Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lady Minto
- Type: Tug / Logging Steamer
- Year Built: 1903
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length 140 ft (42.7 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Sunken in the Narrows near Notre-Dame-du-Nord, Quebec
- Official Number: Not located in current sources
- Original Owners: Upper Ottawa Improvement Company
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The *Lady Minto* was classified as a tug and logging steamer, primarily used for towing log booms on the Ottawa River.
Description
The *Lady Minto* was a logging steamer built in 1903 and operated by the Upper Ottawa Improvement Company on the Ottawa River. The vessel, measuring approximately 140 ft in length, served primarily to tow log booms between Notre-Dame-du-Nord and the Narrows. Noted as the sister ship to the Alexandra, she underwent significant rebuilding in 1928.
History
Commissioned in 1903 by the Upper Ottawa Improvement Company, the *Lady Minto* served for more than six decades in the timber trade. Her primary role was towing log booms along a portion of the Ottawa River, especially between Notre-Dame-du-Nord and the Narrows.
In 1928, she was rebuilt—details of extent or modification unspecified—but the operation allowed her to continue service well into the mid-20th century.
Significant Incidents
- 1968: The *Lady Minto* caught fire, leading to her intentional sinking in the Narrows.
Final Disposition
In 1968, the *Lady Minto* caught fire. Following the incident, her charred hull was intentionally sunk in the Narrows and repurposed as an anchor structure for a log boom, marking the end of her operational life and transitioning into a static industrial role even in demise.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No formal archaeological ‘discovery’ is recorded—the remains remain where they were scuttled in 1968, known locally. Recognized in regional shipwreck and river history compilations.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lady-minto-1903″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
While the *Lady Minto* is not a typical recreational dive site, it holds historical significance as a part of the Ottawa River’s logging heritage. Divers are encouraged to respect the site and its history, adhering to the principle of ‘leave only bubbles, take only memories.’
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.
Identification Card (Site Style)
Other Names: —
Official Number: Not located in current sources
Registry: Canada, operated by Upper Ottawa Improvement Company
Vessel Type: Tug / logging steamer
Builder: Not specified in available sources
Year Built: 1903
Dimensions: Length 140 ft (42.7 m); other dimensions not documented
Tonnage: Not specified
Cargo / Role on Final Voyage: Log towing (continuous service; not typical “voyage” cargo)
Date of Loss: 1968 (fire and scuttling)
Location: Sunken in “the Narrows” near Notre-Dame-du-Nord, Quebec
Coordinates: Not available in sources
Depth: Not documented; remains submerged in shallow river; used as log boom anchor
Owners: Upper Ottawa Improvement Company
Crew: Not documented
Casualties: Not reported in available sources
Description
The *Lady Minto* was a logging steamer built in 1903 and operated by the Upper Ottawa Improvement Company on the Ottawa River. The vessel, measuring approximately 140 ft in length, served primarily to tow log booms between Notre-Dame-du-Nord and the Narrows. Noted as the sister ship to the Alexandra, she underwent significant rebuilding in 1928.
History
Commissioned in 1903 by the Upper Ottawa Improvement Company, the *Lady Minto* served for more than six decades in the timber trade. Her primary role was towing log booms along a portion of the Ottawa River, especially between Notre-Dame-du-Nord and the Narrows.
In 1928, she was rebuilt—details of extent or modification unspecified—but the operation allowed her to continue service well into the mid-20th century.
Final Disposition
In 1968, the *Lady Minto* caught fire. Following the incident, her charred hull was **intentionally sunk in the Narrows** and repurposed as an anchor structure for a log boom, marking the end of her operational life and transitioning into a static industrial role even in demise.
Located By & Date Found
No formal archaeological “discovery” is recorded—the remains remain where they were scuttled in 1968, known locally. Recognized in regional shipwreck and river history compilations.
Notmars & Advisories
No Notices to Mariners or formal advisories are documented for this site in publicly accessible records.
Dive Information
Access: River-bank near the Narrows, Notre-Dame-du-Nord region.
Entry Point: Presumably by small boat or from shore, depending on river conditions.
Conditions: Likely in shallow, muddy river water; visibility poor; site is used industrially (as log-boom anchor), not a recreational dive site.
Permits: Not documented; industrial/logging operations may require authorization.
Dive Support: None documented; not a known recreational or heritage dive site.
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No casualties are reported in the sources. Crew names and numbers at time of fire or operation have not been located. Further archival research (e.g., company logbooks, regional newspapers, or governmental records) would be required for such details.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“Lady Minto, 1968. Built in 1903 and measuring 140 feet in length, the Lady Minto was the sister ship to the Alexandra. Rebuilt in 1928, it towed logs between Notre-Dame-du-Nord and the Narrows until 1968, when it caught on fire. Its charred remains were sunk in the Narrows to serve as an anchor for a [log] boom.”
— *Shipwrecks of the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal: 1823-1949*
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Registry and formal enrollment records have not been identified in the consulted sources. The ownership by the Upper Ottawa Improvement Company is noted, but details of legal registration, insurance coverage, or builder’s enrollment remain unlocated. Archives such as those of the Upper Ottawa Improvement Company or provincial marine registries may hold these records.
Site Documentation & Imaging
There appear to be no published photographs or surveys of the sunken remains. The shipwreck is mentioned in regional heritage research, but no underwater documentation (photography, sonar, diving expeditions) is referenced.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Canada Side-Wheel Historical Database — listing of *Lady Minto* as a tug of the Upper Ottawa Improvement Company (built 1903)
- Ottawa Historical Society / Bytown Pamphlet: *Shipwrecks of the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal: 1823-1949*
- Library & Archives Canada: Upper Ottawa Improvement Company fonds
References
- “Canada Side wheel history” – listing *Lady Minto* built 1903 for Upper Ottawa Improvement Company.
- Simons, Jaime. *Shipwrecks of the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal: 1823-1949* — entry for **Lady Minto** (built 1903, rebuilt 1928, fire and scuttling 1968, remains used as log boom anchor).