Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Shandon
- Type: Barkentine
- Year Built: 1874
- Builder: Melancthon Simpson, St. Catharines, Ontario
- Dimensions: Length 140 ft (42.7 m); Beam 24 ft (7.3 m); Depth of hold 12 ft (3.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Gross 374; Net 330
- Location: Wingfield Basin, Georgian Bay
- Official Number: 72713
- Original Owners: Patrick Larkin and associates
- Number of Masts: 3
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A three-masted barkentine combining square sails forward with fore-and-aft sails on the main and mizzen—common on the Great Lakes for efficient handling with modest crews.
Description
A wooden cargo vessel of the late 19th century, set up to carry general freight—including grain and lumber—throughout Ontario. Its modest size made it ideal for both port calls and lake crossings.
History
- 1874: Launched by Simpson in St. Catharines; began service under Patrick Larkin’s ownership.
- 1874–1884: Employed broadly in regional bulk trades across Lake Ontario and Huron.
Significant Incidents
In October 1884, Shandon sailed into Georgian Bay and encountered adverse conditions near Cabot Head. She foundered in Wingfield Basin—likely due to storm or leakage—and was lost. No major loss of life reported, though specific details are scarce.
Final Disposition
The vessel foundered in Wingfield Basin and was abandoned. No modern surveys have located the wreck; any remains are presumed to be deteriorated or buried in the basin.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No remains identified; access to the approximate area in Wingfield Basin is possible, but visibility and wreck visibility are unverified.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”shandon-1874″ title=”References & Links”]
Shandon exemplifies a mid-19th-century barkentine that met her end upon the treacherous reefs and sudden weather shifts of northern Georgian Bay. While her physical remains have not been located, her story highlights the perils faced by wooden sailing ships on the Great Lakes and enriches the tapestry of Ontario’s maritime heritage.
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: Shandon
- Official Number: 72713
- Year Built: 1874
- Builder: Melancthon Simpson, St. Catharines, Ontario
- Hull Material: Wood
- Vessel Type: Barkentine (3 masts, single deck)
- Dimensions:
- Length 42.7 m (140 ft);
- Beam 7.3 m (24 ft);
- Depth 3.7 m (12 ft)
- Tonnage:
- Gross 374;
- Net 330
- Registry: St. Catharines, Ontario
- Original Owners: Patrick Larkin and associates
Vessel Type
A three‑masted barkentine combining square sails forward with fore‑and‑aft sails on the main and mizzen—common on the Great Lakes for efficient handling with modest crews.
Description
A wooden cargo vessel of the late 19th century, set up to carry general freight—including grain and lumber—throughout Ontario. Its modest size made it ideal for both port calls and lake crossings.
History
- 1874: Launched by Simpson in St. Catharines; began service under Patrick Larkin’s ownership.
- 1874–1884: Employed broadly in regional bulk trades across Lake Ontario and Huron.
Final Voyage
In October 1884, Shandon sailed into Georgian Bay and encountered adverse conditions near Cabot Head. She foundered in Wingfield Basin—likely due to storm or leakage—and was lost. No major loss of life reported, though specific details are scarce.
The wreck is catalogued in regional shipwreck files, noting her loss at “Winfield (Wingfield?) Point, Georgian Bay” in October 1884 (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, geocaching.com).
Final Disposition
The vessel foundered in Wingfield Basin and was abandoned. No modern surveys have located the wreck; any remains are presumed to be deteriorated or buried in the basin.
Located By & Date Found
No confirmed discovery; no documented surveys exist, and no wreck remains are publicly recorded.
Notices to Mariners & Hazards
No current Notices to Mariners reference this historic site.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No remains identified; access to the approximate area in Wingfield Basin is possible, but visibility and wreck visibility are unverified.
Resources & References
- Regional archival summary of Shandon listed among Georgian Bay shipwrecks
- Standard Great Lakes vessel indexing through Simpson’s shipyard records and late-19th-century shipping registries
Conclusion
Shandon exemplifies a mid‑19th-century barkentine that met her end upon the treacherous reefs and sudden weather shifts of northern Georgian Bay. While her physical remains have not been located, her story highlights the perils faced by wooden sailing ships on the Great Lakes and enriches the tapestry of Ontario’s maritime heritage.
Keywords & Categories
Keywords: Shandon, barkentine, Georgian Bay, Wingfield Basin, foundered, 1884, Melancthon Simpson, Ontario wooden barque
Categories: Lake Huron Shipwrecks, Sailing Barkentines, Ontario-built Vessels
Glossary: barkentine, foundered, bulk cargo sailing vessel