sos newsletter - Save Ontario Shipwrecks

ISSN NO 1180-1972
SOS NEWSLETTER
May 2009
SOS NEWSLETTER
P.O. Box 2389
Blenheim, ON N0P 1A0
Fax: 519-676-7058
http://www.saveontarioshipwrecks.on.ca
Editor/Designer:
Krissy Nickle
[email protected]
From the Editor:
In addition to several interesting articles and
news items, this month's newsletter contains
news and updates from the SOS 2009 Annual
General Meeting, which was held in Hamilton on
April 25.
I would also like to direct your
attention to the changes to the Board Members
The SOS Newsletter is
published four times a year in
February, May, August, and
November. This issue is
published May 2009.
The SOS Newsletter is
published by Save Ontario
Shipwrecks (SOS), a nonprofit charitable organization
dedicated to furthering public
knowledge and appreciation of
Ontario’s Marine Heritage.
and Committee Representatives listed on the last
page of the newsletter.
Thanks
again
to
everyone
who
has
contributed this month!
Enjoy the newsletter,
We encourage reproduction of
our
newsletter
contents.
Credits should read: From the
SOS Newsletter, date of issue,
a publication of Save Ontario
Shipwrecks.
Opinions
expressed
by
contributors to the newsletter
are not necessarily those of the
Editor or the Board of SOS.
Save Ontario Shipwrecks
gratefully acknowledges the
support and financial assistance of the Ontario Ministry
of Culture.
Submission deadline
for the next issue is
July 1, 2009.
The Mission of Save Ontario Shipwrecks is the
preservation and promotion of marine heritage
through research, conservation and education.
View from the Bridge
SOS President's Report for 2008
(presented at the 2009 AGM)
This past year has been an active one at SOS. We have taken a number of
important steps forward. Accomplishments are outlined in the Chapter
reports and Special Function reports in the most recent newsletters. At the
Provincial level, we have been busy enhancing services to members and
Chapters as well as making major advancements for education and the
preservation of marine heritage.
Ships Stores continues to evolve. Quartermaster Marg Barker maintains a
fully populated online store where you can buy SOS items for the
maintenance of buoys and plaques as well as survey equipment and
personal diving items such as slates and field guides. We have added two
to four new slates every year for the past few years. A set of 12 slates is
now available as well as many other items.
Website work was implemented in 2008 to put the old SOS Marine
Heritage Database online, which was originally setup to run on a museum
kiosk system. A great deal of database and programming work has been
accomplished by Tom Wilson of Brockville. Tom has also put up the
Shipwreck Geek challenge as well as a user survey poll on the SOS
website.
An online membership system is being researched to try and find a
solution that could be adapted to our more complex situation. These
complexities include SOS membership with family options and optional
OUC membership/insurance combined. So far the quotes we received are
out of sync for our financial means, and other open source systems would
need a lot of customization. A system has not yet been chosen, but Tom,
Bernie (Membership Chair) and I have moved the membership database to
a secure server in a datacenter. This allows for multiple-user access and
daily backup of critical data in a safe environment that protects your
information from third parties.
SOS Newsletter
1
As with any volunteer organization, we struggled with the implementation
of grant applications for a number of projects again this year. We need
new modernized displays… our 20+ year old displays work, but are
cumbersome and hard to relocate in smaller vehicles. We need more
brochures like the Low Impact Diving brochure… one on related laws for
heritage sites would further educate people on the reasons not to disturb a
site. More buoys are needed… our Buoy Program has been running since
2003 and most are showing wear. The challenge has been that people who
committed to doing the grant application work were unable to step up for
SOS, so it did not happen for the second year.
SOS has created a simple strategic plan document so we can all focus on
similar core goals. This does not preclude each part of SOS doing any
other project, but helps create an expectation of what we need to see
happen as a minimum in each area. These include working with local dive
shops and charter operators to get SOS materials and ideals into the hands
and minds of local divers across the province.
With the ongoing vacancy of the Ministry of Culture’s “Marine Heritage
Advisor” position (previously the “Marine Archaeologist” position held by
Erika Laanela), we have been keeping in touch with the Ministry to
emphasize the importance of filling this position so there can be a
knowledgeable seasoned resource in local government . We are told an
offer for a “Marine Heritage Advisor” is in the making but after 24 months
there is still no announcement. This has directly impacted SOS’s ability to
offer NAS training throughout the province in the past 2 years. We look
forward to working with the new person whenever they arrive on the
scene.
