The scow schooner Laurel was built in 1871 at Oliver’s Ferry, ONT. It was constructed with a wooden hull and had a single deck. The builder of the vessel was Michael O’Mara, and its original owners were Henry Mason and M. O’Mara.
In terms of its specifications, the Laurel had two masts and measured 66.5 feet in length, 15.6 feet in beam, and 5.2 feet in depth. Its gross tonnage was recorded as 54, with a net tonnage of 44.
Tragically, the Laurel met its final fate on August 22, 1876, off Big Sandy Creek, approximately 15 miles from Oswego, in Lake Ontario. The vessel foundered and came to rest at a final depth of 7 fathoms or 42 feet. At the time of the incident, the Laurel was carrying a cargo of 60 tons of iron ore while en route from Kingston, ONT to Fair Haven, NY. The vessel succumbed to a storm, but fortunately, the crew members were rescued by local fishermen.
The ownership of the Laurel changed hands multiple times throughout its history. It was initially owned by James Richardson of Kingston, ONT, starting on September 2, 1871. Subsequently, it came under the ownership of David Lewis of Garden Island, ONT, on April 30, 1872. Henry Radford of Wolfe Island, ONT, took ownership on November 29, 1872, followed by Martin Staley the younger of Wolfe Island on February 18, 1873.
Ultimately, the sinking of the Laurel in Lake Ontario in 1876 marks the end of its maritime journey. It serves as a reminder of the challenging and unpredictable conditions faced by vessels navigating the Great Lakes during the 19th century.
