Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: David W. Mills
- Type: Wooden screw steamer / bulk freighter
- Year Built: 1874
- Builder: Thomas Quayle & Sons, Cleveland, Ohio
- Dimensions: ~202 ft (61.6 m) × ~34 ft (10.4 m) beam × ~18 ft (≈5.5 m) depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: ~925 gross tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 3.6 m / 12 ft
- Location: Ford Shoal, Lake Ontario, approx. 4.5 miles (≈7.2 km) west of Oswego, New York
- Coordinates: approx. 43° 26.63′ N, 76° 35.089′ W
- Official Number: Unknown / Not verified
- Original Owners: Cleveland Transportation Company; later Orient Transportation Co.; later Mills Transportation Co.; possibly Border Steamship Corporation
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The *David W. Mills* was a wooden-hulled screw-propelled bulk freighter (steamer) used to transport heavy bulk cargo (lumber, coal, building materials) across the Great Lakes. It featured two decks and single-propeller propulsion, designed for relatively shallow draft trade.
Description
Built in 1874 by Thomas Quayle & Sons in Cleveland, Ohio, the vessel operated under several ownerships over its service life, including Cleveland Transportation Company, Orient Transportation Co., Mills Transportation Co., and possibly Border Steamship Corporation. It was renamed *David W. Mills* from *Sparta* sometime before 1919.
History
On the morning of **11 August 1919**, around 5:30 a.m., the vessel struck Ford Shoal under severely reduced visibility caused by smoke from Canadian forest fires. Attempts to refloat or avoid grounding failed; later storms broke apart the wreck.
Significant Incidents
- Grounding on Ford Shoal due to poor visibility on 11 August 1919.
- Declared a total loss after being broken up by storms.
Final Disposition
The primary cause of loss was grounding under poor visibility. The vessel was declared a total loss after being broken up by storms. The wreck remains in situ, partially intact (hull bottom sections) with scattered debris. No fatalities are known.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck location has been known locally and was formally documented by historical and dive groups in the late 20th century. It was designated a New York Submerged Cultural Preserve & Dive Site in 2000. The wreck is partially intact, with the hull bottom sections remaining and debris scattered across the shoal.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”sparta-david-w-mills” title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
As a protected site, divers are encouraged to practice no-touch documentation methods. Remember to leave only bubbles and take only memories, ensuring the preservation of this historical wreck for future generations.
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
Other Names: *Sparta*
Official Number: **Unknown / Not verified**
Registry: United States (Great Lakes trade)
Vessel Type: Wooden screw steamer / bulk freighter (“steambarge”)
Builder: Thomas Quayle & Sons, Cleveland, Ohio
Year Built: 1874
Dimensions: ~202 ft (61.6 m) × ~34 ft (10.4 m) beam × ~18 ft (≈5.5 m) depth of hold
Tonnage: ~925 gross tons (net tons variable / uncertain)
Cargo on Final Voyage: Not documented (likely general bulk freight)
Date of Loss: 11 August 1919
Location: Ford Shoal, Lake Ontario, approx. 4.5 miles (≈7.2 km) west of Oswego, New York
Coordinates: approx. 43° 26.63′ N, 76° 35.089′ W
Depth: Shallow; most of wreck in 12‑25 ft (≈3.6‑7.6 m), structure bottoms around ~16 ft (≈5 m)
Home Port: Not definitively known
Owners: Instituted with Cleveland Transportation Company; later Orient Transportation Co.; later Mills Transportation Co.; possibly Border Steamship Corporation by time of loss
Crew: Number and full list not verified in primary source
Casualties: None known / no recorded fatalities
Description
*David W. Mills* was a wooden‑hulled screw‑propelled bulk freighter (steamer) used to transport heavy bulk cargo (lumber, coal, building materials) across the Great Lakes. Two decks, single‑propeller propulsion, designed for relatively shallow draft trade.
History
Built in 1874 by Thomas Quayle & Sons in Cleveland, Ohio. Operated under several ownerships over its service life, including Cleveland Transportation Company, Orient Transportation Co., Mills Transportation Co., possibly Border Steamship Corporation. Renamed *David W. Mills* (from *Sparta*) sometime before 1919.
