Local expert weighs in on mysterious wood washed ashore

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By Jenny Dolph

Story Created: Jan 25, 2012 at 8:47 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jan 25, 2012 at 8:47 PM EDT

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. -- Some mysterious wood turned up on a St. Joseph beach this week!

Many people assumed the 50-foot planks were from a shipwreck, so we called a local expert to get his thoughts.

Don McAlhany has been exploring Lake Michigan for 50 years!

He thought the wood is the breakwater from the old Tiscornia Beach Hotel that burned down in the 1890s.

"I'm going to go back and get some more information on the breakwater that was out here. Because this would be my first indication that it really did exist and what type of breakwater it was,” said McAlhany.

He said this could be the first time anyone has seen the wood in nearly 100 years!
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