WATERLILY C94923 (K.P.H.)

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #

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VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #

The Water Lily was originally launched on October 11, 1870, from Brewer’s Mills near Kingston, Ontario. It began its service as a small but robust steambarge on the Great Lakes, primarily operating between the Rideau Canal, Ottawa River, and Lake Ontario. Designed for cargo transport, it primarily carried lumber, railway ties, peas, apples, and general merchandise across these waterways. Its original owners, Fraser & George of Kingston, quickly sold the vessel to George Davidson in 1871.

Throughout the 1870s and 1880s, the Water Lily was a familiar name in shipping news, regularly seen on the Rideau Canal, delivering goods to various ports. The vessel encountered several challenges during its service, including a number of accidents and sinkings. It was notably raised and repaired after sinking in the Rideau Canal in 1887. In another incident, a deckhand was killed in 1886 when a pile of ties fell on him during a stop in Ottawa. Despite these hardships, the vessel continued to be a workhorse of the inland shipping industry for many years.

In 1891, the Water Lily underwent its first major rebuild under the ownership of A.W. Hepburn of Picton, Ontario. This overhaul saw significant modifications to the vessel’s hull and superstructure, and it continued to be active in various cargo trades. By 1905, the vessel was owned by Ontario & Quebec Navigation Company, eventually coming under the control of Canadian Steamship Lines (CSL) in 1914. It was shortened to 97 feet during another rebuild in 1916, after which it continued operations for a few more years.

By 1920, the vessel was rebuilt again in Picton, extending its life further. However, the vessel’s service came to an end in the 1930s when it was abandoned and later removed from the registry in 1938. It is at this point that the story of the Water Lily transitions from active service to its final chapter.

Scuttling of the Water Lily Behind the Kingston Psychiatric Hospital (KPH) #

Following its removal from active service, the Water Lily was scuttled in a hole behind the Kingston Psychiatric Hospital (KPH), marking the end of its operational life. This area behind the KPH, located on the shores of Lake Ontario, was used as a scuttling ground for vessels that had reached the end of their usefulness, and the Water Lily was no exception.

The “hole” behind KPH was a known dumping site for scuttled vessels during this period. The reasons for scuttling ships here varied—sometimes to dispose of old vessels that were no longer seaworthy or economically viable, and other times to create breakwaters or even temporary shelters from strong winds and storms. The Water Lily was likely scuttled in this location because of its proximity to Kingston and its historical ties to the area.

There are historical records suggesting that other vessels shared a similar fate in the waters around Kingston during the early to mid-20th century. The scuttling of the Water Lily in this location was done deliberately, with the vessel likely stripped of any valuable parts before being towed to its final resting place.

While the exact date of scuttling is unclear, it was likely around the same time the vessel was officially removed from the Canadian registry in 1938. Local maritime historians have suggested that the vessel’s final resting place, along with other scuttled ships, has created an artificial underwater feature that attracts both historians and divers.

Final Disposition #

The scuttling of the Water Lily marked the end of nearly seven decades of service on the Great Lakes and surrounding waterways. After being broken up and stripped for parts, it was sunk in the designated scuttling area near KPH, a site that has since become of interest to maritime historians and divers in the Kingston region.

While not a prominent wreck site today, the vessel’s remains contribute to the rich tapestry of Kingston’s maritime history. It stands as a testament to the life cycle of many Great Lakes vessels, which served for decades before being retired, broken up, and scuttled when they were no longer of use.

Modern Significance #

The site behind the Kingston Psychiatric Hospital where the Water Lily was scuttled has become somewhat of a local legend among divers and historians. Though not as celebrated as other shipwrecks in the Kingston area, the vessel’s final resting place is part of a larger narrative about the region’s shipping industry and the eventual fate of the workhorses of the Great Lakes.

This site, with multiple sunken vessels, has drawn interest from divers who explore the remnants of the past, though the Water Lily itself remains a more obscure wreck compared to more famous wrecks in the region. Nevertheless, it is a part of Kingston’s maritime heritage and remains an intriguing piece of local history.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES #

There are no specific Notices to Mariners currently issued for this wreck, but divers should exercise caution due to potential structural instability and entanglement risks from the wreck’s remains.

LOCATED BY & DATE #

The site of the WATERLILY’s scuttling was identified by Capt. Henderson in an article published in the Jib-Jams MMGLK Newsletter in the 1990s, providing key details about the vessel’s final location behind KPH.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #

The wreck of the WATERLILY lies in 65 feet of water, making it accessible to divers with moderate experience. The wooden hull has deteriorated over time, but the site remains of significant historical interest. Divers exploring the wreck can observe the remains of the vessel, offering a glimpse into the maritime history of Lake Ontario.

RESOURCES & LINKS #

1. Maritime History of the Great Lakes – WATERLILY: Maritime History of the Great Lakes
2. Wrecksite Database – WATERLILY: Wrecksite Database
3. Great Lakes Shipwreck Research: Great Lakes Shipwreck Research
4. The Archaeology of Watercraft Abandonment: Watercraft Abandonment

Conclusion #

The Water Lily began its life in 1870 as a steambarge built for the bustling inland trade routes of the Great Lakes. Over the course of nearly seven decades, the vessel was rebuilt multiple times, changing hands and roles, but always remaining a critical link in the transportation network of Ontario’s waterways. Its final scuttling behind the Kingston Psychiatric Hospital was a common end for many vessels of its era, yet it remains a quiet but important chapter in the maritime history of Kingston and the Great Lakes.

Keywords: #

Water Lily, Steambarge, Kingston Psychiatric Hospital, KPH, Great Lakes, Scuttled Ship, Marine History, Shipwreck, Scuttling, Kingston