Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Sophia
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1844
- Builder: R. Gaskin, Windsor, Ontario
- Dimensions: 82 ft (25 m) × 18 ft (5.5 m) × 8 ft (2.4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 104 registered tons
- Location: Club Island, northeast of the mouth of Georgian Bay
- Official Number: None
- Original Owners: Stephens Brothers of Owen Sound
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A mid-19th century wooden schooner, briefly adapted for steam power before reverting to sail, typical of regional coastal freighters.
Description
The Sophia was a sturdy 104-ton schooner built in 1844, used to carry foodstuffs and supplies across Georgian Bay. With two masts, she bore a typical schooner rig, and her later steam conversion (and reversion) was indicative of experimental propulsion among vessels of the era.
History
Originally sailing under Stephens Brothers of Owen Sound, the Sophia was engaged in moving provisions—flour, potash, and fish—throughout Georgian Bay. On 10 October 1854, while anchoring off Club Island, a gale from the northeast struck. The vessel was overwhelmed by high winds and waves, driven ashore, and wrecked. Records do not indicate loss of life. Following her grounding, the Sophia was deemed unsalvageable.
Significant Incidents
- 10 October 1854: Driven ashore by a gale, wrecked beyond repair.
Final Disposition
Completely wrecked ashore with no records of salvage or recovery; she was abandoned and broken up naturally in place.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No underwater archaeological record or GPS coordinates exist for her site; remains have not been formally documented.
Wreck lies above water or in very shallow shoreline—no navigation hazards or formal markers recorded. Likely no obstruction remains.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”sophia-1844″ title=”References & Links”]
The story of the Sophia typifies modest coastal schooners that served Georgian Bay’s trade in the 1850s. Driven ashore by autumn storms, her loss reflects the routine but perilous nature of Great Lakes coastal navigation. Though no archaeological remains are recorded, her wreck contributes to the maritime heritage of Owen Sound and the region’s early shipowning enterprise.
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
- Name: Sophia
- Former Names: None documented
- Official Number: None
- Date Built & Launched: 1844, built by R. Gaskin, Windsor, Ontario (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Measurements: 25 m × 5.5 m × 2.4 m (82 ft × 18 ft × 8 ft); 104 registered tons
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner; initially steam-converted during her career, later re-rigged back to schooner (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Cargo at Loss: Flour, potash, and fish (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Date Lost: 10 October 1854 (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Place of Loss: Club Island, northeast of the mouth of Georgian Bay in Lake Huron (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Circumstance: Driven ashore by a gale; wrecked beyond repair. Owned by Stephens Brothers of Owen Sound (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Vessel Type
A mid-19th century wooden schooner, briefly adapted for steam power before reverting to sail, typical of regional coastal freighters.
Description
The Sophia was a sturdy 104-ton schooner built in 1844, used to carry foodstuffs and supplies across Georgian Bay. With two masts, she bore a typical schooner rig, and her later steam conversion (and reversion) was indicative of experimental propulsion among vessels of the era.
History
Originally sailing under Stephens Brothers of Owen Sound, the Sophia was engaged in moving provisions—flour, potash, and fish—throughout Georgian Bay. On 10 October 1854, while anchoring off Club Island, a gale from the northeast struck. The vessel was overwhelmed by high winds and waves, driven ashore, and wrecked. Records do not indicate loss of life. Following her grounding, the Sophia was deemed unsalvageable.
Final Disposition
Completely wrecked ashore with no records of salvage or recovery; she was abandoned and broken up naturally in place.
Located By & Date Found
No underwater archaeological record or GPS coordinates exist for her site; remains have not been formally documented.
Notations & Advisories
Wreck lies above water or in very shallow shoreline—no navigation hazards or formal markers recorded. Likely no obstruction remains.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – Sophia (1844–1854), Club Island wreck (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Conclusion
The story of the Sophia typifies modest coastal schooners that served Georgian Bay’s trade in the 1850s. Driven ashore by autumn storms, her loss reflects the routine but perilous nature of Great Lakes coastal navigation. Though no archaeological remains are recorded, her wreck contributes to the maritime heritage of Owen Sound and the region’s early shipowning enterprise.
Suggested Keywords & Glossary Terms: Club Island wreck, Georgian Bay schooner, October gale, Stephens Brothers Owen Sound, steam‑schooner conversion
Categories:
Great Lakes shipwrecks | Coastal freighters | Lake Huron wrecks | 19th‑century sail vessels