Empire State (sylvan Stream – Lake Ontario Steamer Shipwreck (1903)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: SYLVAN STREAM (renamed EMPIRE STATE)
• Type: Wooden Sidewheel Steamer
• Year Built: 1863
• Builder: T. Collyer & Co.
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage:
• Location: Collins Bay, Kingston, Ontario
• Official Number: 22795
• Original Owners: Harlem & New York Navigation Co.; Robert W. DeFoust's Highland Steamboat Co.; Genesee River & Lake Ontario Steamboat Co.; Folgers & Clayton

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The SYLVAN STREAM was a single-deck wooden sidewheel steamer, powered by a vertical beam (walking beam) engine with one cylinder and a gunboat boiler. Her propulsion system included 26-foot paddle wheels. This vessel was part of the Sylvan Line, operating passenger services along the Harlem River and later transitioning to excursion routes on Lake Ontario.

Description

The remains of the SYLVAN STREAM (renamed EMPIRE STATE) lie in Collins Bay near Kingston, Ontario. The vessel was burned to the waterline and sank; the machinery was salvaged later that year. The hulk was abandoned and is presumed to have deteriorated over time. There is no specific information available regarding the current condition or accessibility of the wreck site.

History

• 1863: Enrolled in New York on September 30; commenced service on the Sylvan Line, providing passenger transport between Peck Slip and the Bronx.
• 1883: Acquired by Robert W. DeFoust’s Highland Steamboat Co. for excursion purposes.
• 1885: Operated by the Genesee River & Lake Ontario Steamboat Co., running routes from Charlotte to Sea Breeze and Irondequoit Bay.
• 1890: Conducted daily excursions to the Thousand Islands alongside the steamer PILGRIM.
• 1893: Purchased by Folgers & Clayton; renamed EMPIRE STATE; began operations between Kingston, Ontario, Alexandria Bay, and Cape Vincent, New York.
• 1898: Owned by Henry Folger; ran routes from Kingston to Montreal under Folgers Thousand Island Steamboat Co., navigating the rapids with vessels like NEW YORK and AMERICA.
• 1901: Filled and sank after departing Brockville; subsequently laid up at Kingston CPR dock.

Significant Incidents

• Date: June 25, 1903
• Location: Kingston, Ontario, Lake Ontario
• Cause: Destroyed by fire while laid up at dock; machinery was removed in October 1903, and the hulk was abandoned in Collins Bay.

Final Disposition

The SYLVAN STREAM was part of a fleet of vessels, including the SYLVAN DELL and SYLVAN GLEN, which operated until the rise of elevated railways in New York City led to a decline in steamboat passenger business. The vessel’s transition from urban passenger service to excursion routes reflects the changing transportation and leisure trends of the late 19th century.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The remains of the SYLVAN STREAM (renamed EMPIRE STATE) lie in Collins Bay near Kingston, Ontario. The vessel was burned to the waterline and sank; the machinery was salvaged later that year. The hulk was abandoned and is presumed to have deteriorated over time. There is no specific information available regarding the current condition or accessibility of the wreck site.

Resources & Links

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The SYLVAN STREAM serves as a historical reminder of the evolution of transportation on the Great Lakes and the impact of changing technologies and consumer preferences on maritime operations.