IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION:
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The W. T. ROBB was a timber tugboat built in 1864 at Stromness by George Hardison for Senator McCallum. Originally designed for towing massive rafts of timber from Lake Erie to Quebec, the W. T. ROBB was a powerful vessel of her time. Over the years, she underwent various transformations, including the addition of an upper deck and cabins, which some accounts suggest were added for troop accommodation during the Fenian Raids. Despite these changes, the vessel retained her robust build, characteristic of timber tugs of the era, with a carvel wood hull and a deep draught suited to her heavy towing duties.
HISTORY #
The W. T. ROBB had a storied career that began in the mid-19th century. Built in 1864, she quickly became involved in Canada’s defense during the Fenian Raids of 1866. Armed with a nine-pounder field gun mounted on her bow, the W. T. ROBB patrolled the Welland River, protecting Canada’s shores from potential invasion.
Following her service in the raids, the W. T. ROBB returned to the timber trade under the ownership of Capt. Wm. Hall, who used her to tow large schooners like the John Bently and the Marquis, laden with timber and other goods. As the timber industry waned, so did the tug’s usefulness in that role.
In 1891, after her engines were removed and repurposed for another vessel, the W. T. ROBB was beached at Victoria Park in Toronto. Alderman Tom Davies had the idea to use the hull of the W. T. ROBB as a groyne, a structure designed to protect the park’s pier from the damaging effects of storms and ice. For many years, the W. T. ROBB served this purpose, her hulking frame providing some measure of protection to the pier.
The W. T. ROBB became a local landmark at Victoria Park, especially for the many Sunday school children who visited the park for picnics. Her white walls became a canvas for generations of children to inscribe their names, and the tug became an integral part of the park’s identity.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
Over the decades, as Victoria Park’s popularity waned and the pier fell into disrepair, the W. T. ROBB slowly disintegrated. Beachcombers and the elements took their toll, reducing the once mighty tug to a few scattered timbers, now barely recognizable as the proud vessel she once was. Today, only a few of her ribs and the stern-bearing remain, buried in the sand near Toronto’s new waterworks system.
LOCATED BY & DATE #
The remnants of the W. T. ROBB have been known to local historians and residents for decades. They are located a few yards from shore near Silverbirch Avenue, east of the Toronto waterworks system. The site has not been extensively documented by modern divers or researchers, but it remains a point of interest for those familiar with Toronto’s maritime history.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES #
There are no specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the wreck of the W. T. ROBB. However, the area around Silverbirch Avenue should be approached with caution, especially by small craft, as submerged timbers and remnants of the wreck could pose a hazard.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Toronto Marine Historical Society
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Research
Conclusion #
The W. T. ROBB represents a significant piece of Toronto’s maritime history, from her days as a timber tug and defender during the Fenian Raids to her final role as a protector of Victoria Park’s pier. Although little remains of her today, the story of the W. T. ROBB is a testament to the adaptability and resilience of Great Lakes vessels, as well as the communities they served.
Keywords #
W. T. ROBB, Timber Tugboat, Fenian Raid, Victoria Park, Toronto, Lake Ontario Shipwreck, Great Lakes Maritime History, Groyne, 19th Century Tug, Canadian Maritime Defense.
