IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

•Vessel Name: CITY OF TOLEDO

•Type: Propeller (steam-powered vessel)

•Location: Approximately nine miles below Alexandria Bay, St. Lawrence River, Ontario, Canada

•Date of Incident: October 22, 1877

•GPS Coordinates: Not available

•Depth: Not specified, but within navigable waters of the St. Lawrence River

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The CITY OF TOLEDO was a steam-powered propeller vessel, a hallmark of 19th-century Great Lakes and river navigation. Its design featured a screw propeller, a key innovation that improved efficiency and control compared to earlier Paddlewheel steamers. Such vessels were integral to the movement of bulk goods, including agricultural products like wheat and flour, vital to the economies of the Midwest and eastern seaboard.

HISTORY

The CITY OF TOLEDO served as a vital link in the commercial transport network of its time, traversing the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. On October 22, 1877, it was engaged in transporting a cargo of wheat and flour, most likely bound for export or eastern markets. This cargo indicates the vessel’s role in connecting agricultural production from inland regions to global trade routes.

Disaster struck near Alexandria Bay in the St. Lawrence River, where the CITY OF TOLEDO sank under circumstances that remain unclear. Historical records do not specify the cause, but potential factors include:

•Collision: Common in busy waterways.

•Grounding: Often due to navigational errors in shallower channels.

•Weather: Severe storms frequently claimed vessels in the 19th century.

•Structural Failure: Wooden hulls were prone to weakening over time.

Efforts to assist the vessel were documented, with tugs and a Lighter dispatched to salvage the vessel or its valuable cargo. However, the outcome of these efforts is not well recorded.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The CITY OF TOLEDO was lost to the waters of the St. Lawrence River. While salvage attempts were initiated, the extent of recovery remains unknown. The vessel, along with its cargo, was likely deemed a Total Loss.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) specifically addressing the CITY OF TOLEDO wreck. Given its location in a significant waterway, the wreck would have been noted and likely addressed by subsequent navigation and dredging operations.

LOCATED BY & DATE

The CITY OF TOLEDO’s sinking was widely reported on October 22, 1877, with coverage appearing in regional newspapers, including the Cleveland Herald. Specific details of the wreck’s discovery or coordinates are not provided in the records.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

The current condition of the wreck remains undocumented. Factors influencing its preservation or discovery include:

•Environmental Conditions: River currents and sediment deposition may have buried the wreck.

•Human Activity: Salvage or clearance efforts for navigation could have removed significant portions of the wreck.

The site’s location in a major navigational channel makes it likely that the remains of the CITY OF TOLEDO have been either recovered or heavily degraded over time.

RESOURCES & LINKS

•Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston: Archival information on vessels operating in the St. Lawrence region.

•Archives of Ontario: Historical shipping records, newspaper accounts, and related documentation.

•WreckSite (www.wrecksite.eu): Database for historical shipwrecks, potentially including more details about the CITY OF TOLEDO.

PHOTOS

No known photographs of the CITY OF TOLEDO exist, as the vessel predates widespread photography. Illustrations of similar steam-powered propeller vessels from the era can provide context for its design and appearance.

CONCLUSION

The CITY OF TOLEDO represents a vital chapter in the Maritime History of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. Its role as a transporter of essential goods, coupled with its tragic end, underscores the challenges faced by 19th-century mariners. While its physical remains are shrouded in mystery, the vessel’s story is preserved through historical accounts and records, offering a glimpse into the dynamic and often perilous world of early Great Lakes navigation.

KEYWORDS

•CITY OF TOLEDO

•St. Lawrence River

•Steam-powered propeller vessel

•Great Lakes shipwreck

•19th-century maritime history

•Bulk cargo transport

•Historical salvage efforts