hole March 9, 2019 Photo by Jill Moyer |
 The men examining the depth of the ice March 9, 2019 Photo by Jill Moyer
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| Hole just about complete March 9, 2019 Photo by Jill Moyer |
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| Selfie with the crew working behind me March 9, 2019 Photo by Jill Moyer |
A dive team went into the water with scrapers and brushes to give the crucifix a quick clean up before the crucifix is presentable to the public. Zebra mussels will attach themselves to the crucifix and must be removed.
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| This diver is putting on his wet suit about to go into the water March 9, 2019 Photo by Jill Moyer |
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| A helper assisting the diver with his gear March 9, 2019 Photo by Jill Moyer |
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| This is placed over the hole for better viewing on the crucifix March 9, 2019 Photo by Jill Moyer |
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| Moving the tent over the hole March 9, 2019 Photo by Jill Moyer |
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| Final placement of the tent March 9, 2019 Photo by Jill Moyer |
A crucifix doesn't happen to wind up in Little Traverse Bay by accident. There is a small story behind it, and started on the east side of Michigan. The tale near the thumb area in Michigan when Gerald James Schipinski was born to Matt and Leona Schipinski, a farming family in Lincoln Township, Huron County on May 26, 1941. They lived in Rapson which was a short distance from Bad Axe, Michigan.
Jerry was barely into his 15th year of life when he took the family tractor into the fields to shoot some crows. The crows were a nuisance to the families crops. The gun, Jerry had, misfired, killing him instantly.
The family purchased the marble crucifix from Italy as a memorial to Jerry but the statues arms broke in shipment. It was too expensive to ship back to Italy so the crucifix was sold to Wyandotte Superior Dive Club. The club, after repairing the statue, wanted it as a memorial to those who died diving in the Great Lakes and local lakes, specifically Charles Raymond, who lost his life in Torch Lake.
Since the first placement, the crucifix has been moved closer to shore with a more stable base. Views of the crucifix started in 1986 with only 350 people viewing.
In the 2019 viewing, it was apparent the arm was missing again. In an article from XYZ.com March 20, 2019, it mentions due to the water movement and pressure of the ice above, it put too much strain on the statue. The local dive team hopes they will recover the arm in the spring and reattach it.
People have been known to stand in line for over two hours to view this magnificent crucifix through the ice. Since I was near the beginning on the line it was about a 40 minute, well-worth wait after it was ready for viewing.
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| Looking closer at the picture you can see the arm missing. It still is a wonderful site to see. March 9, 2019 Photo by Jill Moyer |
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| Bottom part of the crucifix. March 9, 2019 Photo by Jill Moyer |
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| Found my picture (standing behind the kids) in Northern Mich~Mash Preserve Weebly page. March 9, 2019 Photo by Dennis Jessick |
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| While passing time, the children in front of me decided to build an ice sculpture. At the end of the building, this one boy proudly announces that he will call his piece "UNITY" I looked around at all the people standing around, visiting with strangers, and thinking that is the perfect name for that sculpture as we are all united there to view the crucifix. March 9, 2019 Photo by Jill Moyer |
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| National Flag waving proudly at the site March 9, 2019 Photo by Jill Moyer |
Sources:
“The Underwater Crucifix.” Weird Michigan: Your Travel Guide to Michigan's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets, by Linda S. Godfrey et al., Sterling Publishing, 2006, pp. 162–162.
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