Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Alex Fraser
- Type: Sidewheel steamboat
- Year Built: 1890
- Builder: Pembroke, Ontario
- Dimensions: 140 ft (42.7 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Near Quyon, Quebec
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The *Alex Fraser* was a wooden sidewheel steamboat constructed circa 1890 in Pembroke, Ontario. Designed as a log-towing vessel, she featured broad sidewheels and a single deck, typical of riverine workboats of the era. Her 140-foot hull allowed strong towing capability in the currents and shallows of the Ottawa River system.
Description
The *Alex Fraser* was a wooden sidewheel steamboat constructed circa 1890 in Pembroke, Ontario. Designed as a log-towing vessel, she featured broad sidewheels and a single deck, typical of riverine workboats of the era. Her 140-foot hull allowed strong towing capability in the currents and shallows of the Ottawa River system.
History
Launched in 1890, the *Alex Fraser* served primarily in the timber trade on the Ottawa River, notably between Fort William and Lower Allumette Lake. Her role involved towing substantial log booms through often challenging river conditions.
On 28 August 1903, she struck a rock near Murphy’s Wharf and sank. In 1904, salvage operations succeeded in refloating and restoring her to service. A decade later, in 1915, she was transferred to Lake Deschênes for continued log-towing duties.
Significant Incidents
- 28 August 1903: Struck a rock near Murphy’s Wharf and sank.
- 1904: Salvaged and restored to service.
- 1915: Transferred to Lake Deschênes for log-towing duties.
Final Disposition
In 1942, the vessel was officially dismantled. Her iron parts were salvaged and sold off; the wooden hull, however, was left in situ and remains (partially buried) near the log boom at Quyon, Quebec.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Access: Riverbank near Quyon, Quebec.
Entry Point: Likely from shore adjacent to logging boom area.
Conditions: Shallow river mud; not a formal dive site; visibility likely very poor; timber debris may pose hazards.
Permits: Not documented; formal permission from local landowners or authorities would be prudent for access.
Dive Support: Not developed for recreational or historical diving.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”alex-fraser-1890″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The *Alex Fraser* remains a significant part of the Ottawa River’s maritime history. Divers are encouraged to respect the site and its history, adhering to the principle of ‘leave only bubbles, take only memories’.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
Type: Sidewheel steamboat (wooden, single deck)
Year Built: 1890
Built at: Pembroke, Ontario
Original Length: 140 ft (42.7 m)
Gross Tonnage: Not specified in source
Service: Logging tug/tow vessel — towing logs between Fort William and Lower Allumette Lake
Year of First Loss: 28 August 1903
Final Disposition: Dismantled in 1942; iron components sold; wooden remains buried in mud near Quyon boom
Description
The *Alex Fraser* was a wooden sidewheel steamboat constructed circa 1890 in Pembroke, Ontario. Designed as a log‐towing vessel, she featured broad sidewheels and a single deck, typical of riverine workboats of the era. Her 140-foot hull allowed strong towing capability in the currents and shallows of the Ottawa River system.
History
Launched in 1890, the *Alex Fraser* served primarily in the timber trade on the Ottawa River, notably between Fort William and Lower Allumette Lake. Her role involved towing substantial log booms through often challenging river conditions.
On 28 August 1903, she struck a rock near Murphy’s Wharf and sank. In 1904, salvage operations succeeded in refloating and restoring her to service. A decade later, in 1915, she was transferred to Lake Deschênes for continued log-towing duties.
Final Disposition
In 1942, the vessel was officially dismantled. Her iron parts were salvaged and sold off; the wooden hull, however, was left in situ and remains (partially buried) near the log boom at Quyon, Quebec.
Located By & Date Found
No formal “discovery” expedition is recorded; the remains are known locally and appear recorded in river vernacular and shipwreck compilations. The site is near Quyon boom in the Ottawa River.
Notmars & Advisories
No specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) or navigational advisories are publicly documented for the site.
Dive Information
Access: Riverbank near Quyon, Quebec.
Entry Point: Likely from shore adjacent to logging boom area.
Conditions: Shallow river mud; not a formal dive site; visibility likely very poor; timber debris may pose hazards.
Permits: Not documented; formal permission from local landowners or authorities would be prudent for access.
Dive Support: Not developed for recreational or historical diving.
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No records of casualties in the 1903 sinking or dismantling. Crew details, including names and numbers, have not been located in available sources.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“Built in 1890 at Pembroke, Ontario, the Alex Fraser was 140 feet long. It towed logs between Fort William and Lower Allumette Lake. The Alex Fraser first sank on August 28, 1903, when it hit a rock across from Murphy’s Wharf. It was salvaged in 1904. In 1915, it was moved to Lake Deschênes to tow logs there. It was dismantled in 1942, with the iron sold, but the wooden structure can still be found in the mud near the Quyon boom.”
— *Shipwrecks of the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal: 1823–1949*
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Registry records, ownership details, insurance documentation, and enrolment data have not been located in the sources consulted. Further archival research—such as Pembroke ship registries, lumber company records, or insurance indices—would be necessary to fill these gaps.
Site Documentation & Imaging
No photographic documentation or sonar surveys of the remains have been located. The site remains acknowledged in regional shipwreck compendia but appears not to have been formally recorded or mapped with modern archaeological techniques.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- ResearchGate: Shipwrecks of the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal, 1823-1949
- HWT Project: Timber Baron Alex Fraser — contextual history of timber trade and Alex Fraser the lumberman
- Ottawa River Timber Trade (Wikipedia) — broader industry context
References
- *Shipwrecks of the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal: 1823-1949*, entry “Alex Fraser, 1942”, including build, loss, salvage, dismantling, site location
- “Timber Baron Alex Fraser, Arklan Farm & Fraser’s Landing”, HWT Project — background on labor and timber context. :