BIRDIE

Type: Schooner

Length: 14.3 m (47 ft)

Beam: 3.4 m (11 ft)

Depth: 0.9 m (3 ft)

Gross Tonnage: 13 tons

Net Tonnage: 12 tons

Location: Hammond Bay, Lake Huron (eastern Straits of Mackinac)

Deaths: None reported

GPS Coordinates: Not available

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Name: Birdie

• Type: Two-masted wooden Schooner

• Purpose: Fishing and general sailing on the Great Lakes

• Home Port: Bronte, Ontario

• Construction Year: 1881 (some records indicate 1878)

• Builder: Sheboygan, Wisconsin

CONSTRUCTION AND OWNERSHIP

The Birdie was built in 1881 (or 1878, according to conflicting reports) in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Measuring 47 feet in length, 11 feet in beam, and 3 feet in depth, it was a modest but capable vessel for its time. The Schooner had a Gross Tonnage of 13 and a Net Tonnage of 12. Its primary role was as a fishing Schooner, serving in Bronte, Ontario, a bustling fishing hub on Lake Ontario.

HISTORY

The Birdie was part of Bronte’s vibrant fishing fleet during the late 19th century. This fleet predominantly consisted of two-masted schooners, often mackinaw-rigged, creating a picturesque scene as their masts lined the harbor piers every Saturday. The Birdie stood as a smaller but integral member of this fleet, symbolizing the era of sailing ships dominating Lake Ontario’s waters.

In 1892, the Birdie met its unfortunate end in Hammond Bay, Lake Huron. A severe storm, occurring on either October 7 or 9, dragged the Schooner ashore. Despite the destruction of the vessel, there were no reported casualties.

FINAL DISPOSITION

Following the wreck, salvage attempts were made, and in November 1892, the Birdie was purchased in hopes of recovery. However, by the following summer, these efforts were Abandoned, and the Birdie was declared lost.

The ship’s legacy lives on as a reminder of Bronte’s rich maritime history and the transition from sail-powered vessels to motorized fishing boats in the early 20th century.

REFERENCES & LINKS

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes

• David Swayze Shipwreck File

• Great Lakes Ships – Bowling Green State University