Weathervanes have been in existence since the 2nd century BC, so there are many and varied in design. They are also varied in size and decor and appear on various buildings, barns and homes. We are not weathervane fanatics and do not seek them out. That said, arriving in Montague, MI we were awed by the weathervane near the RV park where we stayed.Montague believes the weathervane is the largest in the world. Whether it is or not is not important to us, it is huge. The vane stands 48 feet tall and the weather station is in its base. The components are: tall arrow 26’ 2”, longship – length 14’ 3”, height 11’7”. The total weight is approximately 4300 lbs.

Its size alone makes it interesting, yet there is more to the story. The long ship represents the schooner Ella Ellenwood. She was a lumber schooner whose home port was Montague. The story from Wisconsin Shipwrecks states, on her final voyage, September 29, 1901, from Sturgeon Bay to Milwaukee with a load of timber she ran aground approximately fourteen miles north of Milwaukee harbor entrance. The shoreline was not visible due to smoke and mist. The crew abandoned ship and the Ella Ellenwood was destroyed.

Sometime the following year, beachcombers were walking the shoreline of White Lake in Montague scavenging for items. One picked up part of a ship’s name plate with the word “Ellenwood”. It had made its way across Lake Michigan back home to her home port of Montague. Today the nameplate is on display at Montague City Hall. Unfortunately we did not make it to city hall.

The Montague weathervane was built in 1984 by Whitehall Metal Studios, Inc. and donated to the city. The weathervane stands a block from the studio and some hundred yards from the Ella Ellenwood’s dock location.

The weathervane is a beautiful piece of functional art. Yet more than that, it represents a piece of Montague history.

Happy travels and many adventures along your journey.