ONTARIO?

The schooner ONTARIO was built in 1810 in Lewiston, New York, by Porter, Barton & Company. It had a length of 65 feet, a beam of 19 feet, and a depth of 8 feet. The vessel was constructed with wood and had a single deck. It featured two masts and had a tonnage of 87.57 tons according to the old measurement system.

In May 1816, ownership of the ONTARIO was transferred to Hunter, Crane, and others from New York. In 1830, the tonnage of the schooner was changed to 55 tons, and later it was further adjusted to 49 tons according to the old measurement system. The ONTARIO underwent a rebuild in 1834, increasing its tonnage to 64.33 tons.

On April 9, 1834, the ONTARIO was owned by S. Hawley of Oswego. However, on October 20, 1840, the vessel met its unfortunate end when it was wrecked in Conneaut, Ohio, on Lake Erie. As the wreck lies in shallow water and sand, many items have been removed from the site over the years. The centerboards of the schooner can be found on the shore at Long Point, and its anchor is displayed in a yard in Port Rowan, Ontario. Various other items, such as bottles, a stove lid, railroad tongs, and padlocks, have also been taken from the wreck.

The wreck of the ONTARIO is now covered in dense weeds and provides a habitat for large bass. Divers should be cautious of the dense weedy growth during the summer months. Despite the growth, the surface is relatively close, with a depth of only 8 feet.

The ONTARIO experienced damage in a gale on Lake Erie. In a casualty list from January 2, 1854, it was reported that the schooner sustained damage to its cargo of timber, resulting in a property loss of $1,820.