Identification & Specifications

  • Name: Bertha May
  • Official Number: 90578
  • Year Built: 1886
  • Shipyard: W. R. Simpson, Gravenhurst, Ontario
  • Propulsion: Single-screw Steamer
  • Gross Tonnage: 20 tons
  • Dimensions: 44 ft × 11 ft × 5 ft

Construction & Technical Details

Bertha May was a small wooden-Hull screw Steamer, likely used for lake or river transportation and consistent with Muskoka’s thriving regional trade. Her diminutive size and low tonnage indicate she served as a passenger or light-freight vessel.

  • Original Engine: 9″ × 9″ (likely single-cylinder) by Doty Engine Works
  • Engine Update: In 1913, her original powerplant was removed and transferred to Nubertha, while she received a 6″ × 12″ × 9″ engine from Sharon, manufactured by Waterous Engineering Works, Brantford

Ownership Timeline

  • 1886–1901: Owned by C. Mickle, Gravenhurst, ON
  • 1906–1917: Owned by C. J. Smith, Muskoka region

Final Disposition

Bertha May was scuttled, though the date, location, and circumstances remain undocumented in existing sources. The vessel’s small size suggests she was likely sunk in a sheltered area—perhaps near Gravenhurst or Smith’s docks—after reaching the end of service.

Research Gaps & Next Steps

Known details:

  • Build data well-documented via watercraft registries
  • Engine swap and transfer records available from local industry

Unresolved aspects:

  • Exact scuttling date and location
  • Motivation for scuttling: end of life, structural issues, or other factors
  • Wreck condition and whether any documentation or notification exists

Recommended research avenues:

  • Gravenhurst & Muskoka Harbour Archives: Port logs, marine bylaws, or disposal notices spanning 1917–1930
  • Local newspapers (Gravenhurst, Huntsville): Search for scuttle notices or small-vessel disposal announcements
  • Marine insurance and certificate cancellation logs at Transport Canada or Ontario provincial marine records (1917–1920)
  • Hydrographic chart reviews: Early 20th-century charts of Lake Muskoka may note scuttled wrecks
  • Local historian institutions – Muskoka heritage societies or museums may hold anecdotal or photograph archives

Summary

Bertha May was a modest 20 ton screw Steamer built for local service in Muskoka. She underwent a noteworthy engine replacement in 1913 but was ultimately scuttled after 1917. The scuttling remains unlocated and undocumented, offering a promising opportunity for archival research, boatyard log examination, or a dive survey for possible remains.