Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Frontier City
- Type: Wooden brig (two-masted)
- Year Built: 1860
- Builder: Constructed on hull of brig Canton
- Dimensions: Unknown; likely under 200 tons typical for period
- Registered Tonnage: Unknown
- Depth at Wreck Site: 2 ft
- Location: Lake Huron, near Kincardine, Ontario
- Coordinates: Unknown
- Official Number: Unknown; records not located
- Original Owners: Skipper (also owner); name unrecorded
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A two-masted wooden brig built in 1860 using the hull of the earlier brig Canton. Built for regional freight in the Great Lakes, though exact dimensions, construction details, and structural rigging specifics are not documented.
Description
The Frontier City was constructed for coastal trading in Lake Huron. The vessel was driven ashore during a strong westerly gale on 29 October 1861, leading to its abandonment.
History
The operational history of the Frontier City is largely undocumented; it is presumed to have served regional freight routes on Lake Huron during its short life. The final voyage likely involved coastal trading. The vessel was abandoned after grounding in very shallow water (~2 ft).
Significant Incidents
- Grounded on 29 October 1861 during a strong westerly gale near Kincardine, Ontario.
- All crew members survived the incident.
Final Disposition
The grounding left the brig exposed and uninhabitable; it broke up over time and was declared a total loss. No salvage, registry surrender, or official abandonment print appears in accessible sources.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No known discovery or wreck site survey has been conducted. The vessel remains unlocated in official databases and may have left minimal or scattered remnants in shallow coastal areas.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”frontier-city-1860″ title=”References & Links”]
The Frontier City serves as a reminder of the maritime history of the Great Lakes, with its loss highlighting the dangers faced by vessels during severe weather conditions.
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.
Lead Image
Identification Card (Site Style)
Description
A two‑masted wooden brig built in 1860 using the hull of the earlier brig Canton. Built for regional freight in the Great Lakes, though exact dimensions, construction details, and structural rigging specifics are not documentedHistory
operational history is largely undocumented; presumed to have served regional freight routes on Lake Huron during its short life. Operated by its skipper/owner; key registry and voyage logs remain unlocated. The final voyage likely involved coastal trading in Lake Huron. On 29 October 1861, during a strong westerly gale, the vessel was driven ashore near Kincardine in very shallow water (~2 ft), prompting abandonment by the skipper and crewFinal Dispositions
The grounding left the brig exposed and uninhabitable; it broke up over time and was declared a total loss. No salvage, registry surrender, or official abandonment print appears in accessible sources :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.Located By & Date Found
No known discovery or wreck site survey. The vessel remains unlocated in official databases and may have left minimal or scattered remnants in shallow coastal areas.Notmars & Advisories
None recorded in navigational hazard bulletins or notices to mariners.Dive Information
Access: Shore (if remains exist) Entry Point: Not designated Conditions: Likely shallow, exposed to storms; no known dive recordings Depth Range: ~2 ft where grounded Emergency Contacts: Not applicable Permits: Not documented Dive Support: Not applicableCrew & Casualty Memorials
Crew survived; no names, graves, or memorials located in Find A Grave or local records.Documented Statements & Extracts
“Brig Frontier City went ashore near Kincardine, Ont., and proved a total loss. She was constructed on the hull of the brig Canton in 1860; the crew were saved.” :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
No vessels registry entry (e.g. HCGL, provincial registry, Lloyd’s casualty lists) nor insurance documentation has been located for this vessel.Site Documentation & Imaging
None—no surveys, photographs, VR files, or models exist for this wreck.Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – “C” list
- LinkstothePast.com – Chapter on regional marine history
- Goderich.ca – Local shipwrecks
- Find A Grave
- Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
- Newspapers.com
References
- LinkstothePast.com – entry on Brig Frontier City wreck, near Kincardine, constructed in 1860, crew saved