IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION: The BONNIE MAGGIE was a wooden propeller-driven freighter designed for transporting goods across the Great Lakes. Built in 1859, the vessel was originally known as BONNIE BOAT and served various ports around Lake Huron. With its moderate size and construction, it was well-suited for coastal and lake trade during the mid-19th century.
HISTORY: The BONNIE MAGGIE, originally built as the BONNIE BOAT, was launched in 1859 by J.M. Keating in Huron, Ohio. The vessel initially served under American ownership but was sold to Canadian owners in 1865. Throughout its service life, the vessel had several owners, including G. McAulay of Southampton, Ontario, Rumball & Parsons of Goderich, J. Detlor of Goderich, and J.G. Thomson of Penetanguishene.
The freighter primarily operated on Lake Huron, connecting with the Great Western Railway at Sarnia. The vessel was also referred to as “Bonnie Margaret” in advertisements, reflecting the varied nomenclature used during that period.
FINAL DISPOSITION: On October 14, 1869, the BONNIE MAGGIE met its tragic end near Kincardine, Ontario. While attempting to enter the harbor during a gale, the vessel’s rudder chain broke, leaving it unable to steer. The ship drifted past the north pier and was subsequently driven ashore by the force of the storm. The violent waves broke the vessel apart, scattering its wreckage along the shoreline.
Fortunately, the passengers and the ship’s log were saved, but the cargo was lost. The BONNIE MAGGIE’s short but eventful career in coastal trade ended with this wreck, and its remains quickly disintegrated under the relentless impact of wind and waves.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES: There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) specifically related to the wreck site of the BONNIE MAGGIE.
LOCATED BY & DATE: The wreckage of the BONNIE MAGGIE was scattered along the beach near Kincardine, Ontario, shortly after the incident. The exact location of its remains is not documented in detailed contemporary records.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Ships
- History Articles from local archives
KEYWORDS: BONNIE MAGGIE, BONNIE BOAT, wooden freighter, Great Lakes shipwreck, Lake Huron, Kincardine, 19th-century maritime history.
CONCLUSION: The story of the BONNIE MAGGIE is a poignant reminder of the perils faced by vessels on the Great Lakes. Although it served for only a decade, its tragic end near Kincardine underscores the challenges of navigating these waters, especially during violent storms. Today, the wreck of the BONNIE MAGGIE remains a part of the rich maritime history of Lake Huron, remembered through the scattered records and accounts of its final voyage.
