Identification & Site Information

•Vessel Name: Dundee

•Type: Schooner (Three-Masted)

•Final Location: Bay of Quinte, near Belleville, Ontario

•Coordinates: Specific location not provided; general area within Bay of Quinte

•Year Built: 1871

•Builder: John Tait

•Dimensions:

•Length: 125.2 feet (38.2 meters)

•Beam: 23.6 feet (7.2 meters)

•Depth: 10 feet (3 meters)

•Tonnage: 262 tons

•Ownership: Multiple owners over its operational life, including Alexander of St. Catharines, W. R. Taylor of Kingston, and J. H. & J. W. Smith.

Vessel Type Description

The Dundee was a three-masted wooden Schooner, a type of vessel widely used on the Great Lakes during the 19th century for transporting bulk goods such as grain and lumber. The three-masted design allowed for a greater cargo capacity and improved handling in varying wind conditions, making it ideal for the challenging waters of the Great Lakes.

History

Operational Highlights

•Launched in 1871 at South Bay, Ontario, by builder John Tait, the Dundee was initially valued at $9,000 and classified as Class A 2, denoting a high standard of construction.

•The vessel played an active role in Great Lakes trade, connecting ports and facilitating economic growth in the region.

Significant Incidents

•June 1873: Ran aground in Port Colborne, Lake Erie, while transporting grain. Freed and repaired.

•February 1876: Collided with the propeller Alma Munro near Port Stanley, Ontario, after breaking moorings.

•November 1880: Went ashore in Walter’s Bay, west of Kingston, Ontario, during a storm. Salvaged and returned to service.

•August 1908: Collided with the Steamer Varuna near Belleville, Ontario, causing $500 in damages and injuring a passenger on the Varuna.

Decline and Final Years

•1908: Sank in the Bay of Quinte following years of wear and operational challenges.

•1911: Caught fire while docked in Belleville Harbor, suffering further damage.

•1920: Abandoned in the Belleville boneyard, a resting place for decommissioned vessels.

•1960: Dredged from Belleville Harbor during cleanup efforts, leaving little trace of the Schooner.

Final Disposition

The Dundee sank in 1908 in the Bay of Quinte, and its remains were Abandoned in the Belleville boneyard by 1920. During harbor cleanup in 1960, the Hull was dredged, and much of the vessel’s remains were scattered or buried under sediment.

Significance

The Dundee’s history exemplifies the life cycle of Great Lakes schooners during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Its various incidents and ultimate abandonment highlight the perils of maritime operations in an era of limited navigational technology and the challenges of maintaining wooden vessels.

NOTMARs & Advisories

•No active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are associated with the wreck.

•The wreck no longer poses navigational hazards due to its dredging and removal from Belleville Harbor.

Current Status

•The Dundee’s wreckage is largely untraceable following its dredging in 1960.

•Any remaining fragments are likely buried or scattered across the Bay of Quinte and its surrounding area.

Resources & Links

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Comprehensive records of the Dundee and similar schooners.

•David Swayze Shipwreck File: Historical shipwreck database.

•Buffalo Evening News Archives: Documentation of key incidents involving the Dundee.

•Great Lakes Maritime Database: Details on vessel registration and ownership.

•Wrecksite EU: International shipwreck database with supplementary information on the Dundee.

Keywords

Dundee Schooner, Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Bay of Quinte, Belleville Shipwrecks, Maritime History, 19th-Century Schooners, Collision with Varuna, Belleville Boneyard, Wooden Vessel Abandonment.

Conclusion

The story of the Dundee reflects the resilience and challenges of maritime commerce on the Great Lakes. Its operational life was fraught with incidents that tested the vessel’s durability and the crew’s resolve. Despite its eventual abandonment and destruction, the Dundeeremains a notable part of Canadian maritime history, symbolizing the integral role schooners played in shaping the economic landscape of the Great Lakes region.