SHIPWRECK REPORT: H.B. Bishop (Henry C. Bishop)

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• • Name: H.B. Bishop (also known as Henry C. Bishop)
• • Type: Schooner (described as a Brig in some records)
• • Location: Nottawasaga Harbor, Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
• • Date of Incident: October 25, 1852
• • Cargo: Grain and lumber
• • Coordinates: Not specified
• CONSTRUCTION & SPECIFICATIONS
• • Year Built: 1847
• • Builder: G. W. Jones & Co., Cleveland, Ohio
• • Master Carpenter: Jacob Banta
• • Dimensions:
• • Length: 121.1 feet (36.9 meters)
• • Beam: 24.1 feet (7.3 meters)
• • Depth: 9.5 feet (2.9 meters)
• • Tonnage: 264 (old style)
• • Masts: Two
• OWNERSHIP
• • Original Owners: G. W. Walbridge and Captain Trowbridge (both from Cleveland)
• • Later Owner: Oliver Bugbee (Buffalo, New York), 1852

HISTORY

The Schooner H.B. Bishop was launched in 1847 and served primarily as a cargo vessel, transporting goods across the Great Lakes. It was enrolled in Buffalo, New York, from 1847 until its loss in 1852.

On September 26, 1851, the H.B. Bishop suffered damage to its rigging when the Brig Belle collided with it while entering port, a mishap reported in the Morning Express of Buffalo.

The H.B. Bishop was chartered in 1852 to test the navigability of Nottawasaga Harbor for larger schooners, carrying grain and lumber as its cargo. The goal was to demonstrate the harbor’s suitability as a terminal for the Ontario Simcoe and Huron Railway.

FINAL DISPOSITION

On October 25, 1852, the H.B. Bishop encountered a storm and was driven over a bar into shallow water, becoming stranded and ultimately wrecked. The Schooner was carrying grain and lumber, and the Total Loss was estimated at $8,000.

The wreck played a pivotal role in the rivalry between Nottawasaga and Collingwood for the railway terminus. The incident highlighted the shallow and treacherous conditions of Nottawasaga Harbor, leading to Collingwood being chosen as the railway’s terminus instead.

The remains of the H.B. Bishop were visible on the beach for over a century, with its oak ribs embedded in the sand serving as a reminder of its fate.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

• Condition: The remains of the wreck are mostly buried in sand. Over time, the upper structure deteriorated, but oak ribs remained visible for many years.

• Accessibility: While much of the wreck is buried, remnants may still exist and could be of interest to maritime archaeologists or historians.

SIGNIFICANCE

The wreck of the H.B. Bishop is historically significant for its role in shaping the development of Wasaga Beach and Collingwood. It stands as a testament to the challenges of early Great Lakes navigation and the strategic importance of port selection in regional development.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Explore Records

• David Swayze Shipwreck File: H.B. Bishop Details

• Great Lakes Ships Database: Historical Vessel Information

The H.B. Bishop’s story intertwines maritime tragedy with regional progress, leaving a lasting legacy in the history of the Great Lakes.