On the morning of **11 August 1919**, around 5:30 a.m., the vessel struck Ford Shoal under severely reduced visibility caused by smoke from Canadian forest fires. Attempts to refloat or avoid grounding failed; later storms broke apart the wreck.
Final Disposition
Grounding (Ford Shoal) under poor visibility was primary cause. Vessel declared a total loss after being broken up by storms. The wreck remains in situ, partially intact (hull bottom sections) with scattered debris. No fatalities known.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck location has been known locally; formally documented by historical / dive groups in the late 20th century. Was designated a New York Submerged Cultural Preserve & Dive Site in 2000. Specific date / individual for “discovery” of registry or logbooks not found in primary sources.
Notmars & Advisories
No formal navigational hazard marking in charts noted in sources consulted. Boaters are advised **not to anchor** on the wreck. Protected under state/sanctuary laws; disturbance or removal of artefacts prohibited.
Dive Information
Access: Boat entry via Oswego, NY
Entry Point: Oswego / Ford Shoal
Conditions: Shallow water (~12‑25 ft), good visibility common (≈35‑50 ft / 10‑15 m), seasonal variation and weather / smoke may reduce visibility
Depth Range: Approx. **3.6‑7.6 m** (12‑25 ft)
Emergency Contacts: U.S. Coast Guard Station Oswego; New York State marine patrols/local emergency services
Permits: Regulated site; permit required for research / disturbance; for recreational diving likely only adherence to preserve rules
Dive Support: Local dive shops; Oswego Maritime Foundation; site maps / guides available from local historical / maritime groups
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No recorded fatalities; crew names and detailed manifest not found in primary public sources in this search.
Potential sources for names: historical newspapers (Oswego area, 1919), enrollment / inspection certificates in Great Lakes registries (HCGL, NARA), local archives (Oswego)
Documented Statements & Extracts
“*…the heavy seas … smashed the big steamer DAVID MILLS … into pieces.*” — *Oswego Daily Times*, October 7, 1919.
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Official number: **Not verified**.
Owner history: as summarized above.
Insurance / underwriting records: not located in this search.
Enrollment / inspection certificates likely exist in U.S. registers; not found in digitized public collections so far.
Site Documentation & Imaging
Wreck has been mapped and documented by dive groups and historical / maritime organizations.
Coordinates from multiple sources: e.g. ShipwreckWorld gives lat/long of 43° 26′ 37.68″ N, 76° 35′ 5.7012″ W.
Site images, dive guides and photographs exist in local archives / dive publications.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
- Newspapers.com
- Find A Grave
References
- “David W Mills Shipwreck”, Deep World; specifications, date, cause, etc.
- “Wreck of the David W. Mills”, DiscoverUpstateNY.com; grounding, location, etc.
- “Wreck Location Map & GPS — David W Mills”, ShipwreckWorld.com; coordinates, depth, etc.
- “David W Mills” entry, Historical Marker Database (HMDB); dimensions, loss, etc.
- New York State / Sanity & mapping docs via “Lake Ontario NMS Nomination” (for grounding & site designation narrative)
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: Sparta
Official Number: Unverified (possibly 115242)
Coordinates: 43° 26.630′ N, 76° 35.089′ W (decimal: 43.44383, -76.58482)
Depth: 12–25 ft (3.6–7.6 m); most remains at ~16 ft (~5 m)
Location Description: Ford Shoal, 4.5 mi west of Oswego, Lake Ontario, New York
Vessel Type: Wooden screw steamer (steambarge / bulk freighter)
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 202.3 ft (61.6 m) length × 34 ft (10.4 m) beam × ~18 ft (5.5 m) depth; ~925 gross tons
Condition: Partial remains; intact lower hull (~180 ft); scattered debris across shoal
Cause of Loss: Grounding during smoke-obscured navigation; broke up in storms
Discovery Date: Known site historically; formally mapped 1991–1994
Discovered By: Oswego Maritime Foundation (mapping); prior known by local fishermen
Method: Dive and visual survey; site mapping
Legal Notes: Protected under New York Submerged Cultural Preserve (2000); federal protection via Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary (since Sept 6, 2024); disturbance/removal prohibited
Hazards: Vessel traffic hazard if anchoring; anchoring prohibited at site
Permits Required: Yes – for research, ROV, artifact interaction (sanctuary rules apply)
You must be logged in to post a comment.