It is very exciting to announce that SOS has applied for and received a
license to teach NAS courses ourselves: we are now officially a Training
Partner with the Nautical Archaeology Society. Previously we relied on
the Ministry of Culture to supply the instructor under license to the NAS.
With the help of Chris Phinney in the Hamilton Chapter and five SOS
members (Deb Brooks, Chris Holloway, Bryan Thomas, Marg Barker,
David Taylor), who have stepped up to be trained as NAS Tutors in May
2009, we will soon be in better control of our own destiny. This brings
many new and vast challenges to our organization. We hope to see NAS
programs delivered throughout Ontario this summer.
2
May 2009
Chapters were busiest in the East and Central regions based on financial
report data. Overall, Chapters hold $10,939 in the bank as of Dec 31
2008. There was $5688 received by chapters as a result of projects,
donations, provincial funds and a NAS1 in Quebec showing the highest
revenue. $5902 was spent by chapters for outreach projects with 1000
Islands topping the list as biggest spender (also had 2nd largest revenue)
with an all time low of 1.5% for all chapters going towards administrative
expenses. Overall financial report discrepancies are down for the third
consecutive year.
I’d like to close by mentioning the awards SOS presented in 2008. The
SOS Marine Heritage Award was bestowed upon Robert Grenier of Parks
Canada at the 2008 AGM for his contribution to marine heritage around
the world. The SOS Directors Achievement Award was bestowed upon
Bob Ligthart for his 23 years service to SOS in various capacities such as
Director on the Board, Membership Chair, Chapter Chair and Eastern
Region Representative.
Thank you to all the members for renewing and retaining your
membership. Our years of service roster published in the Newsletter
shows some amazing dedication to the cause. We need your continued
support be it simply through membership. At this time, I would personally
like to thank those of you who have stepped up and contributed to the
success of SOS by lending a hand in 2008. As a 100% volunteer
organization, we can’t do it without you.
Respectfully Submitted,
Brian Prince
SOS President
SOS Newsletter
3
Treasurer's Report for 2008
These audited statements were presented to the members at the 2009
Annual General Meeting:
4
May 2009
SOS Newsletter
5
SOS AGM Update – Brian Prince, SOS President
2009 has seen a number of changes to the Board of SOS. A resolution
was passed at this year's AGM to increase the size of the Board from 7 to
9 positions, in order to facilitate the transition of the Board when new
members are elected.
Gordon Dewis resigned his position on the Board this year. Gordon
remains a member of the Ottawa Chapter, and we thank him for his years
of service on the Board, during which he served in various positions
including as Bylaw Committee Chair and Quartermaster.
I am pleased to announce that Mike Hill of Preserve Our Wrecks (POW)
has been elected to the SOS Board of Directors. He has accepted the
position of Vice President (in addition to his special function role as
Public Relations Officer). Please join me in welcoming Mike to the
province-wide marine heritage scene.
Jonathan Ferguson remains on the Board as Ethics Committee Chair and is
also this year the Chapter Chair for Toronto. Thanks Jon for holding the
VP position for so many years and for your work in growing the Toronto
Chapter.
David Taylor has taken on the role of SOS Treasurer (in addition to his
current roles as OUC Insurance Chair and Central Region Rep) freeing
Margaret Barker to concentrate on the demanding task of managing Ships
Stores and the SOS Secretary position. Thanks David for taking on more
responsibility.
With the business portion of the AGM concluded, Nathalie Lasselin, the
Quebec Chapter Chair, made a very inspiring presentation of her new film
H20 Secrets - J.B. King. Members who attended the AGM had a chance to
hear first hand from the producer of this award winning film, and to see it
on the large theatre screen at the Parks Canada Discovery Centre. Thanks
Nathalie for being this year's guest speaker. People can see the trailer and
buy the DVD at SOS Ships Stores:
www.SaveOntarioShipwrecks.on.ca/QMstore/.
Congratulations to the SOS award winners Walter Lewis, Rick Neilson,
and Bernie Roy for 2009. (See the associated articles on the following
pages.)
