IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The MAPLEGREEN, originally known as the OMAHA, was a large propeller-driven vessel built in 1887 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The vessel had a gross tonnage of 1,251 tons and a net tonnage of 800 tons. It was powered by a 66-horsepower engine and was registered under the official Canadian number 134350. The MAPLEGREEN was owned by Canada Steamship Lines, with its homeport in Montreal, Quebec.
HISTORY #
The vessel, originally named OMAHA, had a dynamic history marked by several maritime incidents. In September 1891, the ship stranded on Gray’s Reef in Lake Huron. Later, on May 12, 1896, it stranded on a reef off Devil’s Island in Lake Michigan. Throughout its service life, the OMAHA changed hands multiple times, being owned by prominent figures and companies such as the John Fitzgerald estate, W.E. Fitzgerald, Sidney O. Neff, Lucy J. Neff, and Henry Russel.
In 1914, the vessel’s U.S. enrollment was surrendered in Ogdensburg, New York, after it was sold to foreign interests. By 1917, it was under the ownership of Canada Steamship Lines and renamed MAPLEGREEN in 1920. The vessel continued to operate under this name until it was abandoned in 1924.
The MAPLEGREEN was eventually removed from service in 1925, dismantled, and scuttled in the waters near Amherst Island, joining other retired vessels in what is now known as the Amherst Island Graveyard.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
The MAPLEGREEN was scuttled as part of the broader disposal of obsolete vessels from Kingston’s harbor in the 1920s. Its remains lie somewhere within the Amherst Island Graveyard, though the exact wreck site is not specifically documented.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #
The current condition of the MAPLEGREEN wreck is unknown due to the lack of precise location data. However, it is part of the Amherst Island Graveyard, which contains several other scuttled vessels. Divers exploring this area may encounter parts of the wreck, but due to the graveyard’s nature, the site may present challenges such as debris and poor visibility.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
- Divehub.ca Dive Site Information: Resource for divers interested in exploring the Amherst Island Graveyard.
- Historical Collections of the Great Lakes (HCGL): Historical data and ship histories, including information on vessels like the MAPLEGREEN.
- Queens University Video Tape Holdings POW Photo Project 1998: Archival footage and photographs documenting the wrecks of the Amherst Island Graveyard.
- Vlada Dekina Photogallery 2002: A photographic collection featuring shipwrecks in Lake Ontario.
KEYWORDS #
- MAPLEGREEN
- OMAHA
- Amherst Island Graveyard
- Kingston Harbour clean-up
- Great Lakes shipwrecks
- Lake Ontario diving
- Scuttled vessels
- Canada Steamship Lines
ANALYSIS #
The MAPLEGREEN represents a common narrative for Great Lakes vessels in the late 19th and early 20th centuries: built for heavy cargo transport, it endured various incidents and ownership changes, ultimately meeting its end in the depths of Lake Ontario. The practice of scuttling such vessels in the Amherst Island Graveyard underscores the evolution of maritime industry practices, where obsolete ships were systematically retired from service.
The MAPLEGREEN’s transition from the OMAHA highlights the shift in ownership and operational purpose that many Great Lakes vessels underwent during their lifetimes. Today, the wreck remains a submerged historical artifact, part of a broader underwater graveyard that serves as a testament to the region’s rich maritime history. The site offers both historical value and exploration opportunities for divers, though its exact location and condition remain elusive.
