Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Buried Hull, Martindale Pond, St. Catharines, ON

Explore the submerged remains of a mysterious hull in Martindale Pond, a potential relic of the Third Welland Canal’s operational history.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Wreck 4 – Buried Hull
  • Type: Unknown – likely barge or shallow draft workboat
  • Year Built: Unknown, likely pre-1950
  • Builder: Unknown
  • Dimensions: Length ~35 m (115 ft); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: Unknown
  • Location: Martindale Pond, southwest quadrant of former canal zone
  • Coordinates: 43.194799, -79.266639
  • Official Number: Unknown
  • Original Owners: Unknown
  • Number of Masts: None identified

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Unknown – shape suggests barge or shallow draft workboat.

Description

This wreck, referred to as Wreck 4 or the Southwest Martindale Hull, was confirmed in 1965 when Martindale Pond was drained. The hull shape was visible at that time but is now likely covered by sediment or vegetation. The site is accessible from shore or by small craft, but the wreck is not currently visible without probing or sonar.

History

Discovered only through a 1965 photo during a rare full drainage of Martindale Pond, this wreck remains largely undocumented and is potentially one of the most obscure remnants of the Third Welland Canal’s logistical backbone. The shape and size of the structure imply it was either a utility barge, work hull, or lighter used in support of canal construction or cargo movement. Its presence along the canal alignment suggests purposeful abandonment during the canal’s decommissioning phase.

Significant Incidents

  • No casualties recorded.

Final Disposition

Prior to 1965, the vessel was likely scuttled or abandoned and has since been slowly buried. Its condition is presumed to be buried beneath silt or sediment, with no recent visual confirmation. The diving status is unknown and would require sediment probing, sonar, or careful excavation mapping.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is presumed buried beneath sediment, and no recent visual confirmation has been made. It is a strong candidate for side-scan sonar or magnetometer survey due to the likelihood of being fully buried.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”buried-hull-martindale-pond-st-catharines-on” title=”References & Links”]

Lost but Not Forgotten: This site remains a mystery, and contributions from anyone with photos or stories from the 1950s–60s about Martindale Pond are welcomed to help unlock its identity. Your contributions keep history afloat.

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.

Here’s the full Shotline Diving Shipwreck Report for the fourth wreck in Martindale Pond:

  • Wreck 4 – Buried Hull, Martindale Pond, St. Catharines, ON
  • Coordinates: 43.194799, -79.266639
  • Depth Range: Unknown (likely shallow)
  • Estimated Length: ~35 m (115 ft)
  • Casualties: None recorded
  • Site Location: Martindale Pond, southwest quadrant of former canal zone

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Wreck Name: Wreck 4 – Buried Hull
  • Other Names: “Southwest Martindale Hull”
  • Vessel Type: Unknown – shape suggests barge or shallow draft workboat
  • Site Context: Confirmed in 1965 when Martindale Pond was drained; hull shape visible but now likely covered by sediment or vegetation
  • Access: Location accessible from shore or by small craft; wreck is not currently visible without probing or sonar

Note: This site is a strong candidate for side-scan sonar or magnetometer survey due to the likelihood of being fully buried.

CONSTRUCTION & OWNERSHIP

  • Material: Presumed timber hull with flat bottom, typical of canal-era construction
  • Builder/Owner: Unknown
  • Build Date: Unknown, likely pre-1950
  • Length: ~35 m (115 ft)
  • Beam/Draft: Unknown – no surface measurements available

PROPULSION

  • Power: Unknown
  • Engine/Masts: None identified in available photos – presumed unpowered canal service hull

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Discovered only through a 1965 photo during a rare full drainage of Martindale Pond, this wreck remains largely undocumented and is potentially one of the most obscure remnants of the Third Welland Canal’s logistical backbone.

The shape and size of the structure imply it was either a utility barge, work hull, or lighter used in support of canal construction or cargo movement. Its presence along the canal alignment suggests purposeful abandonment during the canal’s decommissioning phase.

FINAL DISPOSITION

  • Date of Abandonment: Prior to 1965
  • How: Possibly scuttled or abandoned and slowly buried
  • Condition: Presumed buried beneath silt or sediment, no recent visual confirmation
  • Diving Status: Unknown – would require sediment probing, sonar, or careful excavation mapping

REFERENCES & LINKS

Lost but Not Forgotten: This site remains a mystery, and we invite anyone with photos or stories from the 1950s–60s about Martindale Pond to help unlock its identity. Your contributions keep history afloat.

buried-hull-martindale-pond-st-catharines-on 1950-04-25 00:31:00