Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Glendora
- Type: Unidentified Steamer Wreck
- Year Built: 1882
- Builder: Kingston, Ontario
- Dimensions: ~166 ft (50.6 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Depth at Wreck Site: 23 m / 75 ft
- Location: Near Amherst Island
- Coordinates: N 44° 08.558′ W 76° 38.052′
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Likely a mid-sized steam-driven wooden-hulled freighter or scow steamer, common to late 19th-century Lake Ontario; hull structure remains intact with accessible holds.
Description
Hull: Wooden, well-preserved exterior; bow heavily damaged during scuttling.
Propulsion: Large stern-mounted propeller and intact rudder visible.
Internal Features: Multiple holds offer easy below-deck access; interior appears navigable for intermediate divers.
History
1882–1887: Active as Kingston-built steamer; details of routes or cargo undocumented.
1887: Sank November 19; later salvaged and laid up in Kingston.
Post-salvage, hull stripped and repurposed for scuttling; final act in 1925 as part of harbor clear-out.
Significant Incidents
- Scuttled by dynamite/towing during winter storm, along with ~12 other vessels, to rid Kingston harbor of derelicts in 1925.
- Bow intended to be irreversibly destroyed; rest positioned upright deliberately.
Final Disposition
Scuttled in 1925 as part of a harbor clearance project, contributing to Kingston’s maritime history.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Long known and regularly dived since late 1980s; condition is upright, intact hull; interior well-lit in clean water; maximum depth ~80 ft.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”glendora” title=”References & Links”]
The Glendora wreck is a remarkably intact, accessible steam-era wooden vessel, ideal for intermediate divers and historians. Despite its unknown identity, it offers a unique glimpse into Kingston’s maritime past and harbor cleanup efforts. Further archival work focusing on 1882 Kingston-built steamers and 1925 scuttling logs can potentially unveil its true identity.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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