Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Queen of the Lakes
- Type: Scow Schooner
- Year Built: 1853
- Builder: George N. Ault, Portsmouth, Ontario
- Dimensions: Length: 128 ft (39 m); Beam: 23 ft (7 m); Depth of hold: 10 ft (3 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 190 tons
- Location: Approx. 10 miles off Sodus Point, Lake Ontario
- Coordinates: 43.392208, -76.826174 on Google Maps
- Official Number: 77626
- Original Owners: James Richardson & Sons
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Queen of the Lakes was a classic scow schooner, built with a flat-bottomed hull and a single deck, ideal for hauling bulk cargo across shallow waters. This utilitarian design was common in 19th-century Great Lakes trade, particularly for heavy loads such as coal and feldspar.
Description
Constructed in 1853 by George N. Ault in Portsmouth, Ontario, the Queen of the Lakes was built to serve the economic arteries of the Great Lakes. With a robust design suited for shallow harbours and river ports, she became a workhorse in regional bulk transport. She was primarily operated by James Richardson & Sons, one of Ontario’s largest shipping companies of the time.
History
The vessel endured over five decades of active service, including:
- 1868: Grounded twice in the Detroit River and Green Bay, but successfully salvaged.
- 1891: Ran ashore near Geneva, Ohio during a gale and was later repaired.
- Early 1900s: Rebuilt in Deseronto to extend service life.
Despite age and hard use, the schooner remained active and economically vital until her final year.
Significant Incidents
On November 1, 1906, carrying 500 tons of coal from Charlotte to Kingston, the Queen of the Lakes encountered a severe southwest gale near Sodus Point, Lake Ontario. The schooner took on water as the storm intensified. The crew, led by Captain Chauncey Darryaw, escaped in a yawl and safely reached shore. The uninsured vessel and cargo were lost, marking a major financial setback for both James Richardson & Sons and James Swift & Co..
Final Disposition
- Cause of Loss: Storm-related flooding from gale conditions
- Crew Status: All six crew members survived
- Cargo: 500 tons of coal lost
- Insurance: None
- Status: Wreck definitively located; presumed deteriorated in deep water
Current Condition & Accessibility
- Condition: Unknown; presumed advanced decay due to wooden hull and depth
- Accessibility: Not confirmed as a dive site; probable deep water or scattered remains
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”queen-of-the-lakes-c-77626″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Queen of the Lakes serves as a symbol of the resilience and vulnerability of 19th-century lake schooners. Despite a half-century of adaptation and repair, her final voyage in 1906 ended with a storm-induced sinking — an all-too-common fate for cargo vessels of the Great Lakes. While the wreck lies unconfirmed, her story lives on in archives, headlines, and maritime history.