Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Anna M. Foster
- Type: Wooden Schooner
- Year Built: 1875
- Builder: David M. Foster, Port Burwell, Ontario, Canada
- Dimensions: Length: 82 ft (25 m); Beam: 20.3 ft (6.2 m); Depth of hold: 8.8 ft (2.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 77.6 tons
- Location: Approx. 25 miles offshore of Charlotte, NY
- Coordinates: Approx. 43.5172° N, -77.2305° W
- Official Number: 71276
- Original Owners: Multiple owners, operated out of Port Burwell, Goderich, and Kingston
- Number of Masts: Two masts
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden Two-Masted Schooner – 19th Century Cargo Transport
Description
The Anna M. Foster was a robust, general-purpose wooden schooner, ideal for coal and agricultural cargo across the Great Lakes. Her moderate size and hull configuration allowed her to navigate varied lake ports while maintaining capacity for meaningful freight. Schooners of this type were pivotal in the transition era prior to the dominance of steam propulsion.
History
Built in 1875 by David Foster, this schooner served multiple owners and operated out of Port Burwell, Goderich, and Kingston. A November 1884 incident saw her grounded near Cobourg, resulting in partial damage, but she was repaired and returned to service.
She played a reliable role in inland shipping, notably carrying coal and lumber—essential materials for the expanding urban economies around Lake Ontario.
Significant Incidents
On August 31, 1889, while transporting coal to Kingston, Ontario, the Anna M. Foster collided with the steam yacht Siesta approximately 25 miles from Charlotte, NY. The schooner suffered catastrophic hull damage and sank shortly after the impact. Remarkably, the crew of four, including a female cook and a Newfoundland dog, were all rescued by the Siesta. The steamer incurred no damage, highlighting the fragile nature of wooden hulls in collisions with steel-hulled steam vessels.
Final Disposition
The Foster sank in deep water and was never salvaged or recovered. It is presumed to lie somewhere offshore between Charlotte and Port Ontario, though no confirmed sonar or dive discovery has yet been made. The vessel is not listed in NOAA wreck databases, and no NOTMARs apply.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Approximate coordinates based on archival newspaper reports and witness testimonies place it around [43.5172, -77.2305]. The wreck remains unconfirmed and unsurveyed. Located in 2020 by NOAA as a possible target.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”anna-m-foster-foster-c-71276″ title=”References & Links”]
The Anna M. Foster exemplifies the challenges of 19th-century schooner transport, navigating weather and busy waterways filled with larger, more resilient steamers. Though her wreck remains elusive, her story survives through newspaper accounts and historical registries. She represents a key phase in Great Lakes maritime history—the final era of wooden sail amid the rise of steam.
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
- Name: Anna M. Foster (commonly known as Foster)
- Official Number: 71276
- Type: Wooden Schooner
- Year Built: 1875
- Builder: David M. Foster, Port Burwell, Ontario, Canada
- Home Port: Port Burwell, Ontario
- Measurements:
- Length: 25 m (82 ft)
- Beam: 6.2 m (20.3 ft)
- Depth: 2.7 m (8.8 ft)
- Gross Tonnage: 77.6 tons
- Construction: Wooden hull, single deck, two masts
- Date of Loss: August 31, 1889
- Final Voyage: Carrying coal to Kingston, Ontario
- Location of Loss: Approx. 43.5172° N, -77.2305° W, 25 miles offshore of Charlotte, NY, in Lake Ontario
- Google Maps Location
- Depth: Unknown, but likely deep water
- Position Quality: Estimated
Vessel Type
Wooden Two-Masted Schooner – 19th Century Cargo Transport
Description
The Anna M. Foster was a robust, general-purpose wooden schooner, ideal for coal and agricultural cargo across the Great Lakes. Her moderate size and hull configuration allowed her to navigate varied lake ports while maintaining capacity for meaningful freight. Schooners of this type were pivotal in the transition era prior to the dominance of steam propulsion.
History
Built in 1875 by David Foster, this schooner served multiple owners and operated out of Port Burwell, Goderich, and Kingston. A November 1884 incident saw her grounded near Cobourg, resulting in partial damage, but she was repaired and returned to service.
She played a reliable role in inland shipping, notably carrying coal and lumber—essential materials for the expanding urban economies around Lake Ontario.
The Collision and Sinking
On August 31, 1889, while transporting coal to Kingston, Ontario, the Anna M. Foster collided with the steam yacht Siesta approximately 25 miles from Charlotte, NY. The schooner suffered catastrophic hull damage and sank shortly after the impact. Remarkably, the crew of four, including a female cook and a Newfoundland dog, were all rescued by the Siesta. The steamer incurred no damage, highlighting the fragile nature of wooden hulls in collisions with steel-hulled steam vessels.
Final Dispositions
The Foster sank in deep water and was never salvaged or recovered. It is presumed to lie somewhere offshore between Charlotte and Port Ontario, though no confirmed sonar or dive discovery has yet been made. The vessel is not listed in NOAA wreck databases, and no NOTMARs apply.
Located By & Date Found
Approximate coordinates based on archival newspaper reports and witness testimonies place it around [43.5172, -77.2305]. The wreck remains unconfirmed and unsurveyed. Located in 2020 by NOAA as a possible target.
Notmars & Advisories
No current advisories or charted obstructions in the area. The wreck is considered a historic undocumented site.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes – Newspaper Archive (Original Report)
- Great Lakes Ships Database
- Google Maps – Presumed Wreck Location
- Canadian Sessional Papers & Board of Lake Underwriters Registers
- Labadie Collection – Port Burwell Shipbuilding
Conclusion
The Anna M. Foster exemplifies the challenges of 19th-century schooner transport, navigating weather and busy waterways filled with larger, more resilient steamers. Though her wreck remains elusive, her story survives through newspaper accounts and historical registries. She represents a key phase in Great Lakes maritime history—the final era of wooden sail amid the rise of steam.
Keywords: Anna M. Foster, 1889 collision, schooner shipwreck, Lake Ontario, Charlotte NY, Port Burwell maritime history
Categories: Wooden Schooner Losses, 19th Century Lake Ontario Wrecks, Collision Casualties
Glossary Terms:
- Gross Tonnage: Total internal volume of a vessel
- Schooner: A fore-and-aft rigged sailing ship with two or more masts
- Steam Yacht: Private or commercial vessel powered by steam engine, often faster and more robust than sail ships