Site Description #
- Schooner
- 10ffw 3m Depths
- 90ft Lengths
- Pt. Pennsylvania, Lake Ontario
- N 44 00′ 30.39
W -76 17′ 11.94
History #
In the annals of maritime history, the schooner MINERVA COOK stands as a somber testament to the unpredictable and often treacherous nature of the waters that cradle it. Built in the year 1840 at Garden Island, Ontario, this wooden vessel embarked on a tumultuous journey that would be marked by collisions, sinkings, and mishaps.
Constructed by shipbuilder Lewis Goler, the MINERVA COOK was born on the shores of Garden Island with a mission to navigate the waters of Lake Ontario and beyond. It was a vessel of significance, not only for its role as a conveyance of goods but also for the misadventures that would come to define its existence.
Owned by Calvin, Cook & Company, the schooner was built with care and craftsmanship, featuring a single deck, two masts, and a length of 88.7 feet. With a beam of 18.1 feet and a depth of 9.4 feet, its dimensions reflected a capacity of 137 tons by the old-style tonnage measurement.
Yet, from the early years of its service, the MINERVA COOK found itself ensnared in a series of unfortunate incidents. In 1851, it encountered its maiden mishap when it sank off Long Point, Lake Ontario, following a collision with the bark CLAYTON. The vessel met a total loss, and the property loss amounted to $3,300—a stark reminder of the perils that awaited mariners on the lake.
Undeterred by its early misfortune, the MINERVA COOK was rebuilt in 1854, its tonnage increased to 170 tons. However, the cycle of calamity persisted. In 1858, the vessel once again collided with the bark CLAYTON., resulting in its sinking off Long Point. The bark seemed to hold a fateful connection to the Minerva Cook’s history.
Transferred into the ownership of Calvin & Breck in 1863, the vessel’s hardships continued. It capsized off South Bay Point, Lake Ontario, in September of that year, further entrenching its reputation as a bearer of ill luck.
Ownership changed hands once more, this time to John Frazer of Kingston, Ontario, in 1865. Unfortunately, the vessel’s trajectory did not shift towards brighter waters. It ran aground in Sodus, New York, while carrying a cargo of lumber—a testament to the persistent challenges that marked its existence.
Collisions seemed to be a recurring theme for the MINERVA COOK. In October 1866, it suffered damage in yet another collision, this time with the schooner E. MASTERS at Mill Point. The vessel’s misadventures unfolded like a tragic saga, each chapter riddled with mishaps and misfortune.
Ultimately, the MINERVA COOK met its final fate in November 1868, when it was wrecked in Lake Ontario. The exact circumstances of its demise remain shrouded in mystery, but its end marked the conclusion of a troubled journey that spanned decades.
The schooner MINERVA COOK, once built with aspirations of navigating the vast expanse of Lake Ontario, had become a vessel haunted by collisions, sinking, and a seemingly unending cycle of misfortune. Its history serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by sailors and vessels on the unpredictable waters of the Great Lakes.
As the waves of Lake Ontario continue to whisper the stories of vessels lost and battles fought against nature’s whims, the MINERVA COOK stands as a poignant example of the trials and tribulations endured by those who dared to conquer the waters of the St. Lawrence River.
Drone flyover of the Minerva Cook schooner which sank off the Isthmus in Chaumont, NY. The wreck is very shallow and can be snorkeled from shore. As you can see in the video it’s not a very far swim to get to it from the road and given the shallow water and gravel bar to the East it’s an easy opportunity to see one of Lake Ontario’s historic sailing ships up close.
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