Maggie L – Lake Ontario Schooner Shipwreck (1929)

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

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The Maggie L serves as a historical dive site, rediscovered by sport divers in the early 1970s and documented by local dive groups.