Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lyman M. Davis
- Type: Great Lakes Schooner (2-masted, fore-and-aft rigged)
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: Muskegon, Michigan
- Dimensions: Approx. 123 ft (37.5 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Originally 224.97, later adjusted to 195.35 tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 37.5 m / 123 ft
- Location: Humber Bay, Toronto, Ontario
- Original Owners: Mason Lumber Company, Monroe & Brinen, Graham Bros., McCullough & Spencer, Henry Daryaw, City of Toronto
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Lyman M. Davis was a mid-sized lumber schooner, representative of the utilitarian vessels that powered the Great Lakes timber industry in the late 19th century. Built for capacity and stability, she was equipped to haul up to 250,000 board feet of timber. Her simple rigging, wide beam, and deep hold made her ideal for inland seas. By the 20th century, she had transitioned to carrying coal.
Description
The Lyman M. Davis was a mid-sized lumber schooner, representative of the utilitarian vessels that powered the Great Lakes timber industry in the late 19th century. Built for capacity and stability, she was equipped to haul up to 250,000 board feet of timber. Her simple rigging, wide beam, and deep hold made her ideal for inland seas. By the 20th century, she had transitioned to carrying coal.
History
Originally operated by the Mason Lumber Company, the Lyman M. Davis remained in commercial service for over 60 years. After changing hands multiple times, she sailed routes across Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. Her conversion to coal-hauling under the ownership of McCullough & Spencer in 1919 reflected the broader decline of the lumber trade and the adaptation of older schooners for new freight demands.
She survived multiple groundings and underwent significant repairs, including a full re-rigging in 1883 and hull work in 1895. Remarkably, she remained afloat well into the age of steam and steel.
Significant Incidents
- 1873 – Built at Muskegon, MI, for timber hauling
- 1876 – Remeasured (195.35 gross / 185.59 net tons)
- 1883 – New foremast installed
- 1895 – Refit by Monroe & Brinen
- 1913 – Lumber operations under Graham Bros. (Kincardine)
- 1919 – Coal service for McCullough & Spencer (Napanee)
- 1922 – Grounded off Waupoos Island
- 1928 – Final private sale to Henry Daryaw (Kingston)
- 1934 – Burned at sea during Toronto Centennial
Final Disposition
On June 29, 1934, during Toronto’s Centennial and Dominion Day festivities, Lyman M. Davis was chosen for a public burning and scuttling. Towed from Sunnyside Beach to the mouth of the Humber River, she was filled with fireworks and dynamite, ignited in the presence of 250,000 spectators.
A banner draped across her deck read “The Last of Her Kind.” While intended as a ceremonial farewell to an era, the spectacle drew condemnation from marine historians and preservationists.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Discovered in the mid-1990s by SOS divers, the remains of Lyman M. Davis rest in Humber Bay, Toronto, at a depth of 37.5 m (123 ft). The site is characterized by low visibility, thermocline turbulence, and charred hull remnants, making it both technically challenging and emotionally profound for divers.
Key features include:
- Partially intact keel and lower hull sections
- Burn evidence still visible on structural timbers
- Iron fittings and fasteners observable under controlled lighting
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lyman-m-davis-c-130436″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The deliberate destruction of Lyman M. Davis symbolized both the end of an era and the lack of regard for historical preservation at the time. Unlike other schooners preserved as museum pieces, she was sacrificed for pageantry. Today, her story is a rallying cry among maritime conservationists and heritage divers.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
Lyman M. Davis (1873)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lyman M. Davis
- Type: Great Lakes Schooner (2-masted, fore-and-aft rigged)
- Year Built: 1873
- Build Location: Muskegon, Michigan
- Length: Approx. 37.5 m (123 ft)
- Gross Tonnage: Originally 224.97, later adjusted to 195.35 tons
- Construction: Wood, rigged for lumber and bulk cargo
- Final Disposition: Burned and scuttled off Toronto, Ontario — June 29, 1934
Vessel Type Description
The Lyman M. Davis was a mid-sized lumber schooner, representative of the utilitarian vessels that powered the Great Lakes timber industry in the late 19th century. Built for capacity and stability, she was equipped to haul up to 250,000 board feet of timber. Her simple rigging, wide beam, and deep hold made her ideal for inland seas. By the 20th century, she had transitioned to carrying coal.
