Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Maggie L
- Type: Wooden, carvel-built schooner
- Year Built: 1889
- Builder: Redmond shipyard, Picton, Ontario
- Dimensions: Length 67 ft (20.4 m); Beam 17 ft 4 in (5.3 m); Depth of hold 5 ft 2 in (1.6 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Gross ~48-49 tons; Net ~42 tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 23 m / 75 ft
- Location: St. Lawrence River, near Clayton, NY, across channel from Governors Island
- Coordinates: N 44° 14.644′, W 76° 5.683′
- Official Number: C96902
- Original Owners: Built for Richer LaRush of Kingston; helmed by Captain Merton H. Mellon, Bath, Ontario
- Number of Masts: Two-masted schooner (sail only)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Maggie L was a two-masted wooden schooner with a carvel-built hull and a single deck, designed for light bulk cargo and suited for inland waterways.
Description
The wreck rests upright, with visible hold structures, a displaced deck, and truncated masts.
History
Built in 1889 in Picton, Ontario, Maggie L operated in regional trade, transporting coal and general cargo. On 1 November 1929, it departed Bath, Ontario, for Clayton, NY. It was struck by the freighter Keystate, severing its bow and causing it to sink rapidly. No fatalities occurred.
Significant Incidents
- Collision with Keystate: On 1 November 1929, the Maggie L was struck by the freighter Keystate, leading to its sinking.
Final Disposition
Cause of Loss: Collision with Keystate
Wreck Condition: Upright, bow sheared, deck displaced, masts removed by USACE, rudder intact.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is upright with the bow severed, deck displaced, and masts removed. The rudder remains intact.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”maggie-l-c-96902″ title=”References & Links”]
The Maggie L serves as a historical dive site, rediscovered by sport divers in the early 1970s and documented by local dive groups.
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 and Site Information
Type: Wooden, carvel-built schooner
Builder: Redmond shipyard, Picton, Ontario
Year Built: 1889
Construction Location: Picton, Ontario
Dimensions: Length 67 ft (20.4 m); Beam 17 ft 4 in (5.3 m); Depth of hold 5 ft 2 in (1.6 m) :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Tonnage: Gross ~48–49 tons; Net ~42 tons :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Decks: 1
Rigging: Two-masted schooner (sail only) :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Location of Wreck: St. Lawrence River, near Clayton, NY, across channel from Governors Island :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Coordinates: N 44° 14.644′, W 76° 5.683′ :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
Depth at Wreck Site: ~60–75 ft (18–23 m) :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
Owners: Built for Richer LaRush of Kingston; helmed by Captain Merton H. Mellon, Bath, Ontario :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
Home Port: Kingston, Ontario (registry via Kingston; owned and operated from Bath) :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
Description
The Maggie L. was a two-masted wooden schooner with carvel-built hull and a single deck, measuring 67 feet in length and 17.4 feet in beam. It was designed for light bulk cargo and suited for inland waterways. The wreck rests upright, with visible hold structures, a displaced deck, and truncated masts.
History
Built in 1889 in Picton, Ontario, Maggie L. operated in regional trade, transporting coal and general cargo. On 1 November 1929, it departed Bath, Ontario, for Clayton, NY. It was struck by the freighter Keystate, severing its bow and causing it to sink rapidly. No fatalities occurred.
Final Disposition
Cause of Loss: Collision with Keystate
Wreck Condition: Upright, bow sheared, deck displaced, masts removed by USACE, rudder intact.
Located By & Date Found
Rediscovered by sport divers in the early 1970s. Documented by SRHF and local dive groups.
Notmars & Advisories
No active NOTMARs. Divers should exercise caution due to proximity to shipping channel.
Dive Information
- Access Type: Boat dive
- Entry Point: From Clayton, NY
- Conditions: Moderate current, 5–10 ft visibility, thermocline present
- Depth Range: 60–75 ft (18–23 m)
- Emergency Contacts: USCG Sector Buffalo (VHF-16), JRCC Trenton
- Permits & Rules: No permit required; no artifact removal
- Local Dive Support: Bottom Time Dive Charters, Clayton, NY
Crew & Casualty Memorials
- Captain Merton H. Mellon – Survivor
- Two crew members – Survivors
No fatalities. No public memorials found.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The bow of the schooner was sheared off… the 48 gross ton wooden schooner was no match…” — Thousand Islands Life Magazine (https://thousandislandslife.com/fate-of-the-schooner-maggie-l/)
“No side lights were seen on the schooner… course altered to starboard… collision occurred nonetheless.” — Hearing testimony, Montreal 1929
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
- Official Number: C96902
- Registry Port: Kingston, Ontario
- Database Records:
- HCGL Great Lakes Vessels – https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessels
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes – https://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
Site Documentation & Imaging
- 3D Photogrammetry Model by Dennis McCarthy – https://3dshipwrecks.org/shipwreck-maggie-l/
- SRHF Wreck Profile – https://www.srhf.info/p/maggie-l.html
Resources & Links
- St. Lawrence River Historical Foundation – https://www.srhf.info/p/maggie-l.html
- Thousand Islands Life – Maggie L. – https://thousandislandslife.com/fate-of-the-schooner-maggie-l/
- Shotline Diving Wreck Card – https://shotlinediving.com?docs=maggie-l-c96902-20
- 3DShipwrecks.org – https://www.3dshipwrecks.org
References
- Shotline Diving Wreck Card – https://shotlinediving.com?docs=maggie-l-c96902-20
- St. Lawrence River Historical Foundation – https://www.srhf.info/p/maggie-l.html
- Palmer, Richard. “Fate of the Schooner Maggie L.” Thousand Islands Life, Jan 2023 – https://thousandislandslife.com/fate-of-the-schooner-maggie-l/
- 3DShipwrecks.org — Maggie L. Photogrammetry Model – https://3dshipwrecks.org/shipwreck-maggie-l/
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: —
Coordinates: N 44° 14.644′ W 76° 5.683′
Depth: ~60–75 ft (18–23 m)
Location Description: Across channel from Governor’s Island, near Clayton, NY, St. Lawrence River
Vessel Type: Wooden schooner (two‑masted)
Material: Wood (carvel‑built)
Dimensions: L 67 ft; Beam 17 ft 4 in; Hold depth 5 ft 2 in
Condition: Upright, bow severed, deck displaced, masts removed to ~3 ft, rudder intact, wheel removed
Cause of Loss: Collision with steel freighter *Keystate* on 1 Nov 1929
Discovery Date: Early 1970s
Discovered By: Sport divers (unnamed local diving groups; SRHF documented)
Method: Diver rediscovery; subsequent documentation and 3D photogrammetry
Legal Notes: No recorded salvage or legal restriction; treated as historical dive site
Hazards: Surface current, proximity to shipping channel; navigation hazard initially (masts removed)
Permits Required: None specified; subject to conservation best practices
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