Gordon Jerry: A Scow Schooner’s Journey
The Gordon Jerry wasn’t your ordinary vessel. Originally built in 1884 at Ruscom River, Ontario, this scow schooner began its life atop the remnants of an older ship, the Grace Amelia (built in 1874). Crafted by Jerry Duprey and owned by Emily Duprey, the Gordon Jerry was a two-masted schooner designed to handle the rigors of the Great Lakes. But her story, like many schooners of her time, would end not in glory, but in flames.
Building a Scow Schooner: The Gordon Jerry
The Gordon Jerry was constructed with wood, as most vessels of the time were, and measured 102 feet in length with a beam of 24.7 feet and a depth of 6.1 feet. The ship’s design, a scow schooner, was particularly practical for carrying heavy loads of bulk cargo, such as coal and salt. Scows were known for their flat-bottomed design, allowing them to operate in shallow waters while maximizing cargo space.
Interestingly, the Gordon Jerry was built upon the bottom of the Grace Amelia, a vessel that had been constructed a decade earlier. This was a common practice at the time, as shipbuilders often salvaged and repurposed materials from older ships to reduce costs and build faster. The Gordon Jerry emerged from these humble beginnings to become a workhorse of the Great Lakes.
From Sail to Steam
While the Gordon Jerry began her life as a typical two-masted schooner, she underwent a significant transformation just a few years later. In 1889, she was rebuilt as a steamer, receiving a 14×14-inch horsepower engine from Ronald & Co. of Chatham, Ontario. This upgrade modernized the vessel, allowing it to operate more efficiently in the expanding coal trade of the Great Lakes.
With her steam engine in place, the Gordon Jerry regularly plied the waters between Cleveland, Ohio, and Chatham, Ontario, carrying coal and salt—two of the most vital commodities of the time. The Great Lakes had become the highways of commerce for these goods, and the Gordon Jerry played an important role in the network of ships that moved supplies across the region.
Perils of the Great Lakes
The Great Lakes were treacherous, and many vessels, including the Gordon Jerry, met with unfortunate incidents. In the fall of 1905, the vessel ran into serious trouble and was stranded and abandoned on Lake Ontario. It’s not uncommon for ships of that era to be left to the mercy of the elements when repairs were too costly or the risk too high to save them.
But the Gordon Jerry wasn’t quite done yet. Despite being abandoned, she was recovered or repaired enough to continue service for a short time. But her fate was sealed just a year later.
A Fiery End at Ward Island
On October 10, 1906, the Gordon Jerry met her tragic end. The ship caught fire and was destroyed in Toronto Harbor, near Ward Island. Like many wooden vessels of the time, fire was an ever-present danger. The combination of wood construction, coal cargo, and a steam engine often created the perfect storm for disaster.
Though no detailed accounts survive of how the fire started, it was not uncommon for fires to break out due to engine malfunctions, sparks from the boilers, or mishandling of flammable cargo. The Gordon Jerry, engulfed in flames, was lost to Lake Ontario. Her registry was officially closed on December 26, 1911, marking the end of her official existence.
Spike’s Take: The Jerry Got Burned
Spike, the self-proclaimed maritime guru, would have had a few chuckles about the Gordon Jerry’s fiery demise. “Ah, the poor old Gordon Jerry. Built on the bones of an older ship and then roasted like a Sunday dinner. That’s one way to go out—making sure everyone remembers your exit in a blaze of glory. I always say, if you’re going to sink, might as well do it with some flair!”
Spike would be right. After years of hard work on the Great Lakes, moving coal, salt, and other goods, the Gordon Jerry didn’t slip quietly into the depths like many others. She made sure to go out in a fiery spectacle.
Legacy of the Gordon Jerry
The Gordon Jerry was not a famous ship, nor did she play a role in any grand events or battles. But she was representative of the thousands of vessels that kept the economy of the Great Lakes region moving during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Vessels like the Gordon Jerry were the unsung heroes of maritime commerce, quietly carrying the goods that fueled industry and development in the region.
Her final resting place near Ward Island is now part of the rich maritime history of Toronto Harbor. Like many vessels of her time, the Gordon Jerry served her purpose, faced her challenges, and met an end that was both dramatic and final.
In Conclusion
The Gordon Jerry, a scow schooner turned steamer, lived a life marked by hard work and eventual tragedy. From her humble construction on the bones of another ship to her fiery end in Lake Ontario, she tells a story of the perilous life of wooden vessels on the Great Lakes. Today, her legacy is a reminder of the thousands of ships that once crisscrossed the lakes, facing both triumph and disaster in their wake.
