IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

•Name: ALGIE O’THAYER (also known as O.A. O’THAYER)

•Vessel Type: Tugboat

•Year Built: 1872

•Builder: Not specified, Buffalo, NY

•Material: Wood

•Dimensions:

•Length: 42.7 feet (13 meters)

•Beam: 10.4 feet (3.2 meters)

•Depth: 5 feet (1.5 meters)

•Gross Tonnage: 10 tons

•Propulsion: Screw

•Registry: Buffalo, NY

•Final Location: Lake Ontario, near Oswego, NY

•Date of Loss: November 17, 1879

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The ALGIE O’THAYER was a small wooden Tugboat designed for industrial and maintenance work on waterways. Its compact size and Screw Propulsion made it suitable for navigating narrow canals and performing tasks such as towing and hauling equipment.

HISTORY

Construction and Early Service (1872–1879):

•Built in Buffalo, NY, the ALGIE O’THAYER was originally owned by O.D. Thayer.

•The Tugboat served as a reliable utility vessel, supporting industrial activities in the Great Lakes region.

Work on the Lachine Canal (1879):

•By 1879, the vessel was part of a small fleet operated or chartered by Hisckler & Arnold of Buffalo, NY.

•It was employed on the Lachine Canal in the St. Lawrence River, performing maintenance and transportation tasks.

Sinking Incident (November 17, 1879):

•While returning from work on the Lachine Canal to Oswego, NY, the ALGIE O’THAYER Foundered and sank in Lake Ontario.

•The sinking occurred during its journey back to receive upgrades for continued service on the Lachine Canal.

•Historical records suggest that the vessel may have been salvaged by Canadians, though specific details of the salvage operation are unclear.

Later History (1884–1889):

•By 1884, the Tug was owned by William McRae of Montreal.

•On November 17, 1889, the ALGIE O’THAYER was reported lost while carrying gear. The cause and location of this subsequent loss are not documented in available records.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The ALGIE O’THAYER experienced two documented losses:

1.1879 Sinking: Foundered in Lake Ontario off Oswego, NY.

2.1889 Incident: Final loss, circumstances unknown.

The Tugboat’s operational life ended within a decade, leaving a relatively short but notable history.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the wreck site of the ALGIE O’THAYER. The precise location of the wreck is undocumented.

LOCATED BY & DATE

•There is no confirmed record of the wreck’s location or any modern exploration of the site.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

Given the wooden construction and time elapsed since its loss, any remnants of the ALGIE O’THAYER would likely be in poor condition, potentially buried or dispersed on the lakebed.

RESOURCES & LINKS

•Annual List of Merchant Vessels of the United States (1873, 1874): Official historical records.

•David Swayze Shipwreck File: David Swayze Shipwreck File

KEYWORDS

•ALGIE O’THAYER

•Lake Ontario Tugboat

•O.A. O’THAYER

•Great Lakes Shipwrecks

•Lachine Canal

•Hisckler & Arnold

•William McRae

CONCLUSION

The ALGIE O’THAYER represents the unsung working vessels of the Great Lakes, vital for maintaining waterways and supporting commerce. Despite its modest size, the Tug contributed to significant projects such as the Lachine Canal, underscoring the importance of such vessels to the industrial growth of the region. Its two documented losses reflect the hazards faced by even the smallest ships in the unpredictable waters of the Great Lakes. While the wreck remains undiscovered, the ALGIE O’THAYER holds a place in maritime history as a testament to the hard-working utility vessels of its era.