Other Names N44 12 78 W76 16 56 #
- Holiday Point Wreck
Hiram A. Calvin: The Ill-Fated Wrecker and Towboat #
The Hiram A. Calvin, a sidewheel steamer, played a significant role as a wrecker and towboat on the St. Lawrence River during the late 19th century. However, its story came to an abrupt and tragic end in a violent storm on December 31, 1895. This vessel, owned by Hiram A. Calvin & Son of Garden Island, Ontario, met its fate in the treacherous waters of Lake Ontario.
A Stormy End for the Sidewheel Steamer Hiram A. Calvin
Built in 1868 by H. Roney at Garden Island as a large river tug, the Hiram A. Calvin boasted impressive dimensions, measuring 144 feet in length, 43 feet in beam, and 10 feet in depth. With a gross tonnage of 309, it served as a reliable vessel for wrecking and towing operations.
On that fateful day in December, a fierce southwesterly storm swept over Lake Ontario, causing chaos and destruction. The Hiram A. Calvin was torn loose from its moorings at Garden Island, near Kingston, Ontario, and was carried down the St. Lawrence River with no one on board. The vessel’s journey took a perilous turn when it struck Ferguson’s Point on Wolfe Island. Although briefly grounded, a subsequent rise in water levels refloated the steamer, allowing it to continue its wild journey.
However, fate had more misfortune in store for the Hiram A. Calvin. Five miles downstream, the vessel found itself stranded on the rocks at Halliday’s Point. The powerful currents and pounding waves eventually pierced the steamer’s bottom planking, causing it to fill with water. The vessel, left battered and wrecked, met its demise.
Fortunately, there were no reported casualties as there was no one aboard the Hiram A. Calvin during its ill-fated journey. The ship’s owner, Hiram A. Calvin & Son, considered it a total loss. The Hiram A. Calvin, with a measurement of 300 gross tons and a value of approximately $6,500, had served as a valuable asset in the wrecking and towing industry on the St. Lawrence River.
Interestingly, there are conflicting reports regarding the final moments of the Hiram A. Calvin. While the storm-induced wrecking incident is the commonly accepted version, there are also accounts suggesting that the vessel was destroyed in an accidental fire at the Calvin shipyard or wrecked by ice. However, the prevailing narrative remains that the vessel was torn loose from its moorings during the storm and ultimately wrecked on the rocks.
The Hiram A. Calvin’s legacy is one of resilience and service. Though its life ended tragically, it will forever be remembered as a sidewheel steamer that braved the treacherous waters of the St. Lawrence River in its quest to assist in wrecks and tow barges.
