Identification & Site Information

• Name: Welland
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: None (Canadian vessel, pre-dates formal vessel registration system)
• Date Built and Launched: 1853
• Builder: Constructed in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
• Specifications: Length: 145 ft (44.20 m) Beam (Width): 25 ft (7.62 m) Tonnage: 300 tons
• Date Lost: August 15, 1856
• Place of Loss: Port Dalhousie, Ontario, Lake Ontario
• Type of Loss: Fire
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo at Time of Loss: None (in use as an excursion boat at the time of the fire)
• Ownership: Owned by the Port Dalhousie and Thorold Railroad Company
• Master at Time of Loss: Captain Donaldson

Vessel Type

The Welland was a wooden sidewheel steamer designed for passenger service and package freight. Sidewheel steamers, characterized by large paddle wheels mounted on either side of the Hull, were common in the mid-19th century for both inland and coastal waters. These vessels were prized for their ability to carry large numbers of passengers and cargo efficiently, especially in relatively sheltered waters like the Great Lakes.

Description

Built in 1853 in St. Catharines, Ontario, the Welland was considered a “fine Steamer” of her time, reflecting both elegance and functionality. Measuring 145 feet in length with a 25-foot beam and weighing 300 tons, she was designed to serve as both a passenger vessel and a package freight carrier.

Her design included  Wooden Hull construction, common for the era  Sidewheel propulsion, powered by steam engines, ideal for maneuverability in canals and harbours Passenger accommodations likely featuring both Deck and cabin seating for excursions

The Welland played a dual role, operating not just as a commercial transport vessel but also as an excursion boat, catering to leisure travel, which was becoming increasingly popular in the mid-1800s as railroads and steamships connected urban centers with scenic waterfronts.

History

The Welland was owned by the Port Dalhousie and Thorold Railroad Company, an enterprise involved in the development of transportation infrastructure connecting the Welland Canal with key railway lines. Port Dalhousie served as the northern terminus of the first and second Welland Canals, making it a bustling port for trade, shipping, and passenger traffic.

The vessel likely operated in support of both local commerce and tourism, providing a link between railroads and shipping routes, and offering excursion cruises along Lake Ontario’s picturesque shoreline. Such vessels were symbols of technological progress, providing faster, more reliable connections than sail-powered ships.

Final Incident and Loss

On August 15, 1856, the Welland was docked at Port Dalhousie when a fire broke out aboard the vessel. The flames reportedly started in the Forecastle (foc’sle)—the forward part of the ship where crew quarters were typically located. Despite the fire’s rapid spread, the cause was never definitively determined, though such fires were often linked to issues with early steam machinery, faulty lamps, or careless handling of flammable materials.

As the fire intensified, efforts to save the ship failed. To prevent the flames from spreading to nearby docks and structures, the vessel was cut loose from her moorings. The Welland drifted into Lake Ontario, where she eventually ran aground on a sandbar just offshore. The vessel continued to burn until she was completely destroyed, reduced to a burned-out Hull.

No lives were lost in the incident, likely due to the vessel being docked with minimal crew aboard at the time.

Replacement Following the loss of the Welland, the vessel was replaced by the Steamer Blue Bonnet, which continued to serve the region’s passenger and freight needs.

Final Disposition

The wreck of the Welland was left to deteriorate on the sandbar near Port Dalhousie. Given her wooden construction and the intensity of the fire, little of the original vessel would have survived beyond charred structural remains.

Located By & Date Found

Nil – There are no confirmed records of the Welland’s wreck site being definitively located. However, due to her loss in shallow water near Port Dalhousie, remnants may still exist, potentially buried under sediment or scattered along the lakebed.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil – The wreck of the Welland does not pose a known navigational hazard, and no specific advisories are associated with her loss. However, Port Dalhousie is a historically active maritime area, and mariners should always consult updated nautical charts when operating near harbor entrances.

Resources & Links

• 📸 Image Available: Reported to exist through the Great Lakes Maritime Database (GLMD)
• Great Lakes Maritime Database (GLMD)
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Port Dalhousie Historical Society
• Welland Canal Historical Resources

Suggested Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms Keywords: 

Welland, Port Dalhousie shipwreck, Sidewheel Steamer, Lake Ontario wreck, Canadian maritime history, 19th-century Steamship, Welland Canal vessels

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Ontario, 19th Century Maritime Disasters, Great Lakes Sidewheel Steamers, Fires on Great Lakes Vessels

Glossary Terms:

• Sidewheel Steamer: A steam-powered vessel with paddle wheels mounted on each side, commonly used in the 19th century.
• Forecastle (foc’sle): The forward section of a ship, often used for crew accommodations.
• Excursion Boat: A vessel used for recreational cruises, popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Package Freight: General cargo transported in small packages rather than bulk.

Conclusion

The Welland was a symbol of early steam navigation on Lake Ontario, serving both passenger and freight routes while supporting the growth of Port Dalhousie as a transportation hub. Her tragic loss by fire in 1856 reflects the vulnerabilities of wooden steamships in an era when fire safety measures were still developing. Although the vessel is gone, her story remains part of the rich maritime heritage of the Welland Canal and the Great Lakes shipping era.