Acacia C126464

2 min read

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

Vessel Name: ACACIA
Type: Schooner-barge
Dimensions: Length: 102.3 feet (31.2 meters), Beam: 24.2 feet (7.4 meters), Depth: 9.6 feet (2.9 meters)
Tonnage: Gross Tonnage: 215 tons, Net Tonnage: 188.01 tons
Construction: Wood, single deck, square stern, carvel-built hull
Built: 1873, by O’Meara & Co., Smith’s Falls, Ontario
Location of Wreck: Marysville, Wolfe Island, St. Lawrence River
GPS Coordinates: 44°11’39.6″N, 76°26’31.1″W
Depth: 10 feet (3 meters)

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #

The ACACIA was a wooden schooner-barge, a common vessel type used in the Great Lakes and surrounding waterways during the 19th and early 20th centuries. These vessels were typically employed to transport bulk goods such as coal, grain, and other heavy cargo. The ACACIA featured a square stern and a carvel-built hull, where the planks were laid edge to edge, creating a smooth surface. This construction method was favored for its strength and durability, particularly important for vessels operating in the often harsh conditions of the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes.

HISTORY #

The ACACIA, a wooden schooner-barge built in 1873, was a stalwart vessel of 19th-century Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River shipping. Constructed by O’Meara & Co. in Smith’s Falls, Ontario, under the supervision of Master Carpenter Wm. O’Mara, the ACACIA measured 102.3 feet in length and was built to endure the often harsh conditions of the region. With its carvel-built hull, a popular construction method where planks were laid edge to edge for maximum durability, the ACACIA was well-equipped for hauling bulk goods like coal and grain across the waterways of the Great Lakes.

The ACACIA’s ownership changed several times over its operational life, starting with J. Conely and Alfred Oldreive before Conely became sole owner in 1877. By 1878, Alfred Oldreive and partners took over ownership, and in 1888, the vessel underwent a significant rebuild, extending its service life and maintaining its relevance in an evolving maritime industry. This rebuild ensured the ACACIA could continue its work of transporting vital goods across Ontario’s waterways for several more decades.

In 1903, the ACACIA ran aground on the Main Ducks, prompting a distress call and a response from the tug MARY HALL. Fortunately, the vessel was refloated and returned to service. However, the ACACIA’s days as a schooner-barge were numbered, and by 1908, the vessel had foundered and was converted into a barge. Even after its reconstruction, the vessel maintained its dimensions and gross tonnage, continuing to serve in shipping operations under the ownership of Wm. G. Woodman of Wolfe Island, with Kingston as its homeport.

FINAL DISPOSITION #

The ACACIA was officially removed from the Canadian registry in 1938, marking the end of its long service. It is believed to have been abandoned in the shallow waters of Marysville Harbour on Wolfe Island, left to slowly deteriorate in the St. Lawrence River. Today, the wreck of the ACACIA rests in shallow waters at a depth of about 10 feet (3 meters). Divers and historians who explore this site can witness firsthand a piece of the Great Lakes’ maritime past, with the remains offering a glimpse into the life of a vessel that weathered nearly seven decades of shipping.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES #

There are no current Notices to Mariners related to the wreck of the ACACIA.

LOCATED BY & DATE

The ACACIA was abandoned in Marysville Harbour, Wolfe Island, likely in 1938, though the exact discovery date or by whom it was located is not documented.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

The wreck of the ACACIA is presumed to be in a deteriorated state due to its wooden construction and long period of abandonment. It lies in shallow waters, with a depth of approximately 10 feet (3 meters), making it accessible to divers and potentially visible from the surface under good conditions. However, the exact condition of the wreck may vary depending on environmental factors and the degree of sedimentation in the area.