Shipwreck Report: JOYLAND (Ex-WILLIAM A. HASKELL)

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

  • Vessel Name: JOYLAND (formerly WILLIAM A. HASKELL)
  • Type: Wooden Package Freighter
  • Dimensions (As Built):
    • Length (Between Perpendiculars): 242.66 feet (73.95 meters)
    • Overall Length (Post-1917): 250.4 feet (76.33 meters)
    • Beam: 36.5 feet (11.12 meters)
    • Depth: 14.25 feet (4.34 meters)
  • Capacity: 42,000 bushels of wheat (~1,250 tons)
  • Gross Tonnage:
    • Original: 1,530.89 tons
    • Revised (1917): 1,845 tons
  • Net Tonnage:
    • Original: 1,440.78 tons
    • Revised (1917): 1,070 tons
  • Engine: Fore and aft compound, 725 indicated horsepower (800 rated horsepower)
  • Built: April 10, 1884, by Detroit Dry Dock Co., Wyandotte, Michigan (Yard #67)
  • Owner (At Launch): Ogdensburg Transportation Co. (operated by Central Vermont Railroad)
  • Final Registry: Windsor, Ontario (Canada)

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The JOYLAND was a wooden package freighter designed for transporting grain and manufactured goods on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Known for its robust diagonal strapping and dual funnels aft, the vessel embodied late 19th-century engineering, with later modifications for improved capacity and operation efficiency. Initially used for grain and general freight, it transitioned to bulk cargo and later sandsucking operations during its long career.

HISTORY

Construction and Early Service (1884–1910)

Launched in 1884 as the WILLIAM A. HASKELL, the vessel served as a cornerstone of the Ogdensburg Transportation Co.’s fleet, connecting Great Lakes grain producers with eastern markets. Frequent accidents marked its early career, including grounding incidents in the St. Lawrence River (1884), Lake Erie (1887), and Lake Michigan (1896). Ownership transitioned in 1899 to Rutland Transit as part of a broader railway acquisition.

Later Modifications and Ownership Transfers (1910–1920)

After being laid up around 1910, the freighter was modernized and repaired, returning to service under the Great Lakes Transit Co. in 1916. It was re-registered in Canada as JOYLAND, under Lake & River Transportation Co. (managed by Hackett and later Canada Steamship Lines). The ship was lengthened by 7 feet at Montreal’s Cantin Dry Dock in 1917, increasing its capacity and tonnage for grain and package freight operations.

Final Years as a Freighter (1921–1922)

While part of Canada Steamship Lines, the JOYLAND served dual roles, carrying freight upbound and grain downbound. In 1922, it grounded near Little Round Island in the St. Lawrence River while transporting corn. Declared a constructive Total Loss, the ship was salvaged and repaired but sold off later that year.

Conversion to a Sandsucker (1924–1926)

Acquired by Maitland Sand & Gravel Co., the vessel underwent Conversion into a sandsucker. Registered in Windsor, Ontario, the JOYLAND operated in the sand and gravel trade until it ran aground and was Abandoned at Little Burnt Island Harbor on Manitoulin Island in 1926.

Removal from Registry

The JOYLAND was officially removed from the shipping register in 1940, marking the end of its operational life.

FINAL DISPOSITION

  • Date of Final Wreck: 1926
  • Location: Little Burnt Island Harbor, Manitoulin Island, Lake Huron
  • Cause of Wreck: Grounding during sandsucking operations; declared unsalvageable and Abandoned.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

No active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) pertain to the wreck of the JOYLAND, but divers and researchers should exercise caution due to the wreck’s deteriorated state and potential for underwater hazards.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

•Condition: Likely in advanced deterioration due to prolonged exposure and wooden construction.

•Accessibility: Wreck location near Little Burnt Island Harbor is accessible for divers, though remains may be scattered or buried. Site conditions are undocumented.

RESOURCES & LINKS

  • Montreal Transportation Co. Archives: Annual Directors’ Reports and Minutes
  • Alpena Public Library Great Lakes Maritime Database
  • American Bureau of Shipping Great Lakes Register (1919)
  • Marine Museum of the Great Lakes Ship Registers Online
  • Bascom & Gillham’s “Early Ships of Canada Steamship Lines”

CONCLUSION

The JOYLAND’s story is emblematic of the dynamic and hazardous nature of Great Lakes shipping during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Transitioning from a premier grain carrier to a sandsucking vessel, the ship endured multiple groundings, repairs, and ownership changes before its final abandonment in 1926. The JOYLAND’s legacy as a workhorse of the lakes offers valuable insights into the evolution of maritime trade and the resilience of vessels operating in one of the world’s most challenging freshwater environments.

KEYWORDS•JOYLAND•WILLIAM A. HASKELL•Lake Huron shipwrecks•St. Lawrence River•Great Lakes freighters•Grain transport history•Sandsucking vessels•19th-century maritime history