IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

  • Vessel Name: Lothair (with mentions of Edward S. Pease)
  • Other Names: California (associated vessel)
  • Vessel Type: Schooner (Lothair); Freighter (California)
  • Year Built: 1872 (Lothair), 1873 (California)
  • Builder: St. Catharines, Ontario (Lothair); Hamilton, Ontario (California)
  • Final Resting Place: Colpoy’s Bay, Lake Huron
  • Coordinates: Specific coordinates available upon request

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION:

The Lothair was a wooden Schooner built in 1872, originally designed as a Screw-Propelled Vessel with a Gross Tonnage of 351 tons, later increased to 413 tons after a Rebuild in 1877. The vessel primarily served in the lumber trade, a common cargo for ships navigating the Great Lakes.

The California, built in 1873, was a wooden freighter designed to transport large cargoes, such as corn and pork. It was Rebuilt several times, altering its dimensions and tonnage to increase capacity and durability.

HISTORY:

Lothair: The Lothair’s service history includes several incidents, starting with a grounding on Amherst Island, Lake Ontario, in 1874. In 1879, it became stranded on the Breakwater at Collingwood, Ontario. Despite these setbacks, the ship continued to operate, particularly in the lumber trade. A significant event in its later years involved the vessel becoming waterlogged near Tobermory, Ontario, which led to costly repairs. In 1893, the Lothair suffered a devastating fire in Windsor, Ontario, marking the end of its service as a freighter. It was later converted into a Barge before being laid to rest in Colpoy’s Bay, serving as part of a breakwall.

California: The California’s history is marked by several rebuilds and incidents, most notably a grounding on St. Helena Island, Lake Michigan, during a gale in 1887, which resulted in the loss of five lives. After being refloated and Rebuilt, the California continued its service until it burned at the Tannery coal dock in Collingwood, Ontario, in 1904. Its hulk was later towed to Wiarton, Ontario, where it joined the Lothair as part of a breakwall in Colpoy’s Bay.

FINAL DISPOSITION:

The Lothair was eventually repurposed as part of a breakwall in Colpoy’s Bay, lying nose to tail with the California, after both vessels were no longer seaworthy. The Lothair’s Conversion to a Barge and its eventual use as a breakwall component marked the end of its operational life.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES:

  • Current Notices: There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) specifically associated with the Lothair or California wreck sites. Divers and maritime visitors should consult local advisories and maritime organizations for updated information.

LOCATED BY & DATE:

  • Discovery Date: Historical documentation indicates that both vessels were intentionally placed as part of a breakwall in Colpoy’s Bay. No specific modern discovery date is recorded.

RESOURCES & LINKS:

KEYWORDS:

Lothair, Edward S. Pease, California, Colpoy’s Bay, Lake Huron, Schooner, Freighter, Great Lakes Shipwreck, Maritime History, Breakwall.

CONCLUSION:

The stories of the Lothair and California are intertwined in the maritime history of Ontario and the Great Lakes region. Both vessels experienced significant events and challenges throughout their operational lives, ultimately finding their final resting place in Colpoy’s Bay as part of a breakwall. These ships serve as reminders of the perilous nature of Great Lakes navigation and the adaptive reuse of vessels in maritime infrastructure. Their legacy continues to intrigue and inform those interested in the rich history of the Great Lakes.