Identification & Site Information

• Name: ATHENA
• Other Names: None reported
• Official Number: C100398
• Date Built and Launched: 1894
• Builder: William Johnson, Hamilton, Ontario
• Original Owners: McDonald & Clendenning
• Home port: Hamilton, Ontario
• Vessel Type: Wooden propeller launch (a small steam-powered vessel, likely used for passenger transport or local freight)
• Hull Materials: Wood
• Number of Decks: 1
• Power: Steam propulsion (propeller-driven)
• Measurements:
• Length: 58 ft (17.7 m)
• Beam: 10 ft (3.0 m)
• Depth: 6 ft (1.8 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 18 tons
• Net Tonnage: 12 tons
• Primary Function: Likely passenger or light freight transport around Hamilton Harbour

Vessel Type

The ATHENA was a small wooden steam launch, designed for short-distance transportation around Lake Ontario and Hamilton Harbour. Steam launches like the ATHENA were commonly used for ferrying passengers, mail, and small cargo loads between local ports, islands, and rivers. Given its small size, it was likely used for harbour transport, private chartering, or as a support vessel for a larger operation.

The ATHENA had a very short service life, lasting only three years before being destroyed by fire in 1897.

Key Events in the Vessel’s History:

• 1894: Built by William Johnson in Hamilton, Ontario.
• 1894-1897: Operated in Hamilton Harbour and surrounding areas, owned by McDonald & Clendenning.
• August 27, 1897: Destroyed by fire at Hamilton Wharf, Lake Ontario.

Final Disposition

The ATHENA was lost on August 27, 1897, after being burned at Hamilton Wharf during a fire that originated on the nearby Steamer ACACIA.

The Disaster

• The fire started on the larger Steamer ACACIA while both vessels were docked at Hamilton Wharf.
• Flames quickly spread to the nearby ATHENA, which caught fire and was destroyed.
• Due to the wooden Hull and presence of flammable materials, the vessel was likely beyond saving within minutes.
• Uncertain loss of life—records do not specify casualties, but no major loss of life was reported in newspapers of the time.

Given that dockside fires were common in the late 19th century, this incident was likely one of many similar harbour disasters.

Located By & Date Found

• Nil return. There are no confirmed reports of the ATHENA‘s wreck being discovered or documented, as it was likely destroyed completely in the fire.
• If any remains exist, they are likely buried under modern dock structures or submerged debris in Hamilton Harbour.

William Johnson – Shipbuilder, Hamilton, Ontario

William Johnson was a shipbuilder based in Hamilton, Ontario, known for constructing wooden steam-powered vessels during the late 19th century. While limited historical records exist on his shipbuilding career, he is notably credited with building the small steam propeller launch ATHENA in 1894.

Known Vessel Constructed by William Johnson

• ATHENA (1894) – Wooden Propeller Launch
• Length: 58 ft (17.7 m)
• Beam: 10 ft (3.0 m)
• Depth: 6 ft (1.8 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 18 tons
• Net Tonnage: 12 tons
• Owners: McDonald & Clendenning, Hamilton, Ontario
• Destroyed by Fire: August 27, 1897, Hamilton Wharf, Lake Ontario

Hamilton, Ontario – A Shipbuilding Hub

During the late 19th century, Hamilton was an important industrial and maritime city along Lake Ontario, known for:

• Building small coastal vessels (steam launches, tugs, and schooners)
• Supporting Great Lakes shipping with repair yards and supply depots
• Harbour transport & Ferry operations

Shipbuilders like William Johnson focused on local shipbuilding projects, producing small but vital vessels for transport, industry, and commerce.

Further Research & Records

• Hamilton historical archives and shipbuilding records
• Local newspapers from the 1890s (Hamilton Spectator, Toronto Globe)Historical Databases:
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The ATHENA was a small but useful steam launch, serving only three years before being lost in a dockside fire. Its destruction at Hamilton Wharf, caused by a fire on the Steamer ACACIA, is a reminder of how vulnerable wooden vessels were to flames—especially in busy harbour settings where multiple ships were docked in close proximity.