Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Picton
- Type: Sidewheel Steamer (Passenger & Freight)
- Year Built: 1870
- Builder: Rathbun & Co., Mill Point (Deseronto), Hastings County, Ontario
- Dimensions: Length 158 ft (48.2 m); Beam 26 ft (7.9 m) (44 ft including paddle boxes); Depth 8 ft (2.4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 248 GT (pre-1877) / 801 GT (post-1877 rebuild)
- Location: 3-4 miles east of Rondeau, Ontario, Lake Erie
- Official Number: None recorded
- Original Owners: James S. McQuaig & Bay of Quinte and St. Lawrence Navigation Co., Picton, Ontario
- Number of Masts: None
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type: Sidewheel Steamer (Passenger & Freight)
Description
The Picton was a classic Great Lakes sidewheel steamer, built for passenger and cargo transport. It was launched on September 9, 1870, and had a gross tonnage of 248 GT before its 1877 rebuild, which increased its tonnage to 801 GT. The vessel was equipped with sidewheel propulsion powered by steam.
History
The Picton was registered on August 3, 1870, in Picton, Ontario, at a cost of $45,000. It operated on routes between Trenton, Belleville, and Montreal from 1870 to 1872, and later between Toronto and Port Dalhousie after its rebuild. In 1872, it was purchased by the Bay of Quinte and St. Lawrence Navigation Company. The vessel underwent several modifications, including a rebuild in 1877 that added upper deck cabins for passenger service and false sides in 1880 to improve stability.
Significant Incidents
- September 22, 1882: The Picton ran aground during a storm near Rondeau Point, leading to its total loss.
- Eyewitness Reports: Reports from Morpeth and Rondeau noted the vessel ran ashore in darkness, with significant damage to its hull.
- October 6, 1882: Reports indicated the vessel was operating without proper certification for Georgian Bay service.
Final Disposition
The wreck was declared a total loss after being broken apart by waves and storms. Some cargo was salvaged, but attempts to recover the engine and other materials were declined due to high costs and dangerous conditions. No known modern salvage or rediscovery of the wreck has been documented.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of January 2024, wreckage believed to be from the Picton was washed up on shore. Given the shallow waters and shifting sands near Rondeau, any remaining wreckage is likely scattered or buried.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”picton-1870″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The wreck of the Picton is a largely forgotten piece of Canadian maritime history, with its loss widely reported at the time, particularly due to the controversy surrounding its lack of certification for Georgian Bay service.
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