BLAKELY, MINNIE (1873, Scow Schooner)
Identification & Site Information:
•Vessel Name: BLAKELY, MINNIE
•Year of Build: 1873
Construction and Ownership
•Built at: Port Credit, Ontario
•Vessel Type: Scow Schooner
•Number of Decks: 1
•Builder Name: Alex Blakely
•Original Owner: Sharp & Blakely, Toronto, Ontario
Power and Masts
•Number of Masts: 2
Hull Dimensions
•Length: 92 feet
•Beam: 20.5 feet
•Depth: 6.9 feet
•Tonnage (Gross): 111 tons
Vessel Type
The Minnie Blakely was a wooden scow schooner built in 1873 in Port Credit, Ontario, by Alex Blakely. Scow schooners were flat-bottomed vessels commonly used in the Great Lakes region to transport bulk cargoes such as timber, coal, or grain. Their design allowed them to navigate shallow waters, making them ideal for the Great Lakes and nearby bays.
History
The Minnie Blakely was originally owned by Sharp & Blakely of Toronto and operated as part of the busy trade network on Lake Ontario. The vessel was sold to Wm. Goldthorpe of Toronto by 1878 and continued operating as a cargo schooner.
On September 20, 1881, the Minnie Blakely met its tragic end when it was wrecked near Point Anne in the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario. Unfortunately, all hands aboard the vessel were lost, adding to the tragedy of the shipwreck.
Final Disposition
The Minnie Blakely was wrecked on September 20, 1881, near Point Anne in the Bay of Quinte on Lake Ontario. The circumstances of the wreck are not well documented, but it likely occurred during a storm or due to navigational issues common in the region. The entire crew was lost in the disaster.
Located By & Date
There are no known modern efforts to locate or recover the wreck of the Minnie Blakely. It is assumed that the remains of the vessel lie at the bottom of the Bay of Quinte.
Notmars & Advisories
There are no navigational hazards associated with the wreck of the Minnie Blakely, although the area around the Bay of Quinte has a long history of shipwrecks due to its challenging navigation and shallow waters.
Resources & Links
For further research and context, consider these sources:
•Maritime History of the Great Lakes
The wreck of the Minnie Blakely serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by sailors on the Great Lakes, particularly on smaller vessels like scow schooners that often had
