Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Ongiara (originally Queen City)
- Type: Wooden propeller steamboat (ferry/towboat)
- Year Built: 1885
- Builder: Melancthon Simpson, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dimensions: 90.50 ft × 18.40 ft (27.58 m × 5.61 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 97.77 GRT / 64.34 NRT
- Location: Off Bowmanville, Ontario
- Coordinates: Not recorded
- Official Number: C90562
- Original Owners: Niagara Transportation Company (post-1888); later T. E. Smith and P. McSherry, Toronto
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden (oak) propeller steamboat designed primarily for ferry and towing operations.
Description
Built as Queen City in 1885, she was a compact, sturdy wooden steamer—oak-constructed, carvel-built, steam-screw propelled—designed primarily for short river crossings. After renaming to Ongiara in 1888, she shuttled passengers across the Niagara River. In 1912, she was repurposed as a towboat operating out of Toronto.
History
Launched in 1885 and initially operated as a ferry named Queen City, she was sold in 1888 and renamed Ongiara. She served between Queenston (ON) and Lewiston (NY) until 1912, after which she began towing duties out of Toronto. Her service concluded in October 1918 with her wreck off Bowmanville.
Significant Incidents
- Wrecked off Bowmanville, Ontario on October 17, 1918, and declared a total loss.
- Registry officially closed on March 5, 1919.
- No specifics regarding the cause of loss or crew details are recorded in surviving archival summaries.
Final Disposition
On 17 October 1918, Ongiara was wrecked off Bowmanville, Ontario, and declared a total loss. The registry was officially closed on 5 March 1919. No specifics—such as cause (storm, grounding, etc.) or crew details—are recorded in surviving archival summaries.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No documented discovery or survey of remains exists. Her final resting place remains unverified through modern archaeological means.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”ongiara-queen-city-c-90562″ title=”References & Links”]
Access to the wreck site is unknown but likely shallow, requiring a boat launch offshore from Bowmanville. Visibility, currents, and thermocline data are currently unknown. Emergency contacts include the Canadian Coast Guard and local Ontario Provincial Police marine unit. Permits may be required under Ontario heritage or navigable waters legislation.
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: Queen City (1885–1888)
Official Number: C90562
Registry: Canada (Toronto registry)
Vessel Type: Wooden (oak) propeller steamboat (ferry/towboat)
Builder: Melancthon Simpson, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Year Built: 1885
Dimensions: 90.50 ft × 18.40 ft (27.58 m × 5.61 m)
Tonnage: 97.77 GRT / 64.34 NRT
Cargo on Final Voyage: Unknown
Date of Loss: 17 October 1918
Location: Off Bowmanville, Ontario, Lake Ontario
Coordinates: Not recorded
Depth: Not recorded (likely shallow shoreline debris)
Home Port: Toronto, Ontario
Owners: Niagara Transportation Company (post‑1888); later T. E. Smith and P. McSherry, Toronto (tow operations)
Crew: Unknown
Casualties: Unknown
Description
Built as *Queen City* in 1885, she was a compact, sturdy wooden steamer—oak-constructed, carvel-built, steam-screw propelled—designed primarily for short river crossings. After renaming to *Ongiara* in 1888, she shuttled passengers across the Niagara River. In 1912, she was repurposed as a towboat operating out of Toronto.
History
Launched in 1885 and initially operated as a ferry named *Queen City*, she was sold in 1888 and renamed *Ongiara*. She served between Queenston (ON) and Lewiston (NY) until 1912, after which she began towing duties out of Toronto. Her service concluded in October 1918 with her wreck off Bowmanville.
Final Dispositions
On 17 October 1918, *Ongiara* was wrecked off Bowmanville, Ontario, and declared a total loss. The registry was officially closed on 5 March 1919. No specifics—such as cause (storm, grounding, etc.) or crew details—are recorded in surviving archival summaries.
Located By & Date Found
No documented discovery or survey of remains exists. Her final resting place remains unverified through modern archaeological means.
Notmars & Advisories
None recorded.
Dive Information
Access: Unknown—likely shallow; requires boat launch offshore Bowmanville.
Entry Point: Approximate area off Bowmanville Harbour.
Conditions: Visibility, currents, and thermocline data currently unknown.
Depth Range: Likely shallow (<10 m), but needs verification.
Emergency Contacts: Canadian Coast Guard, local Ontario Provincial Police marine unit.
Permits: Potentially required under Ontario heritage or navigable waters legislation.
Dive Support: Nearest support likely from Lake Ontario charter/dive operators near Bowmanville.
Crew & Casualty Memorials
Not found. Recommendation: consult Marine Museum of the Great Lakes (Kingston) RG 42 Vol. 1666 for crew lists, casualty records, or insurance documentation.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“Wrecked at Bowmanville, Ontario on October 17, 1918 … Registry closed March 5, 1919.” — Naval Marine Archive (Canadian Collection), referencing RG 42 Vol. 1666, Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Registry details and loss entry appear in RG 42 Vol. 1666 (Public Archives reference Vol. 453, Reel C‑3192, p. 8) at the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes in Kingston. Insurance records are likely contained in the same collection.
Site Documentation & Imaging
No virtual reality models, 3D imaging, or museum holdings documented. No underwater photography or surveys known.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Naval Marine Archive – The Canadian Collection
- Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
- Find A Grave
References
- Naval Marine Archive – The Canadian Collection. Vessel record for *Ongiara* (*Queen City*), built 1885, wrecked 17 October 1918, registry closed 5 March 1919. Source: Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston (RG 42 Vol. 1666; Vol. 453, Reel C‑3192, p. 8) :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
- Wikipedia entry “Ongiara (1885)” confirming specifications, service timeline, and sinking location/date :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: Queen City
Official Number: C90562
Coordinates: Not recorded
Depth: Not recorded
Location Description: Off Bowmanville, Ontario, Lake Ontario
Vessel Type: Wooden steamboat (ferry/towboat)
Material: Oak (wood)
Dimensions: 90.5 ft × 18.4 ft; ~98 GRT / 64 NRT
Condition: Wrecked; remains undocumented
Cause of Loss: Not specified—listed as “wrecked”
Discovery Date: N/A
Discovered By: N/A
Method: N/A
Legal Notes: Registry closed 5 March 1919; archival records held at RG 42 Vol. 1666 (Kingston) :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
Hazards: None specified
Permits Required: Likely for diving or surveying under heritage law
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