History
Originally operated by the Mason Lumber Company, the Lyman M. Davis remained in commercial service for over 60 years. After changing hands multiple times, she sailed routes across Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. Her conversion to coal-hauling under the ownership of McCullough & Spencer in 1919 reflected the broader decline of the lumber trade and the adaptation of older schooners for new freight demands.
She survived multiple groundings and underwent significant repairs, including a full re-rigging in 1883 and hull work in 1895. Remarkably, she remained afloat well into the age of steam and steel.
Final Disposition
On June 29, 1934, during Toronto’s Centennial and Dominion Day festivities, Lyman M. Davis was chosen for a public burning and scuttling. Towed from Sunnyside Beach to the mouth of the Humber River, she was filled with fireworks and dynamite, ignited in the presence of 250,000 spectators.
A banner draped across her deck read “The Last of Her Kind.” While intended as a ceremonial farewell to an era, the spectacle drew condemnation from marine historians and preservationists.
Public Outcry
Rick Jackson of Save Ontario Shipwrecks later declared:
“To burn her like that, to sink her in fire and ash, was a betrayal of history. She had dignity, and they made her a sideshow.”
Wreck Today: Ghosts Below
Discovered in the mid-1990s by SOS divers, the remains of Lyman M. Davis rest in Humber Bay, Toronto, at a depth of 37.5 m (123 ft). The site is characterized by low visibility, thermocline turbulence, and charred hull remnants, making it both technically challenging and emotionally profound for divers.
Key features include:
- Partially intact keel and lower hull sections
- Burn evidence still visible on structural timbers
- Iron fittings and fasteners observable under controlled lighting
Historical Chronology
- 1873 – Built at Muskegon, MI, for timber hauling
- 1876 – Remeasured (195.35 gross / 185.59 net tons)
- 1883 – New foremast installed
- 1895 – Refit by Monroe & Brinen
- 1913 – Lumber operations under Graham Bros. (Kincardine)
- 1919 – Coal service for McCullough & Spencer (Napanee)
- 1922 – Grounded off Waupoos Island
- 1928 – Final private sale to Henry Daryaw (Kingston)
- 1934 – Burned at sea during Toronto Centennial
Ownership Timeline
| Year | Owner | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1873 | Mason Lumber Co. | Timber schooner trade |
| 1895 | Monroe & Brinen | Repairs, new service routes |
| 1913 | Graham Bros. | Active on Lake Huron |
| 1919 | McCullough & Spencer | Coal service on Lake Ontario |
| 1928 | Henry Daryaw | Final owner, vessel laid up |
| 1934 | City of Toronto | Ceremonial destruction |
Cultural & Historical Impact
The deliberate destruction of Lyman M. Davis symbolized both the end of an era and the lack of regard for historical preservation at the time. Unlike other schooners preserved as museum pieces, she was sacrificed for pageantry. Today, her story is a rallying cry among maritime conservationists and heritage divers.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- Depth: 37.5 m (123 ft)
- Entry Type: Boat dive only (Humber Bay, Toronto)
- Skill Level: Advanced (low visibility, thermocline, depth)
- Hazards: Charred debris, silty bottom, current shifts
- Dive Season: June–October best visibility
- Protection Status: No formal designation, but diver etiquette recommends non-disturbance
Resources & Links
- Save Ontario Shipwrecks – Dive buoy and wreck map updates
- Toronto Archives – Archival photo set (Fonds 1548, Series 393)
- William MacDonald Collection, Dossin Great Lakes Museum
- Edward J. Dowling Maritime Archive, University of Detroit Mercy
- Toronto Star (June 1934) – Original coverage of the burning
- Warren Lo Photography – Underwater photo survey
- SOS Diver Logs & Video – Site imagery and depth readings
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
Tags: Great Lakes Schooner, Lumber Trade, Coal Barge, Ship Burning, Humber Bay Dive, Toronto Maritime History, Cultural Erasure, Wooden Shipwrecks, Public Scuttling, Save Ontario Shipwrecks, Historic Dive Sites, Low Visibility Dive
Let me know if you’d like a GIS map overlay, historical insurance registry entry, or diver access route for this wreck.
lyman-m-davis-c130436 1934-06-29 07:47:00