The Lakeside: A Storied Vessel

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Lakeside (later Joseph L. Russell)
• Registry Numbers: C 90778
• Date Built and Launched: Built in 1888 in Windsor, Ontario.
• Measurements:
  Original Dimensions: 121 feet (36.9 m) in length, 26 feet (7.9 m) in beam, 9.3 feet (2.8 m) in depth.
  Post-Rebuild as Tugboat: 118.4 feet (36.1 m) in length, 25.9 feet (7.9 m) beam, additional Firebox Boiler installed.
• Date Lost: November 15, 1929.

Vessel Type

Originally a wooden excursion Steamer, later converted into a Tugboat.

Description

The Lakeside began her career as an excursion Steamer, renowned for leisurely tours across the Great Lakes, connecting cities and fostering tourism. Built by William Lane, the vessel was powered by a Kerr Brothers engine producing 240 horsepower. She was a favourite on scenic routes from Toronto to Port Dalhousie and Cleveland to Detroit, serving the bustling tourist trade of the late 19th century.

However, her career took a utilitarian turn after an incident in 1905 when she sank at dock in Port Dalhousie. By 1920, she was repurposed as a Tugboat, renamed the Joseph L. Russell, reflecting the growing demand for industrial and towing operations on the Great Lakes.

Final Disposition

On her final journey, while towing the Barge Augustus from Montreal to Toronto, the Joseph L. Russell succumbed to a gale off Point Petre near Cobourg, Ontario. Despite the loss of the vessel, the crew was saved by the S.S. Glenella.

Located By & Date Found

No explicit discovery date is mentioned in available records. Dive and maritime records may provide additional leads on her current condition under Lake Ontario’s waters.

NOTMARs & Advisories

The wreck’s proximity to Point Petre makes it a dive site of interest. Conditions in Lake Ontario can be challenging with variable temperatures and Visibility. The site is not marked explicitly for navigational hazards; further research is needed for precise GPS coordinates.

Resources & Links

• Marine Museum of Upper Canada: Houses the Lakeside’s iconic whistle.
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Initiatives: Potential additional resources for exploration and research.
• Reference Archives: Maritime History of the Great Lakes and Save Ontario Shipwrecks for potential site records .
• Great Lakes Ships: Lakeside
• Wikipedia – Toronto Port Dalhousie Cobourg
• Wikipedia contributors. (2023, October 31). Marysburgh vortex. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:40, January 25, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marysburgh_vortex&oldid=1182855285

Keywords & Glossary

#Excursion Steamer: A vessel designed for passenger leisure trips.

#Tugboat: A strong, sturdy vessel used to tow other ships.

#Foundering: The sinking of a ship due to weather or structural failure.

#Great Lakes Maritime History: The study and preservation of shipping history and shipwrecks within the Great Lakes.

In Conclusion

The Lakeside represents a fascinating chapter of maritime evolution, transitioning from a leisure vessel to an industrial workhorse before finding her resting place under Lake Ontario. Her legacy, marked by adaptability and resilience, continues to captivate maritime historians and divers.