6
May 2009
SOS Marine Heritage Award – 2009
There are many individuals involved with marine heritage but we
recognize that there are a select few whose dedication deserves special
recognition. The SOS award is presented yearly to someone who
demonstrates a special effort promoting marine heritage conservation.
The Master Award, with an engraved plate recording each award, is on
display in the SOS Head Office, or other public location and a
personalized Plaque is given to each recipient. For the foreseeable
future, the Master Award will be on display at the Marine Museum of the
Great Lakes at Kingston for all to appreciate.
This year, unusually, the award recognizes the exceptional efforts, over
many years, of two Ontario authors and researchers who have
transformed a wide range of publicly accessible, but diverse and awkward
sources of information, into an online resource that responds readily to
the inquiries of all sections of the diving and historical research
communities. Their website, the Maritime History of the Great Lakes, is
an extraordinarily detailed repository of all manner of information
benefiting divers, researchers and the idly curious. It represents many
years of dedicated and painstaking work by the two individuals
recognized today. Besides this major work, they have found time to write
many articles for historical journals and to produce a wonderfully readable
book titled “River Palace”, which is about the long working life of the
steel-hulled paddle steamer Kingston - better known to many as the
wreck of the Cornwall.
The first individual is a professional librarian whose work is strongly
inclined towards the drive to provide better access through digital
archiving and the exploitation of computer technologies. A Masters in
History from Queen's University accurately reflects a long-standing
interest in historical topics. He has a particular interest in the history of
the Great Lakes and the relationships between the shipping industry,
government and the commercial interests of the steamboat trades.
The person who shares the Award this year is a highly respected member
of the Ontario dive community with an enviable record of research-led
wreck discoveries. He has a reputation for scrupulous investigation and
impeccably accurate reporting. He shares the distinction of a substantial
body of published works with his colleague and fellow author.
Both of the recipients have, for many years, been at the forefront of the
campaign to preserve and protect Ontario's maritime legacy. Their
articles and oral presentations contribute significantly to the essential
SOS Newsletter
7
work of educating the public and informing each generation of divers and
avocational nautical archaeologists.
For their long-standing dedication to the promotion and preservation of
marine heritage and their contributions to research and the written record
of its many facets Save Ontario Shipwrecks have bestowed this award
upon:
Walter Lewis and Rick Neilson
CONGRATULATIONS !
Brian Prince (centre) presenting the 2009 SOS Marine Heritage Award
to Rick Neilson (left) and Walter Lewis (right).
Photo: K. Nickle
SOS Director’s Achievement Award – 2009
The cornerstones of any volunteer organization are its members; they
determine the strength, direction and the resolve of the organization that
ensures that the objectives are met.
Today, with the pace of life always seeming to increase and numerous
distractions available, a volunteer organization is very fortunate to have
long-term members that have contributed to its success. This year’s
recipient of the SOS Directors Achievement Award has been an SOS
member for twenty years. He is one of the original members of the
Windsor chapter where he lived while working at Ford. He has not only
8
May 2009
offered his services to his local chapter as Treasurer for 10 years, but
also served the executive as a Board Member-at-Large, and as
membership chair, perhaps the most challenging position in the
organization. He has always been most reliable when there was a job to
be done and he did it with integrity.
He has proven utmost dedication to both Ontario’s maritime heritage and
to Save Ontario Shipwrecks. Despite taking care of his parents for many
years and personal health issues that have now prohibited his diving, he
could not overlook a better Mecca (aka Lake Huron) than where he lives
in Tobermory.
His enthusiasm with genealogy, marine heritage
preservation and the role in which Save Ontario Shipwrecks plays in the
preservation of this heritage, remains steadfast. All organizations would
be more successful if they had people like this year’s recipient.
Recognizing twenty years of dedication to the preservation of Ontario’s
marine heritage, the Windsor Chapter and the members of Save Ontario
Shipwrecks through his past activities on the Board and current role as
membership chair, we are very pleased to present the 2009 SOS
Directors Achievement award to:
Bernie Roy
CONGRATULATIONS !
Brian Prince (left) presenting the 2009 SOS Director's Achievement
Award to longtime SOS member, Bernie Roy.
