History #
The Alpha was a schooner built in 1861 by John Simpson in Oakville, Ontario. It was constructed using wood and had two masts. The vessel had a length of 116.4 feet, a beam of 24 feet, and a depth of 11.3 feet. It had a tonnage of 343 (old style) and a capacity of 12,000 bushels.
The Alpha was initially owned by W.K. Henderson & Colpoys in Hamilton, Ontario. Over the years, it changed ownership several times. In October 1863, it was owned by E.H. Farquer & Henry Packes in Woodstock, Ontario. In May 1865, ownership transferred to A. Quackenbush in Port Dalhousie, Ontario. Norris & Neelon of Hamilton, Ontario, became the owners in 1866, followed by John Munro in September 1867 and Daniel Pace in May 1868. Thomson & Smith & Son of Toronto, Ontario, acquired the vessel on February 26, 1872.
On August 30, 1872, the Alpha met its tragic end. It was wrecked in a gale, driven ashore, and became a total loss in Oswego Harbor on Lake Ontario. Fortunately, there was no loss of life, as the crew was rescued. The exact cargo the Alpha was carrying at the time of the incident is not specified.
After the wreck, the Alpha was towed into Garden Island for repairs on September 8, 1872. However, its subsequent history is unclear. On January 25, 1873, it was acquired by the Provincial Insurance Co., and on March 6, 1873, it was sold to A. McAdams in London, Ontario. On October 8, 1873, ownership transferred to John Roach, followed by Alexander Fraser on April 4, 1877. The vessel was later transferred to Quebec on June 15, 1877. There are no further records available about the Alpha after this point.
