IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
- Name: Lyman M. Davis
- Type: 2-Masted Schooner
- Location: Humber Bay, Toronto, Ontario
- Coordinates: N 43°36’7″ W 79°25’1″
- Dimensions:
- Length: 135 feet
- Beam: 27.2 feet
- Depth: 9.4 feet
- Gross Tonnage: 224.97 (later remeasured to 195.35)
- Net Tonnage: 185.59
- Depth of Wreck: 123 feet
- Built: 1873, Muskegon, Michigan
- Builder: Unknown, constructed for the Mason Lumber Co.
- Last Known Owner: Henry Haryaw of Kingston, Ontario (as of 1928)
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The Lyman M. Davis was a traditional 2-masted, fore-and-aft rigged schooner, built for the lumber trade on the Great Lakes. It was designed to carry large loads of lumber, with a capacity of up to 250,000 feet. Schooners like the Lyman M. Davis were once the workhorses of the Great Lakes, transporting goods like timber and coal across the vast inland seas.
HISTORY #
The Lyman M. Davis was launched in 1873 at Muskegon, Michigan, primarily for the Mason Lumber Co., with Charles S. Davis serving as the agent. The vessel was originally measured at a gross tonnage of 224.97, with a length of 123 feet. Over the years, it was remeasured and underwent various repairs and modifications, including a significant remeasurement in 1876, which adjusted its tonnage, and the installation of a new foremast in 1883.
Throughout its operational life, the Lyman M. Davis played a significant role in the lumber trade, transporting large quantities of timber across the Great Lakes. In 1913, the schooner was sold to Graham Bros. of Kincardine, Ontario, and later, in 1919, to John A. McCullough and Cephus H. Spencer of Napanee, Ontario, where it transitioned to carrying coal. The vessel remained active in the coal trade, moving cargo between various ports, including Oswego, Fair Haven, Sodus, Kingston, and the Bay of Quinte.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
The schooner met a tragic yet dramatic end on June 29, 1934, when it was intentionally burned as a spectacle in Toronto, Ontario. This event marked the symbolic closure of the commercial schooner era on the Great Lakes. The burning of the Lyman M. Davis was not just the destruction of a vessel but also the end of an era in maritime history. It was the last remaining commercial schooner operating on the Great Lakes, and its demise signified the end of the traditional sail-powered cargo transport in the region.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #
The wreck of the Lyman M. Davis lies in Humber Bay, Toronto, at a depth of 123 feet. The site is a significant historical dive location, though the depth and conditions may require advanced diving experience. The wreckage of the schooner, which was burned as a spectacle, offers a unique glimpse into the past, with remnants of the hull and other structures still visible underwater. Divers exploring the site can reflect on the vessel’s storied history and the broader context of Great Lakes shipping during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
- Warren Lo Photography: Visual documentation of the site and wreck.
- Save Ontario Shipwreck Buoy Status: Information on dive site access and buoy status.
- YouTube Video of a Night Dive: A diver’s perspective of the wreck.
- History – Complete History of the Burning: Detailed historical account of the burning of the Lyman M. Davis and its significance.
