IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The Lyman M. Davis was a traditional 2-masted, fore-and-aft rigged Schooner, built for the lumber trade on the Great Lakes. It was designed to carry large loads of lumber, with a capacity of up to 250,000 feet. Schooners like the Lyman M. Davis were once the workhorses of the Great Lakes, transporting goods like timber and coal across the vast inland seas.
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The Lyman M. Davis was a traditional 2-masted, fore-and-aft rigged Schooner, built for the lumber trade on the Great Lakes. It was designed to carry large loads of lumber, with a capacity of up to 250,000 feet. Schooners like the Lyman M. Davis were once the workhorses of the Great Lakes, transporting goods like timber and coal across the vast inland seas.
HISTORY
HISTORY
The Lyman M. Davis was launched in 1873 at Muskegon, Michigan, primarily for the Mason Lumber Co., with Charles S. Davis serving as the agent. The vessel was originally measured at a Gross Tonnage of 224.97, with a length of 123 feet. Over the years, it was remeasured and underwent various repairs and modifications, including a significant remeasurement in 1876, which adjusted its tonnage, and the installation of a new foremast in 1883.
Throughout its operational life, the Lyman M. Davis played a significant role in the lumber trade, transporting large quantities of timber across the Great Lakes. In 1913, the Schooner was sold to Graham Bros. of Kincardine, Ontario, and later, in 1919, to John A. McCullough and Cephus H. Spencer of Napanee, Ontario, where it transitioned to carrying coal. The vessel remained active in the coal trade, moving cargo between various ports, including Oswego, Fair Haven, Sodus, Kingston, and the Bay of Quinte.
FINAL DISPOSITION
The Schooner met a tragic yet dramatic end on June 29, 1934, when it was intentionally burned as a spectacle in Toronto, Ontario. This event marked the symbolic closure of the commercial Schooner era on the Great Lakes. The burning of the Lyman M. Davis was not just the destruction of a vessel but also the end of an era in maritime history. It was the last remaining commercial Schooner operating on the Great Lakes, and its demise signified the end of the traditional sail-powered cargo transport in the region.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY
The wreck of the Lyman M. Davis lies in Humber Bay, Toronto, at a depth of 123 feet. The site is a significant historical dive location, though the depth and conditions may require advanced diving experience. The wreckage of the Schooner, which was burned as a spectacle, offers a unique glimpse into the past, with remnants of the Hull and other structures still visible underwater. Divers exploring the site can reflect on the vessel’s storied history and the broader context of Great Lakes shipping during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
RESOURCES & LINKS
- Warren Lo Photography: Visual documentation of the site and wreck.
- Save Ontario Shipwreck Buoy Status: Information on dive site access and buoy status.
- YouTube Video of a Night Dive: A diver’s perspective of the wreck.
- History – Complete History of the Burning: Detailed historical account of the burning of the Lyman M. Davis and its significance.
Toronto Archives Historic Photo Gallery
Archival citation
Fonds 1548, Series 393, Item 24072
Date(s) of creation of record(s)
September 12, 1933
Archival citation
Fonds 1548, Series 393, Item 24123C-1
Date(s) of creation of record(s)
February 2, 1934
Archival citation
Fonds 1548, Series 393, Item 24123E
Date(s) of creation of record(s)
February 2, 1934
Archival citation
Fonds 1548, Series 393, Item 24123
Date(s) of creation of record(s)
February 2, 1934
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