IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The ECHO was a wooden schooner, a common type of sailing vessel in the 19th century, used primarily for transporting goods across the Great Lakes. Schooners like the ECHO were integral to the trade networks that connected the growing cities of the Great Lakes region. These vessels were typically two or three-masted and relied on wind power for propulsion.
HISTORY
The ECHO, a larger schooner than the nearby F. F. Cole, served as a workhorse on Lake Ontario, carrying goods to and from Toronto’s bustling waterfront. These ships were the lifeblood of commerce in the region during the 19th century, playing a crucial role in the transportation of raw materials and finished goods.
As Toronto’s waterfront underwent significant changes and development, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many of these once-proud vessels met a rather undignified end. The ECHO, along with several other ships, was abandoned and ultimately buried during the transformation of the harbor. This process involved extensive dredging, land reclamation, and the construction of modern infrastructure, which covered the remains of these vessels under layers of sand, mud, and urban development.
FINAL DISPOSITION
The final resting place of the ECHO lies beneath what is now a key part of Toronto’s transportation infrastructure. As the city expanded and modernized, the old wharves and slips were filled in with dredged material and clean earth. The schooner ECHO was buried alongside other vessels like the F. F. Cole, the Annie Mulvey, and even the steel cylinder of the Knapp roller boat. These remains are now likely located beneath the railway tracks that freight trains use to bypass Union Station.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES
There are no active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the ECHO, as the vessel is buried under land and is not located in navigable waters.
LOCATED BY & DATE
The ECHO was not specifically located as part of a deliberate search. Its burial was a result of the large-scale urban development and harbor reclamation projects in Toronto during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY
The condition of the ECHO is unknown, as it is buried deep beneath the modern cityscape of Toronto. The vessel is inaccessible for archaeological exploration or diving due to its location beneath railway tracks and other urban infrastructure.
RESOURCES & LINKS
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Great Lakes Ships
- Toronto Telegram 1950
Keywords:
ECHO, buried shipwreck, Toronto waterfront, Lake Ontario schooners, urban development shipwreck, Great Lakes maritime history, lost vessels, schooner ECHO, buried under Toronto, shipwreck under railway tracks.
