IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The Alpha was a wooden schooner built in 1861, designed primarily for cargo transport. With two masts and a capacity of 12,000 bushels, the vessel was well-suited for carrying bulk goods such as grain across the Great Lakes. The schooner’s dimensions and tonnage reflected the typical design for vessels of its type during the mid-19th century, balancing cargo capacity with maneuverability.
HISTORY #
The Alpha had a dynamic and eventful history, marked by multiple changes in ownership and a final tragic wreck. The schooner was originally owned by W.K. Henderson & Colpoys in Hamilton, Ontario, and subsequently passed through the hands of several owners over the years:
- October 1863: Owned by E.H. Farquer & Henry Packes in Woodstock, Ontario.
- May 1865: Transferred to A. Quackenbush in Port Dalhousie, Ontario.
- 1866: Acquired by Norris & Neelon of Hamilton, Ontario.
- September 1867: Ownership changed to John Munro.
- May 1868: Owned by Daniel Pace.
- February 26, 1872: Thomson & Smith & Son of Toronto, Ontario, became the owners.
The Alpha’s operational life came to a dramatic end on August 30, 1872, when it was caught in a gale and driven ashore at Oswego Harbor on Lake Ontario. The schooner was wrecked and declared a total loss, though fortunately, the crew was rescued without any loss of life. The exact nature of the cargo aboard the Alpha at the time of the wreck is not documented.
Despite being towed to Garden Island for repairs on September 8, 1872, the vessel’s subsequent history remains unclear. It was acquired by the Provincial Insurance Co. on January 25, 1873, and later sold to A. McAdams in London, Ontario, on March 6, 1873. Ownership changed hands again on October 8, 1873, when it was sold to John Roach, and subsequently to Alexander Fraser on April 4, 1877. The vessel was transferred to Quebec on June 15, 1877, but no further records exist regarding the Alpha after this point, leaving the final chapter of its story a mystery.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
The Alpha was wrecked in Oswego Harbor on August 30, 1872, following a violent gale that drove it ashore. Although the vessel was towed to Garden Island for repairs, its fate afterward remains uncertain. The last known records indicate it was transferred to Quebec in 1877, but no further information is available.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES #
There are no specific Notices to Mariners related to the Alpha, as the vessel was wrecked and its remains, if any, were likely salvaged or lost to time.
LOCATED BY & DATE #
The Alpha was driven ashore in Oswego Harbor during a gale in 1872. The wreck’s location is documented in historical records, but no physical remnants of the vessel are known to exist today.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #
Due to the wreck’s age and the subsequent lack of records, the current condition of any remaining parts of the Alpha is unknown. The ship was likely salvaged or dismantled after the wreck, and no accessible wreck site is known.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
- Great Lakes Ships: Great Lakes Ships
- David Swayze Shipwreck File: David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Maritime History of the Great Lakes
KEYWORDS #
Alpha, Schooner, Oswego Harbor, Lake Ontario, Great Lakes, Maritime History, Shipwreck, 19th Century Ships
ANALYSIS #
The Alpha’s history encapsulates the life of a typical 19th-century schooner on the Great Lakes—marked by frequent changes in ownership, a variety of cargoes, and a final tragic wreck. The vessel’s grounding during a gale in Oswego Harbor highlights the dangers faced by sailors on the Great Lakes, where sudden storms could turn routine voyages into disasters. Despite efforts to repair and salvage the Alpha, its ultimate fate remains unclear, reflecting the often-fragmentary nature of historical maritime records. Today, the Alpha’s story serves as a reminder of the challenges and risks of early shipping on the Great Lakes, where many vessels met similar fates.
