Shotline Diving

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Unidentified Hull & Dock Structure – Martindale Pond, St. Catharines, ON (Wreck 2)

Explore the submerged remnants of an unidentified hull and dock structure in Martindale Pond, a site of potential archaeological significance.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Unknown Hull & Dock Structure
  • Type: Unknown – large hull fragment with possible dock or cribbing elements
  • Year Built:
  • Builder: Unknown
  • Dimensions: Length ~30 m (98 ft); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: Not determined
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 1 m / 3 ft
  • Location: Martindale Pond, east of Lock 2, Third Welland Canal Corridor
  • Coordinates: 43.194797, -79.264030
  • Original Owners: Unknown – possibly linked to 19th or early 20th-century canal industry
  • Number of Masts: None visible

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Unknown – large hull fragment with possible dock or cribbing elements.

Description

This large structural remnant has been present since at least the 1950s and is believed to have origins related to late canal-era service or local dockage. It may be a scuttled canal vessel, partially buried wharf system, or maintenance platform. Archival material from the 1965 pond drainage shows its full outline above the silt.

Its proximity to Lock 2 and the general Third Canal alignment supports a working theory that this object is connected to the infrastructure or staging areas used during the canal’s operational lifespan.

History

This structure appears in 1965 photos taken during the drainage of Martindale Pond, indicating its presence during that period. The site context suggests a connection to former canal operations, possibly serving as a dock or part of a larger infrastructure.

Significant Incidents

  • Presence of structural components resembling either a barge or cribbed dockwork.
  • Potential for archaeological significance due to proximity to historical shipping lanes.

Final Disposition

Estimated date of abandonment is pre-1950s, likely due to deliberate abandonment or structural failure. The current condition is mostly submerged and partially buried in the pond floor, with some timber and deck outline visible in certain seasonal images.

Diving status indicates that it is accessible for visual inspection and survey at low depth; dive or drone documentation is possible.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The structure is mostly submerged and partially buried in the pond floor. Some timber and deck outlines are visible in certain seasonal images, making it accessible for visual inspection and survey.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”unidentified-hull-dock-structure-martindale-pond-st-catharines-on-wreck-2″ title=”References & Links”]

Want to help ID this structure? Submit site observations, photos, or stories from the 1950s–60s to Shotline Diving and help us document this lost artifact of the canal era.

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.

Unidentified Hull & Dock Structure – Martindale Pond, St. Catharines, ON (Wreck 2)

  • Coordinates: 43.194797, -79.264030
  • Depth Range: 1–7 m (3–23 ft)
  • Estimated Length: ~30 m (98 ft)
  • Casualties: Unknown
  • Site Location: Martindale Pond, east of Lock 2, Third Welland Canal Corridor

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Wreck Name: Unknown Hull & Dock Structure
  • Other Names: “Wreck 2 – East Martindale Site”
  • Vessel Type: Unknown – large hull fragment with possible dock or cribbing elements
  • Site Context: Appears in 1965 photos taken during pond drainage; located in proximity to former canal operations
  • Access: Situated in shallow water, publicly accessible shoreline — visible via drone or low-water snorkel

Note: Presence of structural components resembling either a barge or cribbed dockwork. Potential for archaeological significance due to proximity to historical shipping lanes.

CONSTRUCTION & OWNERSHIP

  • Material: Likely timber construction (barge or wharf structure)
  • Built By / Where: Unknown
  • Owner: Unknown – possibly linked to 19th or early 20th-century canal industry
  • Length: ~30 m (98 ft)
  • Tonnage & Beam: Not determined

PROPULSION

  • Power: Not applicable or unknown — potentially non-propelled barge or stationary cribbing
  • Engine/Masts: None visible; flat or fragmented construction pattern

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

This large structural remnant has been present since at least the 1950s and is believed to have origins related to late canal-era service or local dockage. It may be a scuttled canal vessel, partially buried wharf system, or maintenance platform. Archival material from the 1965 pond drainage shows its full outline above the silt.

Its proximity to Lock 2 and the general Third Canal alignment supports a working theory that this object is connected to the infrastructure or staging areas used during the canal’s operational lifespan.

FINAL DISPOSITION

  • Date of Abandonment: Estimated pre-1950s
  • How: Deliberate abandonment or structural failure
  • Current Condition: Mostly submerged; partially buried in pond floor; some timber and deck outline visible in certain seasonal images
  • Diving Status: Accessible for visual inspection and survey at low depth; dive or drone documentation possible

REFERENCES & LINKS

Want to help ID this structure? Submit site observations, photos, or stories from the 1950s–60s to Shotline Diving and help us document this lost artifact of the canal era.

unidentified-hull-dock-structure-martindale-pond-st-catharines-on-wreck-2 1950-04-25 00:16:00