IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

•Name: Schooner Laurel (also known as Laura)

•Type: Wooden Schooner

•Builder: O’Mara

•Year Built: 1871

•Construction Site: Oliver’s Ferry, Ontario

•Dimensions:

•Length: 67 feet (20.42 m)

•Beam: 16 feet (4.88 m)

•Depth: 5 feet (1.52 m)

•Tonnage: 45 tons

•Official Number: C

•Final Location: Lake Ontario, near Big Sandy Creek, New York

•Incident Date: August 22, 1876

•Cargo: 60 tons of iron ore

•Status: Wreck undiscovered

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The Laurel was a wooden Schooner, a staple of 19th-century Great Lakes commerce. Schooners were renowned for their efficiency and versatility, particularly in transporting bulk goods like iron ore, timber, and grain. The Laurel‘s modest dimensions and 45-ton capacity made it an ideal workhorse for regional trade. Built in Oliver’s Ferry, Ontario, it represented the craftsmanship of its time, intended to withstand the rigors of Great Lakes navigation.

HISTORY

Built in 1871 by O’Mara at Oliver’s Ferry, the Laurel served five years as a cargo Schooner, vital to the regional trade network connecting Ontario and New York ports. Owned by Captain Staley and his father, the Laurel primarily carried heavy goods, such as iron ore. By 1876, it had become a trusted vessel for its owners, routinely traversing the unpredictable waters of Lake Ontario.

On August 22, 1876, the Laurel embarked from Kingston, Ontario, bound for either Charlotte or Fair Haven, New York. Carrying 60 tons of iron ore, the vessel encountered a sudden and fierce storm approximately 15 miles from Oswego, New York. The violent weather overwhelmed the Laurel, causing it to take on water rapidly. The crew, unable to save the Schooner, Abandoned ship and escaped in the Laurel’s Yawl. Local fishermen rescued the crew, delivering them safely ashore.

Despite the crew’s survival, the Laurel was a Total Loss. The wreck, owned by its skipper and his father, marked not just a financial blow but a personal tragedy for its owners.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The Laurel sank near Big Sandy Creek on Lake Ontario on August 22, 1876. The wreck remains undiscovered and rests undisturbed at the lake bothttps://shotlinediving.com/wp-content/uploads/52895851813_b64678c0f7_c.jpg.

LOCATED BY & DATE

The wreck of the Laurel has not been located or documented through surveys. Its exact resting place remains unknown, likely preserved by Lake Ontario’s cold freshwater environment.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

There are no specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) regarding the Laurel. The site does not pose a navigational hazard and is unmarked on marine charts.

RESOURCES & LINKS

•David Swayze Shipwreck Database: Comprehensive resource on Great Lakes shipwrecks.

•Great Lakes Now: Insights into regional maritime history and shipwrecks.

•Save Ontario Shipwrecks: Dedicated to the preservation and exploration of Ontario’s underwater heritage.

CONCLUSION

The Schooner Laurel exemplifies the resilience of 19th-century mariners on the Great Lakes. Despite its loss during a violent storm in 1876, the survival of its crew speaks to the courage and skill of sailors of the era. The Laurel’s story contributes to the rich tapestry of Great Lakes maritime heritage, embodying the dangers of trade and navigation in the unpredictable waters of Lake Ontario.

Tags: Schooner Laurel, Lake Ontario Shipwreck, 19th-Century Maritime History, Big Sandy Creek, Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Wooden Schooner, Iron Ore Cargo, Maritime Navigation