1961 Wreck Removal in Midland Bay

1961 Wreck Removal in Midland Bay: Clearing the Maritime Past

In 1961, a significant maritime cleanup effort took place along the northeast shore of Midland Bay in Ontario, offering not just environmental improvements but also winter employment for local residents. Waubaushene Navigation Ltd. secured the contract in December 1960 to remove numerous old shipwrecks scattered across the bay, with operations commencing in February 1961. This project became an essential winter initiative, providing work for district breadwinners like Mel and Paul Tinney and Barney Tucker, who were instrumental in cutting through the ice to facilitate the removal of these historical hulks.

The Scope of the Operation

By mid-operation, six hulls had been successfully removed, with three or four more still submerged in the icy waters. A particularly puzzling situation arose on Midland Point, where officials were unsure whether they were dealing with one large hull broken in half or two separate wrecks. This uncertainty highlighted the challenges of identifying and cataloging these decaying maritime relics, many of which had been submerged for decades, blending into the lakebed.

The Major Undertaking: The Old “Major”

The most formidable task of the entire operation was the removal of the old “Major,” an obsolete grain carrier that stretched far out into the water north of the Canada Steamship Lines (CSL) winter berth. The Major had an intriguing history, having been sunk and repurposed as a temporary dry dock in its later years, a testament to the ingenuity of earlier mariners who adapted retired vessels for practical uses. Its size and positioning made it the most challenging wreck to dismantle and extract from the bay.

Gawley’s Beach and Beyond

The removal efforts were concentrated around Gawley’s Beach, where various wrecks dotted the underwater landscape. To the west of the beach, the remains of a dredge, a tug, and a scow were cleared. Moving farther east, crews extracted two dredge scows and another tug. However, one large hull, believed to be from an old sailing vessel, remained submerged, possibly due to the complexity of the removal or its historical significance.

Unearthing Maritime History

The wreck removal wasn’t just a practical endeavor; it also unearthed tangible pieces of maritime history. Among the relics discovered were copper pegs and spikes with brass cores, construction materials likely unused in shipbuilding for nearly a century. These artifacts hinted at the age of some of the vessels and the early techniques employed in their construction. The discovery of such materials provided a direct link to the region’s shipbuilding past, sparking interest in the historical value of these submerged vessels.

Economic and Environmental Impact

The project had a dual benefit: it provided much-needed employment during the winter months and cleared navigational hazards from Midland Bay. The removal of old hulls improved safety for modern vessels and enhanced the aesthetic and ecological health of the bay, which had long been cluttered with the remains of the Great Lakes’ bustling maritime past.

Conclusion

The 1961 wreck removal in Midland Bay was more than just a cleanup operation; it was a bridge between the region’s rich maritime history and its evolving future. The efforts of Waubaushene Navigation Ltd. and local workers not only cleared physical remnants of the past but also uncovered historical artifacts that provided insight into Great Lakes shipbuilding from a bygone era. While many of these wrecks were dismantled and removed, their stories linger in the historical fabric of Midland Bay and the Great Lakes maritime heritage.

Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

• Keywords: Midland Bay wreck removal, Waubaushene Navigation Ltd., old grain carrier Major, Gawley’s Beach shipwrecks, Great Lakes maritime cleanup, copper pegs shipbuilding artifacts
• Categories: Lake Huron Maritime History, Midland Bay Shipwrecks, Wreck Removal Projects, 1960s Great Lakes Maritime Activities, Historical Shipbuilding Artifacts
• Glossary Terms:
• Scow: A flat-bottomed boat used for transporting bulk materials, often found in dredging operations.
• Dredge: A vessel equipped to remove sediment from the bottom of bodies of water, often used to maintain or deepen waterways.
• Dry Dock: A structure used for the construction, maintenance, and repair of ships, typically involving a water-tight enclosure from which water can be drained.