Identification Card (SLD)

Description

The Jason Gould was a small inland Steamboat operating in the Ottawa Valley region of Ontario. Likely Paddlewheel in propulsion type, the vessel operated on Muskrat Lake as part of the Cobden-to-Pembroke transportation network in the 1860s and 1870s. It was associated with the Union Forwarding Company, which took over earlier forwarding interests established by businessman Jason Gould.

History

The vessel was constructed in 1863 at Cobden, Ontario, a key node in a mixed road and water route known as “Gould’s Line”. This route connected inland communities via portage, stagecoach, and steam navigation. The Jason Gould transported passengers and freight across Muskrat Lake, where it served as a critical link between Cobden and a landing point near Pembroke.

Secondary sources state that the vessel sank on 5 May 1875, possibly after striking a submerged object. However, no primary source (such as a newspaper article or legal filing) describing the loss has yet been located.

Final Dispositions

The Steamer Jason Gould is recorded to have been lost on 5 May 1875 on Muskrat Lake. The cause of the loss is traditionally described as a collision with a submerged rock, but this remains unverified. The wreck’s condition and precise location remain unknown.

Located By & Date Found

No confirmed discovery of the wreck site has been documented. A previously claimed discovery in 1985 remains unverified.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No official navigational hazard marking is currently associated with this wreck on published charts of Muskrat Lake.

Dive Information

Access: Unknown
Entry Point: Not established
Conditions: Unknown
Depth Range: Unknown
Emergency Contacts: Ontario Provincial Police / Local EMS
Permits: May be required under Ontario Heritage Act
Dive Support: None documented

Crew & Casualty Memorials

No memorials or burial records specific to crew of the Jason Gould are currently documented. Crew identity and fate remain unknown.

Documented Statements & Extracts

“Jason Gould, 1875. Built at Cobden, Ontario, in 1863, it served the area between Pembroke and Cobden. It sank May 5, 1875.” (Source: Shipwrecks of the Ottawa River & Rideau Canal)

Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails

No registry, enrollment, or insurance records have yet been located for this vessel.

Site Documentation & Imaging

No site documentation, imagery, or survey records exist in published sources.

Image Gallery

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

• Shipwrecks of the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal: 1823–1949
• Muskrat Lake – Wikipedia
• Gould’s Line – Heritage Westmeath

NOAA Shipwreck Record Card