The Stuart H. Dunn: A Great Lakes Legacy of Adaptation and Service

• IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
• •Vessel Name: Stuart H. Dunn (formerly W. R. Taylor)
• •Type: Three-Masted Schooner (later converted to a coal Barge)
• •Year Built: 1877
• •Builder: South Bay, Prince Edward County, Ontario
• •Original Owner: W. R. Taylor
• •Dimensions (Post-Rebuild):
• •Length: 164.8 feet (50.2 meters)
• •Beam: 26.8 feet (8.2 meters)
• •Depth: 12.7 feet (3.9 meters)
• •Gross Tonnage: 458 tons
• •Official Number: C.72964

HISTORY

Construction and Early Years

Built in 1877 near Mill Village, South Bay, Ontario, the W. R. Taylor was one of the largest schooners of its time in Canada. Initially designed for timber droghing, it transported squared oak timbers between Toledo, Ohio, and Garden Island near Kingston, Ontario, a prominent timber hub.

The Schooner was innovative for its time, featuring two centerboards, a rare feature that enhanced stability during cargo operations. Its early years were marked by robust service in the booming timber trade.

Reconstruction and Rechristening

In 1888, the vessel ran ashore but was salvaged and transported to Port Robinson on the Welland Canal for reconstruction. By 1889, it had been Rebuilt, enlarged, and renamed the Stuart H. Dunn, in honor of a member of the Dunn and Company firm that acquired it.

The newly reconstructed Schooner was a majestic vessel, rigged with thirteen sails, including four jibs, a square fore topsail, and a variety of gaff topsails and raffees. Its imposing presence was marked by a Masonic emblem on its Stern, making it a standout on Lake Ontario.

Transition to the Coal Trade

As the timber trade declined, the Stuart H. Dunn transitioned to the coal trade in the early 1900s. It was sold to the Conger Coal Company and became a familiar sight on the Toronto waterfront, often docked at the Toronto Electric Company wharf.

By 1910, the vessel was converted into a coal Barge, its masts and rigging removed, and it became reliant on tugboats such as the Joseph L. Russell. This transition marked its adaptation to changing economic and technological realities.

Later Years and Demise

By the 1920s, the Stuart H. Dunn showed signs of wear after decades of service. In 1920, it Foundered at the Port Dalhousie piers but was salvaged and returned to service. However, by 1924 or 1925, the vessel was retired and left in a Toronto boneyard, alongside other aging ships like the John Rolph and Sophia Minch.

In 1926, during Toronto’s waterfront redevelopment, the Hull was pumped out and towed to a marshy inlet near Whitby, Ontario, where it was Abandoned and eventually scuttled in Lake Ontario, marking the end of its storied career.

SIGNIFICANCE AND LEGACY

The Stuart H. Dunn exemplifies the adaptability and resilience of Great Lakes schooners during a transformative era. From its beginnings as a timber Schooner to its later life as a coal Barge, the vessel reflects the shifting dynamics of Great Lakes commerce.

Its Conversion into a Barge highlights the economic pressures that led to the decline of sailing ships in favor of steam-powered and motorized vessels. Despite these changes, the Stuart H. Dunn served faithfully for nearly five decades, adapting to meet the needs of its owners and the industries it supported.

KEY EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF STUART H. DUNN

•1877: Built as W. R. Taylor in Prince Edward County, Ontario.

•1888: Ran ashore, salvaged, and sent to Port Robinson for reconstruction.

•1889: Rebuilt, enlarged, and renamed Stuart H. Dunn.

•1890s: Transported squared oak timbers between Toledo and Garden Island.

•Early 1900s: Transitioned to coal trade under Conger Coal Company.

•1910: Converted into a coal Barge, dependent on tugboats.

•1920: Foundered at Port Dalhousie, salvaged and returned to service.

•1924–1925: Retired and Abandoned in a Toronto boneyard.

•1926: Towed to Whitby, scuttled in Lake Ontario.

FINAL RESTING PLACE

•Location: Marshy inlet near Whitby, Ontario, later scuttled in Lake Ontario.

•Current Condition: Likely remains submerged as part of the lakebed, a relic of Great Lakes maritime history.

LEGACY

The Stuart H. Dunn remains a symbol of the industrious spirit of the Great Lakes shipping era. Its transformation from a proud three-masted Schooner to a utilitarian coal Barge reflects the region’s economic evolution. The vessel’s story continues to captivate maritime historians and serves as a reminder of the adaptability and endurance of wooden ships in an age of industrial progress.

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