IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
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VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The O.V. Brainard was a two-masted wooden schooner built in 1848 in Sacket’s Harbor, New York. Schooners like the O.V. Brainard were essential to the bustling trade on the Great Lakes, transporting a wide range of goods between ports. With a modest tonnage and sturdy construction, the vessel was well-suited for the often turbulent waters of Lake Ontario.
HISTORY #
The O.V. Brainard began its service in 1848, contributing to the commerce and trade that were vital to the economy of the Great Lakes region. However, the schooner’s life was fraught with peril, beginning with a devastating fire in 1851. During a severe gale on Lake Ontario, the schooner caught fire, and the crew was forced to run it aground on Long Point to save their lives. The fire consumed the vessel, resulting in a significant property loss of $6,500.
Despite this catastrophe, the O.V. Brainard was rebuilt in 1852 with an increased tonnage of 114 gross tons, allowing it to resume its role in lake commerce. The schooner passed through various owners, including Read & Stone, N. Golding, and eventually M. Golding of Oswego. The vessel’s resilience was tested again in November 1860 when it ran aground in Oakville, Canada West. Although it was refloated, this incident underscored the inherent risks of navigating the Great Lakes.
The final chapter in the O.V. Brainard‘s story came in October 1866. The schooner was caught in a fierce storm on Lake Ontario near Port Hope, Ontario. The vessel was wrecked and lost to the storm, marking the end of its troubled journey on the Great Lakes. The O.V. Brainard‘s tragic fate highlights the relentless dangers faced by sailors and vessels during this era, as they contended with the unpredictable forces of nature.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
The O.V. Brainard was wrecked and lost near Port Hope, Ontario, in October 1866 during a violent storm. The schooner’s remains are believed to be scattered along the lakebed, another casualty of the treacherous waters of Lake Ontario.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #
The remains of the O.V. Brainard have not been extensively documented, and no significant portions of the vessel are known to exist today. The site near Port Hope, Ontario, where the schooner met its end, is a part of the region’s rich maritime history.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
PUBLIC DOMAIN PICTURES #
- No public domain pictures available.
O.V. Brainard, schooner, Lake Ontario shipwrecks, Sacket’s Harbor New York, Long Point, Port Hope Ontario, 1851 fire, 1866 storm, maritime history, Great Lakes.
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