Alpha (1861)

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

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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.