Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Alpha
- Type: Wooden Schooner
- Year Built: 1861
- Builder: John Simpson, Oakville, Ontario
- Dimensions: Length: 116.4 ft (35.5 m); Beam: 24 ft (7.3 m); Depth of hold: 11.3 ft (3.4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 343 tons (old measurement)
- Location: Oswego Harbor, Lake Ontario
- Original Owners: W.K. Henderson & Colpoys, E.H. Farquer & Henry Packes, A. Quackenbush, Norris & Neelon, John Munro, Daniel Pace, Thomson & Smith & Son, A. McAdams, Alexander Fraser
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Alpha was a wooden two-masted schooner designed for cargo transport, particularly bulk goods like grain. Its design was typical for mid-19th-century schooners, emphasizing a balance between cargo capacity and maneuverability. With a capacity of 12,000 bushels, the vessel played an essential role in the Great Lakes shipping economy.
Description
The Alpha enjoyed a long operational career, marked by multiple ownership changes and eventual demise during a storm in 1872.
History
The Alpha was integral to transporting goods along the Great Lakes, adapting to changing trade demands under various owners.
- Initial Service: Owned by W.K. Henderson & Colpoys in Hamilton, Ontario.
- Ownership Changes:
- 1863: E.H. Farquer & Henry Packes, Woodstock, Ontario
- 1865: A. Quackenbush, Port Dalhousie, Ontario
- 1866: Norris & Neelon, Hamilton, Ontario
- 1867: John Munro
- 1868: Daniel Pace
- 1872: Thomson & Smith & Son, Toronto, Ontario
Significant Incidents
On August 30, 1872, the Alpha was caught in a severe gale near Oswego Harbor on Lake Ontario. Despite the crew’s efforts, the schooner was driven ashore and wrecked. Fortunately, all crew members were rescued without loss of life.
The vessel, laden with cargo, was towed to Garden Island for repairs on September 8, 1872. Despite this effort, the Alpha‘s future became uncertain. It was acquired by the Provincial Insurance Co. in 1873 and changed hands multiple times over the next five years:
- 1873: Sold to A. McAdams, London, Ontario.
- 1877: Transferred to Quebec under the ownership of Alexander Fraser.
Final Disposition
The Alpha was declared a total loss after its wreck in 1872. Efforts to salvage the vessel included towing it for repairs, but no records confirm its return to active service. Its transfer to Quebec in 1877 suggests it may have been re-purposed, but no further documentation exists.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The Alpha‘s current condition is unknown. The schooner was likely salvaged, dismantled, or abandoned after its wreck. No remnants are known to be accessible, making it more of a historical note than a dive site.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”alpha-1861″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Alpha represents a typical schooner of its era, integral to the commerce of the Great Lakes. Its operational history, ownership changes, and eventual wreck at Oswego Harbor highlight the challenges faced by 19th-century mariners. While its ultimate fate remains a mystery, the Alpha‘s story adds to the rich tapestry of Great Lakes maritime history, exemplifying the risks of sailing in unpredictable conditions and the resilience of those who navigated these inland seas.
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.
Shipwreck Report: Alpha
Identification & Site Information
- Vessel Name: Alpha
- Type: Wooden Schooner
- Year Built: 1861
- Builder: John Simpson, Oakville, Ontario
- Dimensions:
- Length: 116.4 feet (35.5 meters)
- Beam: 24 feet (7.3 meters)
- Depth: 11.3 feet (3.4 meters)
- Tonnage: 343 tons (old measurement)
- Capacity: 12,000 bushels
- Construction Material: Wood
- Masts: Two
- Initial Owner: W.K. Henderson & Colpoys, Hamilton, Ontario
- Final Location: Oswego Harbor, Lake Ontario
- Date of Wreck: August 30, 1872
Vessel Type Description
The Alpha was a wooden two-masted schooner designed for cargo transport, particularly bulk goods like grain. Its design was typical for mid-19th-century schooners, emphasizing a balance between cargo capacity and maneuverability. With a capacity of 12,000 bushels, the vessel played an essential role in the Great Lakes shipping economy.
History
The Alpha enjoyed a long operational career, marked by multiple ownership changes and eventual demise during a storm in 1872.
- Initial Service: Owned by W.K. Henderson & Colpoys in Hamilton, Ontario.
- Ownership Changes:
- 1863: E.H. Farquer & Henry Packes, Woodstock, Ontario
- 1865: A. Quackenbush, Port Dalhousie, Ontario
- 1866: Norris & Neelon, Hamilton, Ontario
- 1867: John Munro
- 1868: Daniel Pace
- 1872: Thomson & Smith & Son, Toronto, Ontario
The Alpha was integral to transporting goods along the Great Lakes, adapting to changing trade demands under various owners.
Final Voyage and Wreck
On August 30, 1872, the Alpha was caught in a severe gale near Oswego Harbor on Lake Ontario. Despite the crew’s efforts, the schooner was driven ashore and wrecked. Fortunately, all crew members were rescued without loss of life.
The vessel, laden with cargo, was towed to Garden Island for repairs on September 8, 1872. Despite this effort, the Alpha‘s future became uncertain. It was acquired by the Provincial Insurance Co. in 1873 and changed hands multiple times over the next five years:
- 1873: Sold to A. McAdams, London, Ontario.
- 1877: Transferred to Quebec under the ownership of Alexander Fraser.
The Alpha‘s trail fades after its move to Quebec, leaving its ultimate fate a mystery.
Final Disposition
The Alpha was declared a total loss after its wreck in 1872. Efforts to salvage the vessel included towing it for repairs, but no records confirm its return to active service. Its transfer to Quebec in 1877 suggests it may have been re-purposed, but no further documentation exists.
Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) & Advisories
There are no Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) associated with the wreck of the Alpha. Given its age and presumed salvage or deterioration, the wreck is unlikely to pose navigational hazards today.
Located By & Date
The Alpha was documented as wrecked in Oswego Harbor during the gale on August 30, 1872. The wreck’s exact location was noted historically, but no remains are believed to exist at the site today.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The Alpha‘s current condition is unknown. The schooner was likely salvaged, dismantled, or abandoned after its wreck. No remnants are known to be accessible, making it more of a historical note than a dive site.
Resources & Links
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Ships Database
Analysis
The Alpha represents a typical schooner of its era, integral to the commerce of the Great Lakes. Its operational history, ownership changes, and eventual wreck at Oswego Harbor highlight the challenges faced by 19th-century mariners. While its ultimate fate remains a mystery, the Alpha‘s story adds to the rich tapestry of Great Lakes maritime history, exemplifying the risks of sailing in unpredictable conditions and the resilience of those who navigated these inland seas.
Keywords
Alpha, Schooner, Oswego Harbor, Lake Ontario, Shipwreck, Great Lakes, Maritime History, 19th Century Vessels
alpha-1861 1872-08-30 07:53:00