Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Ontario (Bay State)

Explore the wreck of the Bay State, a wooden propeller ship that foundered in 1862 during a gale on Lake Ontario, claiming 22 lives.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Bay State / Ontario
  • Type: Wooden Propeller Ship
  • Year Built: 1852
  • Builder: Bidwell & Banta, Buffalo, New York
  • Dimensions: Length: 137 ft (41.75 m); Beam: 25 ft (7.62 m); Depth of hold: 11 ft (3.35 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 372 4/95 (old style measurement)
  • Location: Little Sodus, Lake Ontario
  • Coordinates: N 43.50153, W -76.53476
  • Original Owners: Central Vermont Railway, Watertown & Rome Railroad Co., Northern Transportation Co., Chamberlain & Crawford

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Bay State was a wooden propeller vessel designed for cargo transport on the Great Lakes. With two decks and a wooden hull, it was typical of mid-19th-century freighters, built for versatility and efficiency. Initially constructed for Central Vermont Railway, it was later transferred between multiple owners, serving as a vital part of Great Lakes commerce.

Description

The Bay State was a wooden propeller vessel designed for cargo transport on the Great Lakes. With two decks and a wooden hull, it was typical of mid-19th-century freighters, built for versatility and efficiency. Initially constructed for Central Vermont Railway, it was later transferred between multiple owners, serving as a vital part of Great Lakes commerce.

History

The Bay State was built by Bidwell & Banta in Buffalo, New York, for the Central Vermont Railway. Its maiden voyage occurred on September 21, 1852, from Buffalo to Detroit. The initial enrollment took place in Oswego, New York, under D.C. Bancroft on October 7, 1852. Over the years, it passed through various owners, including the Watertown & Rome Railroad Co., Northern Transportation Co., and Chamberlain & Crawford in Cleveland, Ohio (1861).

Significant Incidents

  • 1856: Struck the piers in Chicago, sank with 100 tons of hardware and package cargo (partially recovered in July).
  • 1857: Ran aground in Waukegan, Illinois.
  • 1857 (October): Engine damaged on Lake Erie due to a broken shaft cylinder.
  • Major Repairs (1861): Tonnage increased to 372 tons after substantial repairs.

Final Disposition

On November 2, 1862, the Bay State, carrying general merchandise, encountered a violent gale on Lake Ontario near Little Sodus. Despite efforts, the ship foundered, claiming the lives of all 22 people on board, including passengers and crew. The wreck lies near Little Sodus, Lake Ontario, with its exact condition unknown. Given its wooden construction and the passage of time, the remains are likely deteriorated, though the freshwater environment may have preserved some features.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Condition: Likely fragmented and deteriorated due to wooden construction and decades of submersion.

Accessibility: The location is suitable for advanced divers; caution should be exercised due to potential hazards.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”ontario-bay-state” title=”References & Links”]

The Bay State / Ontario was emblematic of the challenges faced by vessels navigating the Great Lakes. Its tragic loss underscores the harsh conditions of 19th-century maritime trade, where weather, mechanical failures, and limited technology often led to disaster.

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.

BAY STATE / ONTARIO

Quick Facts:

  • Type: Wooden Propeller Ship
  • Other Names: Ontario
  • Location of Wreck: Little Sodus, Lake Ontario
  • Coordinates: N 43.50153, W -76.53476
  • Dimensions:Length: 137 ft (41.75 m) Beam: 25 ft (7.62 m) Depth of Hold: 11 ft (3.35 m)
  • Tonnage: 372 4/95 (old style measurement)
  • Year Built: 1852
  • Builder: Bidwell & Banta, Buffalo, New York
  • Propulsion: Single screw with a high-pressure engine
  • Original Owner: Central Vermont Railway, Cleveland, Ohio
  • Name: Bay State (later renamed Ontario)
  • Type: Wooden Propeller Bulk Freighter
  • Build Location: Buffalo, New York
  • Operational Regions: Great Lakes (primarily Lake Ontario and Lake Erie)
  • Fate: Foundered in a gale on November 2, 1862, near Little Sodus, Lake Ontario

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The Bay State was a wooden propeller vessel designed for cargo transport on the Great Lakes. With two decks and a wooden hull, it was typical of mid-19th-century freighters, built for versatility and efficiency. Initially constructed for Central Vermont Railway, it was later transferred between multiple owners, serving as a vital part of Great Lakes commerce.

Construction and Early Years (1852):

  • Built by: Bidwell & Banta in Buffalo, New York, for the Central Vermont Railway.
  • Maiden Voyage: From Buffalo to Detroit on September 21, 1852.
  • Initial Enrollment: Oswego, New York, under D.C. Bancroft, on October 7, 1852.

Ownership Changes:

Passed through various owners, including:

  • Watertown & Rome Railroad Co.
  • Northern Transportation Co.
  • Chamberlain & Crawford, Cleveland, Ohio (1861).

Incidents and Mishaps:

  • 1856: Struck the piers in Chicago, sank with 100 tons of hardware and package cargo (partially recovered in July).
  • 1857: Ran aground in Waukegan, Illinois.
  • 1857 (October): Engine damaged on Lake Erie due to a broken shaft cylinder.
  • Major Repairs (1861): Tonnage increased to 372 tons after substantial repairs.

FINAL VOYAGE & DISASTER

On November 2, 1862, the Bay State, carrying general merchandise, encountered a violent gale on Lake Ontario near Little Sodus. Despite efforts, the ship foundered, claiming the lives of all 22 people on board, including passengers and crew.

Key Details:

  • Value of the Vessel: $14,000
  • Estimated Cargo Value: $20,000 to $30,000
  • Casualty: Included Patrick Coady, a deckhand from Buffalo.

The loss of the Bay State was one of many shipwrecks during the severe November gales of 1862, highlighting the perilous nature of Great Lakes shipping during the 19th century.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The wreck lies near Little Sodus, Lake Ontario, with its exact condition unknown. Given its wooden construction and the passage of time, the remains are likely deteriorated, though the freshwater environment may have preserved some features.

NOTICES TO MARINERS (NOTMARs)

There are no specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to this wreck. However, the coordinates near Little Sodus may warrant caution for local navigation.

LOCATED BY & DATE

The wreck is documented in historical records, and its general location near Little Sodus is well-known. Discovery details include: Democrat and Chronicle Story (October 20, 2015): Highlighted a potential discovery of the wreck site.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

Condition: Likely fragmented and deteriorated due to wooden construction and decades of submersion.

Accessibility: The location is suitable for advanced divers; caution should be exercised due to potential hazards.

RESOURCES & LINKS

  • Great Lakes Ships Database (C. Patrick Labadie Collection)
  • David Swayze Shipwreck File
  • Maritime History of the Great Lakes
  • Canadian Registers and Enrollments
  • U.S. National Archives
  • Buffalo Daily Courier and Buffalo Commercial Advertiser (various articles).

ADDITIONAL NOTES

The Bay State / Ontario was emblematic of the challenges faced by vessels navigating the Great Lakes. Its tragic loss underscores the harsh conditions of 19th-century maritime trade, where weather, mechanical failures, and limited technology often led to disaster.

KEYWORDS

Bay State, Ontario, Little Sodus, Lake Ontario, Wooden Propeller, Great Lakes Shipwreck, Maritime History, 19th Century Vessel 

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