Jennie Rumball

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Jennie Rumball
• Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
• Year Built: 1863
• Builder: H. Marlton at Goderich, Ontario
• Dimensions: 97 × 26 × 8 ft; ~110 tons
• Registered Tonnage: 110 tons
• Location: Big Pike Bay, 1 mile offshore from Goderich, Ontario
• Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden Schooner – Built 1863, Lost October 9, 1882

Description

The Jennie Rumball was a two-masted wooden schooner constructed in 1863 by H. Marlton in Goderich, Ontario. It measured 97 feet in length, 26 feet in beam, and had a depth of hold of 8 feet, with a registered tonnage of approximately 110 tons.

History

The Jennie Rumball was primarily engaged in coastal commerce, transporting lumber and general freight along the shores of Lake Huron. On October 9, 1882, while bound from Providence Bay to Goderich, the vessel encountered rough weather that prevented it from tacking out to safety. As a result, it was pushed onto a reef about a mile offshore in Big Pike Bay.

Significant Incidents

During the grounding, the schooner was stripped of its rigging and gear. The vessel was ultimately battered beyond repair by the waves following the stranding.

Final Disposition

The Jennie Rumball was declared a total loss. After the grounding, the vessel was dismantled, with spars, blocks, and fittings removed before the hull broke apart due to wave action.

Current Condition & Accessibility

As of now, the wreck of the Jennie Rumball is not accessible for salvage or recovery, and it remains a site of historical significance.

Resources & Links

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The wreck of the Jennie Rumball serves as a reminder of the perils faced by 19th-century schooners operating along the Great Lakes, illustrating the challenges of coastal commerce and the typical practices of wreck abandonment during that era.