Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Jason Gould
- Type: Inland lake steamboat
- Year Built: 1863
- Builder: Cobden, Ontario
- Dimensions: Unknown
- Registered Tonnage: Unknown
- Location: Muskrat Lake, Ontario
- Coordinates: Approx. 45.5053, -74.2197
- Official Number: Unknown
- Original Owners: Union Forwarding Company
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Jason Gould was an inland lake steamboat, presumed to be sidewheel in propulsion type, operating primarily in the Ottawa Valley region of Ontario.
Description
The Jason Gould was a small inland steamboat operating in the Ottawa Valley region of Ontario. Likely paddlewheel in propulsion type, the vessel operated on Muskrat Lake as part of the Cobden-to-Pembroke transportation network in the 1860s and 1870s. It was associated with the Union Forwarding Company, which took over earlier forwarding interests established by businessman Jason Gould.
History
The vessel was constructed in 1863 at Cobden, Ontario, a key node in a mixed road and water route known as “Gould’s Line”. This route connected inland communities via portage, stagecoach, and steam navigation. The Jason Gould transported passengers and freight across Muskrat Lake, where it served as a critical link between Cobden and a landing point near Pembroke.
Secondary sources state that the vessel sank on 5 May 1875, possibly after striking a submerged object. However, no primary source (such as a newspaper article or legal filing) describing the loss has yet been located.
Significant Incidents
- The Jason Gould sank on 5 May 1875, possibly after striking a submerged object.
Final Disposition
The steamer Jason Gould is recorded to have been lost on 5 May 1875 on Muskrat Lake. The cause of the loss is traditionally described as a collision with a submerged rock, but this remains unverified. The wreck’s condition and precise location remain unknown.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No confirmed discovery of the wreck site has been documented. A previously claimed discovery in 1985 remains unverified. No official navigational hazard marking is currently associated with this wreck on published charts of Muskrat Lake.
Resources & Links
References are being reviewed for this wreck.
No memorials or burial records specific to crew of the Jason Gould are currently documented. Crew identity and fate remain unknown.
Description
The Jason Gould was a small inland steamboat operating in the Ottawa Valley region of Ontario. Likely paddlewheel in propulsion type, the vessel operated on Muskrat Lake as part of the Cobden-to-Pembroke transportation network in the 1860s and 1870s. It was associated with the Union Forwarding Company, which took over earlier forwarding interests established by businessman Jason Gould.
History
The vessel was constructed in 1863 at Cobden, Ontario, a key node in a mixed road and water route known as “Gould’s Line”. This route connected inland communities via portage, stagecoach, and steam navigation. The Jason Gould transported passengers and freight across Muskrat Lake, where it served as a critical link between Cobden and a landing point near Pembroke.
Secondary sources state that the vessel sank on 5 May 1875, possibly after striking a submerged object. However, no primary source (such as a newspaper article or legal filing) describing the loss has yet been located.
Final Dispositions
The steamer Jason Gould is recorded to have been lost on 5 May 1875 on Muskrat Lake. The cause of the loss is traditionally described as a collision with a submerged rock, but this remains unverified. The wreck’s condition and precise location remain unknown.
Located By & Date Found
No confirmed discovery of the wreck site has been documented. A previously claimed discovery in 1985 remains unverified.
Notmars & Advisories
No official navigational hazard marking is currently associated with this wreck on published charts of Muskrat Lake.
Dive Information
Access: Unknown
Entry Point: Not established
Conditions: Unknown
Depth Range: Unknown
Emergency Contacts: Ontario Provincial Police / Local EMS
Permits: May be required under Ontario Heritage Act
Dive Support: None documented
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No memorials or burial records specific to crew of the Jason Gould are currently documented. Crew identity and fate remain unknown.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“Jason Gould, 1875. Built at Cobden, Ontario, in 1863, it served the area between Pembroke and Cobden. It sank May 5, 1875.” (Source: Shipwrecks of the Ottawa River & Rideau Canal)
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
No registry, enrollment, or insurance records have yet been located for this vessel.
Site Documentation & Imaging
No site documentation, imagery, or survey records exist in published sources.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
- Newspapers.com
- Find A Grave
References
- Shipwrecks of the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal: 1823–1949
- Muskrat Lake – Wikipedia
- Gould’s Line – Heritage Westmeath
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None known
Official Number: Unknown
Coordinates: Approx. 45.5053, -74.2197
Depth: Unknown
Location Description: Muskrat Lake, near Pembroke, Ontario
Vessel Type: Lake steamer
Material: Presumed wood
Dimensions: Unknown
Condition: Unknown
Cause of Loss: Possibly struck submerged rock (unconfirmed)
Discovery Date: Not confirmed
Discovered By: Unknown
Method: Unknown
Legal Notes: None known
Hazards: None charted
Permits Required: Likely required under Ontario heritage law if site located