IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The Avon, later known as Stormont, was a wooden package freighter with a single propeller and steeple compound steam engine, a typical configuration for vessels designed to transport bulk cargo in the Great Lakes region. The vessel was robustly built, with a large cargo capacity, and played a significant role in the transportation of goods such as grain, coal, and other materials across major Great Lakes ports like Buffalo, Chicago, and Milwaukee.
HISTORY
The Avon was launched in 1877 and initially operated by the Union Steamboat Co. in Buffalo, New York. The vessel’s primary function was as a package freighter, and it was equipped with a 600-horsepower steam engine manufactured by King Iron Works in Buffalo. The Avon had a carrying capacity of 2,000 tons and was an important part of the freight transportation network on the Great Lakes.
Throughout its operational life, the Avon experienced several significant incidents:
- 1881: The vessel was involved in a collision with the Thomas A. Scott in Milwaukee Bay, resulting in the sinking of the Scott.
- November 1883: The Avon stranded near Buffalo due to a steering failure, causing damage to the vessel.
- 1901: The Avon suffered an explosion and fire near Point Aux Pins on Lake Superior while carrying grain, leading to its declaration as a total loss. However, it was later recovered and rebuilt as a bulk freighter in Buffalo.
After changing ownership multiple times, including under Harahan Coal & Transportation Co., John Hannan, and the Ogdensburg Coal & Towing Co., the vessel was rebuilt again in 1918 in Kingston, Ontario, and renamed Stormont. By May 1919, it was owned by the Montreal Transportation Co.
FINAL DISPOSITION
The Stormont met its final demise on November 2, 1920, when it sank in the Morrisburg Canal. It was declared a constructive total loss and subsequently abandoned in Kingston, Ontario, in 1921. The wreck was later removed and scuttled at the Nine Mile Point Graveyard in Lake Ontario in 1937.
The vessel, now part of the Wolfe Island Graveyard at a depth of 98 feet, is one of several wrecks in the area, adding to the region’s rich maritime history.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES
There are no current Notices to Mariners specifically related to the wreck of the Avon/Stormont.
LOCATED BY & DATE
The exact details of the discovery and documentation of the wreck at the Wolfe Island Graveyard are not provided, but it is known to local divers and historians.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY
The wreck lies at a depth of 98 feet (29.9 meters) in the Wolfe Island Graveyard. The site is accessible to experienced divers, particularly those with an interest in Great Lakes shipwrecks. Given its wooden construction and the depth, the wreck is likely in a state of advanced deterioration but remains a significant site for underwater exploration.
RESOURCES & LINKS
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes – Avon/Stormont: Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Wrecksite Database – Avon/Stormont: Wrecksite Database
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Research: Great Lakes Shipwreck Research
- Historical Shipwreck Records – Wolfe Island: Canadian Shipwreck Records
KEYWORDS
- Avon, Stormont, Wolfe Island Graveyard, Nine Mile Point, Lake Ontario, Package Freighter, Propeller Vessel, Maritime History, Great Lakes.
ANALYSIS The Avon, later renamed Stormont, is a significant wreck within the Wolfe Island Graveyard, representing the history of maritime transportation on the Great Lakes. The vessel’s history of collisions, explosions, and eventual scuttling highlights the dangers and challenges faced by ships of this era. The wreck site, now resting at 98 feet, offers a unique diving experience for those interested in the maritime heritage of the Great Lakes and the evolution of shipping technology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
