False Squaw

The False Squaw is an old motorized wooden boat that was approximately 22 feet in length. The specific details about its construction, such as the builder’s name and the year it was built, are unknown. The boat had a wooden hull and was propelled by a propeller. It had a length of 22 feet and a beam of 6 feet.

The exact date of the boat’s loss and the cause of its sinking are also unknown. However, the wreck of the False Squaw currently lies approximately 600 feet off Clayton’s west end waterfront, submerged in Lake Ontario. The hull of the boat is upright with a slight lean to the port side. It is heavily covered in zebra mussels, indicating that it has been underwater for some time. The boat appears to have been stripped before sinking, as there are no remaining motor, wheel, lights, or metal work on the wreck. However, wooden panels that once supported a windshield are still in place.

The False Squaw received its name from a previous discovery made by members of the Clayton Diving Club in the 1970s. They reported finding an entirely intact 30-foot-long work boat, which they named the Squaw. The wreck had a cabin, wheel, brass fittings, and a motor, and it seemed as if it had recently sunk. However, subsequent attempts to relocate the wreck were unsuccessful, and it became a mystery as it was never found again.

In March 2011, a different wreck was discovered near the supposed location of the Squaw using side scan sonar. This wreck, smaller than the original Squaw, was believed to have been stripped of all fittings before sinking. The divers named this newly discovered wreck the False Squaw. It is speculated that the original Squaw may have been raised or removed from the area, and the False Squaw was left behind or discarded after it became of no use.

The history and specific details of the False Squaw and its connection to the original Squaw remain unclear, as there are no records in local newspapers or archives. The wreck serves as a fascinating and mysterious underwater attraction for divers exploring the waters near Clayton, New York.