Joyland – Lake Huron Freighter Shipwreck (1926)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Joyland (formerly William A. Haskell)
• Type: Wooden Package Freighter
• Year Built: 1884
• Builder: Detroit Dry Dock Co.
• Dimensions: Length 250.4 ft (76.33 m); Beam 36.5 ft (11.12 m); Depth of hold 14.25 ft (4.34 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 1,845 tons
• Location: Little Burnt Island Harbor, Manitoulin Island, Lake Huron
• Official Number: C138108 / US 81025
• Original Owners: Ogdensburg Transportation Co., Rutland Transit, Great Lakes Transit Co., Lake & River Transportation Co., Maitland Sand & Gravel Co.

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The JOYLAND was a wooden package freighter designed for transporting grain and manufactured goods on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Known for its robust diagonal strapping and dual funnels aft, the vessel embodied late 19th-century engineering, with later modifications for improved capacity and operation efficiency. Initially used for grain and general freight, it transitioned to bulk cargo and later sandsucking operations during its long career.

Description

Launched in 1884 as the WILLIAM A. HASKELL, the vessel served as a cornerstone of the Ogdensburg Transportation Co.’s fleet, connecting Great Lakes grain producers with eastern markets. Frequent accidents marked its early career, including grounding incidents in the St. Lawrence River (1884), Lake Erie (1887), and Lake Michigan (1896). Ownership transitioned in 1899 to Rutland Transit as part of a broader railway acquisition.

History

After being laid up around 1910, the freighter was modernized and repaired, returning to service under the Great Lakes Transit Co. in 1916. It was re-registered in Canada as JOYLAND, under Lake & River Transportation Co. (managed by Hackett and later Canada Steamship Lines). The ship was lengthened by 7 feet at Montreal’s Cantin Dry Dock in 1917, increasing its capacity and tonnage for grain and package freight operations.

While part of Canada Steamship Lines, the JOYLAND served dual roles, carrying freight upbound and grain downbound. In 1922, it grounded near Little Round Island in the St. Lawrence River while transporting corn. Declared a constructive total loss, the ship was salvaged and repaired but sold off later that year.

Acquired by Maitland Sand & Gravel Co., the vessel underwent conversion into a sandsucker. Registered in Windsor, Ontario, the JOYLAND operated in the sand and gravel trade until it ran aground and was abandoned at Little Burnt Island Harbor on Manitoulin Island in 1926.

The JOYLAND was officially removed from the shipping register in 1940, marking the end of its operational life.

Significant Incidents

• Grounding incidents in the St. Lawrence River (1884), Lake Erie (1887), and Lake Michigan (1896).
• Grounded near Little Round Island in 1922 while transporting corn, declared a constructive total loss.
• Ran aground and was abandoned at Little Burnt Island Harbor in 1926.

Final Disposition

Date of Final Wreck: 1926

Location: Little Burnt Island Harbor, Manitoulin Island, Lake Huron

Cause of Wreck: Grounding during sandsucking operations; declared unsalvageable and abandoned.

Current Condition & Accessibility

• Condition: Likely in advanced deterioration due to prolonged exposure and wooden construction.

• Accessibility: Wreck location near Little Burnt Island Harbor is accessible for divers, though remains may be scattered or buried. Site conditions are undocumented.

Resources & Links

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The JOYLAND‘s story is emblematic of the dynamic and hazardous nature of Great Lakes shipping during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Transitioning from a premier grain carrier to a sandsucking vessel, the ship endured multiple groundings, repairs, and ownership changes before its final abandonment in 1926. The JOYLAND‘s legacy as a workhorse of the lakes offers valuable insights into the evolution of maritime trade and the resilience of vessels operating in one of the world’s most challenging freshwater environments.