North Sandy Pond Shipwreck Remains

by Contributor | May 3, 2020 4:29 pm

By: Michael Johnson

SANDY POND – Along the Eastern shore of Lake Ontario, a reminder of the maritime history of the smallest Great Lake emerged from the cold water and shifting sand in March.

Those familiar with the shoreline of North Sandy Pond tell of a shipwreck that appears and disappears periodically, usually only visible underwater. Now a remnant of the lake’s past has emerged, quite possibly the result of climate change and the new reality of higher lake water levels.

The ribs, or what would be more correctly referred to as frames, and decking of the mystery ship have appeared just to the south of the North Sandy Pond channel. The wreck lies in an area that is seldom visited during the winter months, but one that becomes a busy recreation destination during the short, but brilliant North Country summer. Preserving and protecting the remnants of the vessel will be a challenge to those fascinated with maritime history.

Saving artifacts such as this wreck can be difficult, as curious visitors might inflict damage to the remains without intending to do so. An attempt to move the ship’s skeleton would be costly, and there is no guarantee that the fragile remains would survive the stress placed upon them in the process, according to Dan Brown at the North Carolina Sea Grant[1]. After many years underwater, little of the structural components of wood remain, and upon drying the wood collapses.

Leaving the wreck where it is is not a perfect solution either, as this increases the chance that parts of the ship may be removed by those in search of a souvenir.  Shipwrecks lying on the beach are subjected to the pounding of wave action every time the wind stirs the Lake.

The remains of the ship lie within the boundaries of Sandy Island Beach State Park.

According to park manager Kelly Morrissette, there are currently no firm plans to alter the state of the wreckage.

“With the need of State Parks staff to adapt to the stresses placed upon it by the Coronavirus Pandemic, dealing with the shipwreck has been put on hold for the time being,” Morrissette said.

The annual rising of the lake level in the spring, coupled with surges of water driven by wind storms, makes the situation more challenging.

“The shipwreck appears and disappears from day to day,” Morrisette said.     

According to Maritime History of the Great Lakes[2], one possible answer to the mystery is that the ship is the Hartford, a three masted schooner that was lost in the near vicinity of the wreck that lies on the beach today. The Hartford was bound for Cape Vincent in October of 1894, carrying 22,000 bushels of grain, a load that was possibly more than the ship could safely carry.

Although we will never know exactly what happened on that stormy night 125 years ago, it’s easy to imagine the difficult conditions mariners faced as they operated ships on Lake Ontario during the Autumn months. Frequent storms and gale force winds become more common as winter approaches. Ship owners and businessmen often felt pressured to attempt to push the boundaries of the shipping season, knowing that a long Winter of lying ashore was approaching.

Lake Ontario never gives up all of its secrets, and for those fascinated by the massive body of water, the mysteries are a part of the charm. The remains of the ship are a memorial to those whose lives were lost when it foundered, and should be treated with due respect.

Hopefully these artifacts will eventually be preserved and protected to enable future generations to learn to care for the Lake and its rich history.

 

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/community/north-sandy-pond-shipwreck-remains/

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