IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION:
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The Erie Belle was a three-masted wooden schooner, built in 1873 at Port Burwell, Ontario. She was constructed as a “full canal size” vessel, specifically designed to navigate the Welland Canal. Initially, the schooner was a prominent figure in the Great Lakes shipping industry, transporting coal, grain, and other goods between ports. The Erie Belle featured a single deck and was known for her impressive rigging, including five jibs and a square yard, which made her one of the last square-rigged vessels on the Great Lakes. Over the years, her appearance and condition deteriorated, and she eventually became a workhorse for less profitable trades.
HISTORY #
The Erie Belle was launched on July 15, 1873, in Port Burwell, Ontario, and began her service as a cargo vessel on the Great Lakes. In her early years, she was involved in various incidents, including damaging the gates of the Welland Canal in May 1874 and running ashore at Port Colborne in October 1875. Despite these setbacks, she continued to operate under different owners, including J. McLeod of Kincardine, Ontario, and later Donald Manson of Port Hope, Ontario, who acquired her in September 1883.
In 1880, the Erie Belle was rebuilt, possibly to extend her operational life. However, she continued to face challenges, such as going ashore during a gale at Lion’s Head in Georgian Bay in 1883 and a boiler explosion in Kincardine later that year, which resulted in the loss of four lives.
By the early 20th century, the Erie Belle was no longer profitable in the coal trade, and her condition had significantly declined. She was hidden from authorities in Erie County, New York, between 1908 and 1924 to avoid confiscation due to unpaid debts. During this time, she was raised from Chippewa Creek and refitted in Toronto, Ontario, but her days of active service were numbered.
In 1924, after years of service and numerous misfortunes, the Erie Belle sank near the Eastern Gap in Toronto Harbor, marking the end of her storied career on the Great Lakes.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
The Erie Belle met her final fate in 1924 when she sank near the Eastern Gap in Toronto Harbor, Lake Ontario. The exact circumstances of her sinking remain unclear, but it is likely that her deteriorating condition and years of hard service contributed to her demise.
LOCATED BY & DATE #
The wreck of the Erie Belle was known to have sunk in 1924 near the Eastern Gap in Toronto Harbor. The site is accessible to divers and has been documented in various historical records and databases.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES #
There are no specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) directly related to the Erie Belle wreck site. However, divers and explorers should consult the latest navigational advisories when exploring the area near the Eastern Gap in Toronto Harbor.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
- Great Lakes Maritime History: Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- 3D Shipwrecks: 3dshipwrecks.org
- Great Lakes Ships Database: Great Lakes Ships
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- USACE Content DM
- Save Ontario Shipwrecks: Save Ontario Shipwrecks
- Detroit Mercy Archives: University of Detroit – Mercy Archives
- Ship Photos: Ship Photos
- Library and Archives Canada: Library Archives Canada
- Library of Congress: Library of Congress
- York University Digital Library: York University Archives
CONCLUSION #
The Erie Belle represents the end of an era for square-rigged schooners on the Great Lakes. Her story is one of resilience and perseverance, despite the numerous challenges she faced throughout her service life. From her early days as a proud and pristine schooner to her final years as a weathered workhorse, the Erie Belle embodies the spirit of maritime history on the Great Lakes. Her sinking near the Eastern Gap in 1924 marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in Canadian maritime history.
KEYWORDS #
Erie Belle, Schooner, Lake Ontario, Toronto Harbor, Shipwreck, Canadian Maritime History, Great Lakes, 19th Century Shipping, Donald Manson, Port Burwell, Square-rigged Vessel
