• Coordinates: 43.193654, -79.267246
  • Depth Range: 1–10 m (3–33 ft)
  • Estimated Length: 10–25 m (32–82 ft)
  • Casualties: Unknown
  • Site Location: Lock 2, Third Welland Canal, Martindale Pond, Jaycee Gardens Park

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATIO

  • Wreck Name: Unidentified
  • Other Names: “Jaycee Park Wreck”
  • Vessel Type: Presumed canal Barge or utility scow
  • Site Context: Submerged within Lock 2 of the Third Welland Canal (operational 1887–1932).
  • Visibility: First recorded photograph in 1965 during a pond drainage revealed the vessel outline.
  • Access: Located in a public park, shallow enough for snorkeling and drone surveys.

Note: The Lock walls of Lock 2 are still visible at the north end of the pond and provide physical clues to the canal’s past layout.

CONSTRUCTION & OWNERSHIP

  • Material: Likely wooden or iron Barge construction, typical of late 19th-century inland canal craft
  • Built By / Where: Unknown
  • Owner: Unknown; possibly a service vessel or retired canal Barge
  • Tonnage & Beam: Not yet documented

PROPULSION

  • Power: Unpowered – likely tow or push-based canal service vessel
  • Masts or Engine: None visible or recorded

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

This vessel likely served during the height of the Third Welland Canal’s operation, either for transport or canal maintenance. It may have been scuttled after the canal was decommissioned in favor of the newer Fourth Canal system. Local history indicates many such vessels were left in place or dismantled as part of site abandonment or repurposing.

FINAL DISPOSITION

  • Date of Abandonment: Pre-1965
  • Cause: Presumed deliberate scuttling or abandonment
  • Condition: Submerged in silt within former Lock chamber
  • Diving Status: Novice-friendly – shallow, accessible via park entrance
  • Current Use: Informal historical curiosity; no mooring or interpretive signage yet

REFERENCES & LINKS