Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Speedwell
- Type: wooden two-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1875
- Builder: George Dixon, Marysburgh, Ontario
- Dimensions: 111 × 24 × 10 ft; 181 GRT
- Registered Tonnage: 181 GRT
- Location: Toronto, Ontario
- Official Number: C72961
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Speedwell was a wooden two-masted schooner, primarily used for general cargo transport on Lake Ontario.
Description
Built in 1875 by George Dixon in Marysburgh, Ontario, the Speedwell measured 111 feet in length, 24 feet in beam, and had a depth of 10 feet. It was registered with a gross tonnage of 181 GRT.
History
The Speedwell had a notable service history, including a grounding incident in November 1886 at Braddock’s Bay during a storm, where it was abandoned but likely refloated and repaired. Its service continued until a fire incident in June 1896.
Significant Incidents
- Fire at Dock – June 3, 1896: The Speedwell caught fire while moored off the Berkeley Street Wharf in Toronto. No crew were aboard, and the cause remains unknown. The fire caused extensive damage, leading to her being declared a total loss.
- Storm Grounding – November 1886: The vessel grounded during a storm at Braddock’s Bay, was abandoned, but was likely refloated and repaired to continue service.
Final Disposition
After the fire in 1896, the Speedwell was towed away from the wharf but was ultimately abandoned and likely scrapped or sunk subsequently.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is not documented, but it is confirmed that the vessel was lost due to fire and subsequent abandonment.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”speedwell-1876″ title=”References & Links”]
The Speedwell serves as a reminder of the risks faced by wooden vessels in the late 19th century, particularly the dangers of fire when left unattended.
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.
(wooden two-masted schooner, 1875–1896)
- Built: 1875 by George Dixon, Marysburgh, Ontario
- Official No.: C72961
- Dimensions: 111 × 24 × 10 ft; 181 GRT
- Role: General cargo schooner on Lake Ontario
Fire at Dock – June 3, 1896
- The Speedwell caught fire while moored off the Berkeley Street Wharf in Toronto on June 3, 1896
- No crew were aboard at the time; the cause remains unknown
- The fire smoldered through the night, severely damaging the upper decks and scorching the hold—estimated damage was at least $800, against a vessel value of $3,500
- By morning, the tug Frank Jackman towed her away from the wharf; though partially saved, the damage ultimately led to her being declared a total loss (navalmarinearchive.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Storm Grounding – November 1886
- A decade prior, the Speedwell had come ashore during a storm at Braddock’s Bay, Lake Ontario, in November 1886
- She broke and was abandoned, though she was likely refloated and repaired to continue service until the 1896 fire (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Summary Table
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Build Year | 1875, Marysburgh, Ontario |
| Official No. | C72961 |
| Size | 111′ × 24′ × 10′, 181 GRT |
| Fire Incident | June 3, 1896, Toronto mooring |
| Fire Damage | Extensive; declared total loss |
| Storm Incident | Nov 1886, grounded at Braddock’s Bay |
| Fate After Fire | Abandoned; scrapped or sunk subsequently |
Historical Significance
- The Speedwell exemplifies the hard-working cargo schooners of her era—resilient through multiple incidents yet ultimately lost by fire
- Destruction by fire at dock highlights the common late-19th-century risks of wooden sailing vessels when unattended