Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Clark Bros.
- Type: Wooden-hulled, screw passenger/freight ferry
- Year Built: 1890
- Builder: Abbey Brothers Shipyard
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Sunnyside Beach, Lake Ontario
- Original Owners: Toronto Ferry Company; transferred to TTC in 1927
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Clark Bros. is a wooden-hulled, screw passenger and freight ferry that served the Toronto Islands.
Description
The Clark Bros. was built in 1890 at Abbey Brothers Shipyard in Port Dalhousie, Ontario. It operated as both a freight and passenger ferry, primarily transporting individuals to the Toronto Islands. The vessel was transferred to the Toronto Transportation Commission (TTC) in 1927.
History
Throughout its service life, the Clark Bros. was subject to inspections, with a notable assessment in 1927 revealing cracked pistons and overall poor condition. This led to its decommissioning due to unsafe machinery and structural deterioration.
Significant Incidents
- Decommissioned due to unsafe machinery and structural deterioration.
- Inspected by TTC in 1927, found to have cracked pistons and overall poor condition.
Final Disposition
On June 30, 1930, the Clark Bros. was ceremonially burned at stake off Sunnyside Beach, Lake Ontario. This event was staged as a spectacle, drawing crowds who witnessed smoke, flames, and fireworks. The burning was part of a series of ceremonial disposals of retired ferries, including the John Hanlan in 1929.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of now, the Clark Bros. no longer exists, having been completely consumed by the ceremonial fire. Photographs from the event are preserved in the City of Toronto Archives, showcasing the vessel engulfed in flames.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”clark-bros-1890″ title=”References & Links”]
The Clark Bros. ferry’s fate was unique, as it was intentionally burned in a public event rather than dismantled quietly. This spectacle, along with others, highlights the community’s engagement with maritime history and the farewell to obsolete vessels in Toronto’s harbor.
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.
Clark Bros. (Retired Toronto Island Ferry)
Credit: City of Toronto Archive www.toronto.ca/archives. Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required.
Identification & Vessel Overview
- Name: Clark Bros.
- Built: 1890 at Port Dalhousie, Ontario (Abbey Brothers Shipyard)
- Type: Wooden-hulled, screw passenger/freight ferry
- Operator: Toronto Ferry Company; transferred to TTC in 1927
- Final Status: Decommissioned due to unsafe machinery and structural deterioration
Background & Service Life
- Operated as both freight and passenger ferry to Toronto Islands
- Inspected by TTC in 1927, found to have cracked pistons and overall poor condition
(Angelfire, City of Toronto)
Final Disposition – Public Burning & Spectacle
On June 30, 1930, the decommissioned Clark Bros. was ceremonially burned at stake off Sunnyside Beach, Lake Ontario. More than a disposal, the event was staged as a spectacle:
- Smoke, flames, and fireworks drew crowds hanging from the shoreline
- Paired with earlier ceremonial burnings of other retired ferries (John Hanlan in 1929, Jasmine)
(City of Toronto) - The casino-park climate of Sunnyside amplified the event’s theatrical character
Media & Visual Documentation
www.toronto.ca/archives. Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required.
- Photographs from June 30, 1930 show the Clark Bros. engulfed in flames, smoke rising, with lights and fireworks visible, viewed from Sunnyside Park
(wholemap.com) - These images are drawn from the City of Toronto Archives, as featured in multiple web-history exhibits
(City of Toronto)
Summary Table
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Vessel | Clark Bros., wooden screw ferry (built 1890) |
| Operator | Toronto Ferry Company / TTC |
| Decommissioned | 1927–1930 (machinery deemed unfit) |
| Date of burning | June 30, 1930 |
| Location | Sunnyside Beach, Lake Ontario |
| Purpose of burning | Ceremonial public spectacle / final disposal |
| Restoration use | Some equipment transferred to new ferry T.J. Clark |
Conclusion
The Clark Bros. ferry met an unusual fate: rather than being quietly dismantled, she was intentionally burned as a public event, joining fellow retired vessels (John Hanlan, Jasmine) in Sunnyside’s waterfront theatre of maritime farewells. The event was well-documented in photography and local histories, offering rare insight into community interactions with obsolete vessels in Toronto’s harbor.
- Obtaining full-resolution photographs from Toronto Archives
- Locating Toronto Telegram or Globe & Mail news articles from the period
- Researching T.J. Clark reconstruction records and parts transfer logs
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