Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Sidney E. Smith Jr.
- Type: Bulk Freighter
- Year Built: 1905
- Builder: American Shipbuilding Co., Lorain, Ohio
- Dimensions: 525 × 55 × 31 ft; 6,588 GT / 5,174 NT
- Registered Tonnage: 7,368 GT / 5,233 NT
- Location: Burlington Bay, Hamilton, Ontario
- Official Number: US 202635
- Original Owners: Pioneer Steamship Co., Redwood Enterprises, International Cruising, Reoch Transports
- Number of Masts: Propeller (steam-powered)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type: Bulk Freighter
Description
Later Names: Donald B. Gillies (1935–1963), Grovedale (1963–1971), briefly Sidney E. Smith Jr. (1971–1981 registry)
History
Identification & Construction
- Built: 1905 by American Shipbuilding Co., Lorain, Ohio
- Dimensions (1905): 525 × 55 × 31 ft; 6,588 GT / 5,174 NT
- Metric (1963): 532.5 × 55 × 27 ft; 7,368 GT / 5,233 NT
- Hull: Riveted steel, Hull No. 00339
- Rig: Propeller (steam-powered)
Ownership & Name History
| Period | Name | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| 1905–1935 | Joseph G. Butler, Jr. | Pioneer Steamship Co. |
| 1935–1963 | Donald B. Gillies | Pioneer Steamship Co. |
| 1963–1971 | Grovedale | Redwood Enterprises / Int’l Cruising Co. |
| 1971–1981 | Sidney E. Smith Jr. | International Cruising / Reoch Transports |
- 1963: Re-measured under Canadian registry with updated tonnage/dimensions
- 1971: Sold for scrap to Strathearne Terminals
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- Deregistration: Canadian Registry closed May 12, 1981
- Disposal: Towed from Toronto to Hamilton, ON (June 30, 1971) by tugs Lac Manitoba and Argue Martin
- Scuttled: Bow and stripped hulls intentionally sunk at the Steel Co. of Canada plant in Burlington Bay, forming a breakwater alongside the Henry R. Platt Jr.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
- Current Status: Still buried underwater, integrated into the industrial shoreline fill structures in Burlington Bay/Hamilton Harbour
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility
- Used as engineered shoreline fill within Hamilton Harbour, not considered a navigation hazard
- Modern environmental impact likely negligible; repeated industrial disturbance typical of mid-20th-century practices
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”sidney-e-smith-jr-donald-b-gillies-grovedale-joseph-g-butler-jr-us-202635″ title=”References & Links”]
The Joseph G. Butler, Jr. was a long-serving Great Lakes bulk freighter that saw extensive service under multiple names and owners. After retirement in 1971, she was scuttled to fortify Burlington Bay’s shoreline. Her remains now lie buried beneath the Steel Co. of Canada’s breakwater infrastructure.
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.
Later Names: Donald B. Gillies (1935–1963), Grovedale (1963–1971), briefly Sidney E. Smith Jr. (1971–1981 registry)
Identification & Construction
- Built: 1905 by American Shipbuilding Co., Lorain, Ohio
- Dimensions (1905): 525 × 55 × 31 ft; 6,588 GT / 5,174 NT
- Metric (1963): 532.5 × 55 × 27 ft; 7,368 GT / 5,233 NT
- Hull: Riveted steel, Hull No. 00339
- Rig: Propeller (steam-powered)
Ownership & Name History
| Period | Name | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| 1905–1935 | Joseph G. Butler, Jr. | Pioneer Steamship Co. |
| 1935–1963 | Donald B. Gillies | Pioneer Steamship Co. |
| 1963–1971 | Grovedale | Redwood Enterprises / Int’l Cruising Co. |
| 1971–1981 | Sidney E. Smith Jr. | International Cruising / Reoch Transports |
- 1963: Re-measured under Canadian registry with updated tonnage/dimensions
- 1971: Sold for scrap to Strathearne Terminals
Final Fate
- Deregistration: Canadian Registry closed May 12, 1981
- Disposal: Towed from Toronto to Hamilton, ON (June 30, 1971) by tugs Lac Manitoba and Argue Martin
- Scuttled: Bow and stripped hulls intentionally sunk at the Steel Co. of Canada plant in Burlington Bay, forming a breakwater alongside the Henry R. Platt Jr.
- Current Status: Still buried underwater, integrated into the industrial shoreline fill structures in Burlington Bay/Hamilton Harbour
Navigational & Environmental Considerations
- Used as engineered shoreline fill within Hamilton Harbour, not considered a navigation hazard
- Modern environmental impact likely negligible; repeated industrial disturbance typical of mid-20th-century practices ([turn0search11])
Conclusion
The Joseph G. Butler, Jr. was a long-serving Great Lakes bulk freighter that saw extensive service under multiple names and owners. After retirement in 1971, she was scuttled to fortify Burlington Bay’s shoreline. Her remains now lie buried beneath the Steel Co. of Canada’s breakwater infrastructure.
Suggested Follow-up Actions
- Harbour engineering records (ca. 1971): To confirm exact scuttling coordinates and construction plans
- Toronto Port Authority archives: For scrapping documentation and vessel transfer logs
- Hamilton harbour navigational charts (1970s): To trace integration of the hulls into breakwater layout
- Field survey potential: Although covered, structural remnants may still be detectable offshore