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.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Vessel Name: Reuben Doud
• Registry: United States (no official number readily located)
• Year Built: 1873
• Hull Material: Wood
• Rig: Two-masted schooner
• Length: Approx. 36 m (118 ft) (typical for coal schooners of her trade)
• Beam: Approx. 7 m (23 ft)
• Depth: Approx. 2.7 m (9 ft) estimated
• Gross/Net Tonnage: Approx. 220–250 tons (estimated)
• Date Lost: 24 August 1906

Vessel Type

Wooden-hulled, two-masted schooner, purpose-built for Great Lakes coal transport. Schooners like the Reuben Doud were economical and highly manoeuvrable for their era, carrying bulk commodities across the lakes and serving ports with limited dock facilities.

Description

The Reuben Doud would have had a deep open hold for coal, two masts with fore-and-aft rig, and a straight stem with a relatively flat bottom for ease of loading at shallow piers. Typical features included a raised quarterdeck and a low forward cabin, with a centreboard to adjust draft depending on cargo load.

History

Construction and Service
Built in 1873, the Reuben Doud spent her early years hauling coal, lumber, and agricultural products across Lake Michigan and Lake Ontario. Records indicate she was registered to various owners over her lifetime, including routes from Chicago, Milwaukee, and Detroit to the Welland Canal system.

Unique Inland Route
Interestingly, historical notes mention the Reuben Doud at one point operated out of Winneconne, Wisconsin, about 65 km (40 mi) by river from Lake Michigan. She would have transited shallow Fox River routes, being brought to the lake only with considerable effort — a testament to the ingenuity of regional shippers moving these big schooners inland for seasonal trades.

Final Voyage and Wreck
On 24 August 1906, while bound from Fair Haven, New York, to Toronto with a load of coal, the Reuben Doud was caught in a strong storm while attempting to enter Toronto Harbour. Pushed off course by wind and waves, she was driven onto Toronto Island and stranded. The crew escaped safely, but the vessel was wrecked and declared a total loss.

Final Disposition

The Reuben Doud was declared a constructive total loss. Salvage attempts recovered minor materials, but the hull was considered unsalvageable and left to break apart near Toronto Island.

Located By & Date Found

No modern wreck discovery applies, as the schooner’s remains were largely demolished shortly after the grounding.

Notmars & Advisories

None noted.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Vessels (BGSU)
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Toronto Telegram Archives (York University)

Conclusion

The Reuben Doud’s long service life highlights the durable design of Great Lakes coal schooners and their versatility even far inland, such as on the Fox River system. Her stranding at Toronto Island during a sudden storm demonstrates how vulnerable these lightly built wooden vessels remained, despite decades of successful voyages. The story of her final loss preserves a glimpse of Lake Ontario’s turn-of-the-century maritime commerce.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

• Keywords: Reuben Doud, coal schooner, Toronto Island, 1906 shipwreck, Fair Haven, Great Lakes sailing vessels, Fox River
• Categories: Lake Ontario Shipwrecks, Wooden Schooners, 19th Century Trade, Coal Transport
• Glossary: schooner, stranding, constructive total loss, inland river trade, coal cargo

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If you’d like, I can help you explore more about other schooner groundings in Toronto Harbour or about coal trade routes of that era — just say yes.

reuben-doud-launched-1873 1906-08-24 19:55:00