Lyman M. Davis C 130436 – Lake Ontario Schooner Shipwreck (1934)

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

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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.