[2] It was constructed to reclaim stamping sand from the lake for further processing, and was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1978.

[1] The dredge was used to reclaim previously-milled sand deposited in the lake after it had gone through the stamp mill.

[4] The dredged sand contained copper that earlier stamping technology had not been able to separate out.

[4] Improvements in stamping efficiency and cost increases in traditional shaft mining made these sand tailings economically feasible to reclaim and re-stamp.

[3] The dredge could process over 10,000 short tons (9,100 t) of sand per day, and had a 141-foot (43 m) suction pipe that could work in 115 feet (35 m) of water.