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

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

  • 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.