The Major N.H. Ferry was a majestic schooner with a rich history that spanned several decades on the Great Lakes. Built in 1867 in Ferrysburg, Michigan, by F. Pearson, the vessel measured an impressive 117 feet in length, 25 feet in beam, and had a depth of 8.1 feet. Constructed primarily of oak, the schooner boasted a gross tonnage of 171 and a net tonnage of 162. Originally owned by Ferry & White and registered in Grand Haven, Michigan, the Major N.H. Ferry began its sailing career under the United States Official Number 16631.
For years, the schooner navigated the waters with grace, living up to its Class A classification and serving its owners, Ferry & Co., with distinction. In 1880, the ship encountered its first major mishap when it was involved in a collision with the propeller DEAN RICHMOND at Chicago, Illinois, resulting in the vessel sinking. Despite this setback, the resilient Major N.H. Ferry was salvaged and returned to service.
In the early 1900s, the schooner underwent changes in ownership, and by 1909, it was under the stewardship of J.F. Soward and James Oliver in Kingston, Ontario. As the years passed, the Major N.H. Ferry continued its voyages, carrying cargo and passengers across the Great Lakes.
However, on May 28, 1913, tragedy struck the proud vessel. While bound from Kingston to Oswego, New York, disaster loomed at the mouth of the Murray Canal in Lake Ontario. The schooner collided with a pier, causing significant damage, and rapidly sank. The authorities deemed the vessel a total loss, and its final resting place became the waters of the Murray Canal in the Bay of Quinte.
The casualty report filed with the Department of Marine & Fisheries in 1915 estimated the damage to be approximately $2,100. This sad event marked the end of the Major N.H. Ferry’s storied existence on the Great Lakes. With its sinking, the vessel’s remarkable journey came to a poignant conclusion, leaving only memories and records to recount its illustrious past.
Today, the remains of the Major N.H. Ferry serve as a solemn reminder of the risks and perils faced by the brave sailors who once navigated the waters of the Great Lakes. As historians, divers, and maritime enthusiasts explore the sunken wreck, they pay homage to the vessel’s legacy, reflecting on its storied history and the lives it touched during its time as a formidable schooner on the vast and unpredictable waters of the Great Lakes.
