IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
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VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The Jesse H. Breck was a three-masted wooden schooner built for the transport of bulk goods such as lumber across the Great Lakes. Measuring 342 feet in length, the schooner was an impressive and substantial vessel, capable of navigating the challenging waters of Lake Ontario. Schooners like the Jesse H. Breck were vital to the maritime industry, carrying essential materials to ports around the Great Lakes region.
HISTORY #
The Jesse H. Breck was constructed in 1873 by Andrews & Son in Port Dalhousie, Ontario, for Breck & Booth of Kingston. With its significant size and sturdy construction, the schooner quickly became an integral part of the Great Lakes maritime trade.
However, on May 17, 1890, the schooner met a tragic end during a journey from Toledo, Ohio, to Garden Island, Ontario. While carrying a load of oak lumber, the Jesse H. Breck encountered a severe storm near Nine-Mile Point on Lake Ontario. Despite the efforts of Captain Thomas Mackie and his crew, the vessel was unable to withstand the relentless storm. The schooner capsized and sank within sight of Captain Mackie’s family home, tragically taking the lives of all eight individuals aboard, including the captain’s three sons and daughter.
Efforts to recover the vessel began shortly after the sinking. On June 1-2, 1890, the Jesse H. Breck was successfully raised and towed to Garden Island. However, the schooner sank again just 100 yards from shore, adding to the challenges faced by the salvage team.
REBIRTH AS THE H.M. STANLEY #
Despite the devastating loss, the story of the Jesse H. Breck did not end with its sinking. In 1892, the vessel was extensively rebuilt and relaunched under the new name H.M. Stanley. The rebuilt schooner, now measuring 132.3 feet in length with a beam of 25.6 feet and a depth of 11.7 feet, found new life under the ownership of George W. Morden from Oakville, Ontario. With a tonnage of 305, the H.M. Stanley continued to serve the maritime industry, symbolizing resilience and renewal.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
The Jesse H. Breck sank near Nine-Mile Point, Lake Ontario, on May 17, 1890, during a violent storm. The vessel was later raised, rebuilt, and relaunched as the H.M. Stanley in 1892. The schooner’s rebirth marked a new chapter in its history, continuing its service on the Great Lakes.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #
The original Jesse H. Breck no longer exists in its initial form, having been rebuilt as the H.M. Stanley. The site of the sinking near Nine-Mile Point remains a point of historical interest, though no significant remains of the vessel are known to exist at the location.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
Jesse H. Breck, H.M. Stanley, schooner, Great Lakes shipwrecks, Nine-Mile Point, Lake Ontario, 1890 storm, maritime history, Port Dalhousie Ontario, Andrews & Son.
