Shipwreck Report: Bay of Quinte (1853, Steamer)

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: Bay of Quinte
• Year Built: 1853
• Vessel Type: Sidewheel Steamer
• Hull Material: Wood
• Number of Decks: 2
• Builder: George Thurston, Kingston, Ontario
• Original Owners: O.S. Gildersleeve & Co., Kingston, Ontario
• Specifications Length: 161 feet (49.1 metres) Beam: 25.6 feet (7.8 metres) Depth: 8.6 feet (2.6 metres)
• Tonnage (Old Style): 324 tons (varied across its career)
• Propulsion: Sidewheel
• Engine Type: Vertical Beam (Walking Beam)
• Paddlewheels: 32 feet in diameter

Operational History

Construction and Early Service

Built in Kingston, Ontario, in 1853, the Bay of Quinte was originally part of Gildersleeve’s Royal Mail Line, operating as a passenger and freight Steamer on Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte. Designed with a sturdy wooden Hull and state-of-the-art paddlewheels, it served as a reliable vessel for both passengers and mail services.

Service Timeline

• 1854: Measured at 200 tons, initially designed for Lighter loads.
• 1862: Acquired by the Bay of Quinte Steamboat Company, marking a shift in ownership.
• 1865: Underwent significant repairs, maintaining its operational status.
• 1868: Re-measured at 250 gross tons, with further updates to its structure.
• 1871: Purchased by Calvin & Breck of Garden Island, Ontario, and reportedly modified into a rafting Tug for log booms in Quebec.

Ownership and Modifications

• Throughout its life, the Bay of Quinte was owned by various operators, including D.D. Calvin, a prominent industrialist from Garden Island, and Sheffield Wickware, a Nova Scotia-based owner who briefly operated it in its final years.

Final Disposition

• Location: Garden Island, Ontario, on Lake Ontario.
• Year: 1885
• Cause: Dismantled.
• After a career spanning over three decades, the Bay of Quinte was retired and broken up at Garden Island, which served as a hub for ship repairs and dismantling operations under the Calvin family.

Legacy and Significance

Role in Great Lakes Commerce  The Bay of Quinte was instrumental in supporting passenger travel, mail transport, and freight operations on the Great Lakes.  It operated during a transformative period in Canadian maritime history, transitioning from wooden sailing vessels to more efficient steam-powered ships.

Contribution to Local Economies  By connecting Kingston and surrounding communities with larger ports, the vessel played a critical role in developing regional commerce and transportation networks.

Adaptability and Longevity  Its Conversion into a rafting Tug in 1871 highlights its versatility, allowing it to remain in service for several decades in various roles.

Notes and Records

The vessel’s history is preserved through several maritime archives, including:

• Bowling Green State University, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes
• Canadian Registers
• William MacDonald Collection, Dossin Great Lakes Museum
• Edward J. Dowling Collection, University of Detroit Mercy
• Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston https://www.marmuseum.ca Holds records on the shipbuilding industry in Kingston and the vessels it produced.
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
• Garden Island Historical Archives The Calvin family played a key role in shipbuilding and dismantling at Garden Island, and local archives may have additional information.

Conclusion

The Bay of Quinte was a versatile and enduring Sidewheel Steamer that served the Great Lakes for over 30 years. From its beginnings as a passenger and mail carrier to its later use as a rafting Tug, the vessel exemplified the adaptability required of 19th-century ships. Its dismantling at Garden Island marked the end of a robust career but cemented its place in the maritime history of Kingston and Lake Ontario.