Photo: K. Nickle
SOS Newsletter
9
10
May 2009
H2O Secrets J.B. King
At this year's AGM, we were privileged to have as our guest speaker
an award-winning documentary filmmaker. Nathalie Lasselin is the
founder of Pixnat production. She has been working in the film
industry for the last 17 years as a Director of Photography and
professional underwater camera operator. Being an occupational
and technical diver, she produces documentaries to enlighten the
beauty and treasures of the underwater world.
After the business portion of the AGM, Nathalie – who is also the
Chair of SOS's Quebec Chapter – gave a brief talk introducing her
film, “H2O Secrets – J.B. King”.
The story takes place on the St. Lawrence River: the longest inland
seaway in the world. It took 350 years to transform the river into
the blue highway we now know. Within its history, the biggest
marine industrial disaster in Canada occurred: the loss of the
biggest drilling barge: the J.B. King.
78 years after the accident, Nathalie Lasselin put together a team of
rebreather divers to rediscover this lost story. Confronting the
depth and current, the team goes on a journey to identify the
exploded wreck’s remains and honour the memory of the men who
lost their life. In a split second, among the 42 on board, 30 lost
their lives. The bodies of seventeen men were never recovered.
Throughout Nathalie's film the sole remaining survivor, Ev Snider,
recounts that fatal day.
“H2O Secrets – J.B. King”, featuring Ev Snider, Marc-André Bernier
and Stancko Polic, is now available on DVD through the SOS Ships
Stores website:
www.saveontarioshipwrecks.on.ca/qmstore/
Î DVD cover image of “H OSecrets – J.B. King”, directed by Nathalie Lasselin
2
SOS Newsletter
11
200 Year Old War Ship May Lie In French Creek Bay
Near Clayton, New York.
Cannon may link old hull to the USS Oneida, America's first
Warship on the Great Lakes.
Dennis R. McCarthy
St. Lawrence River Historical Foundation, Inc.
Local folklore and history came together during a presentation at
Great Lakes Underwater 2009, an Underwater Cultural Resource
Event hosted by New York Sea Grant and the Oswego Maritime
Foundation in Oswego, NY, on March 7th 2009. One of the
presentations, “The USS Oneida - 200th Anniversary of America's
First Warship on the Great Lakes”, detailed the history of the USS
Oneida that was launched on March 31st 1809 at Oswego, NY. A
vessel of 262 tons, it had a distinguished service during the War of
1812. As part of the presentation it was stated that historians did
not believe that any remains of the Oneida still existed. In Robert
Malcomson’s book “Warships of the Great Lakes 1754-1834” page
142, the Oneida was listed as being sold out of US service and was
“beached at Clayton, New York in 1837”.
At the presentation was Skip Couch, a resident of Clayton, New
York and descendant of Connecticut shipbuilders that settled in
Clayton in the early 1800’s. As he listened to the talk, he realized
that he may be the only living person to dive on the wreck of the
Oneida.
The presentation caused Skip
to remember that years ago his
uncle Bill Couch told him about
a cannon from a wreck in
French Creek Bay at Clayton.
The cannon had been mounted
downtown through the efforts of
the Clayton Fish & Rod Club in
the early 1900’s. Skip’s uncle
also said that because it was
identified as a relic of the War of 1812 the cannon was not lost to
the Scrap Iron Recovery Plan of World War II.
12
May 2009
In the early 1970’s, Tommy Turgeon, the Director of Thousand
Island Ship Yard Museum, asked Skip Couch and Charlie Bender,
both well known local scuba divers, to check on the location of the
wreck that the old cannon was salvaged from, because of the
marine construction taking place in the area. They found the
remains of a wreck and recovered a number of artifacts for the
museum including cannon balls, small pieces of iron and a bar
shot. These items were transferred to the New York State Historic
Site at Sacket's Harbor about 1973. Charlie Bender passed away
in 2006.
Stories passed down from local Clayton residents, including Skip’s
ancestors, stated that “the Oneida lies in French Creek Bay next to
one of its conquests”. Folklore also states that in the 1820’s or
1830’s, a Clayton-based shipping company owned by E. G.
Merreck bought several vessels from someone in Oswego that had
been part of the War of 1812 fleet sold by the US government. One
of these was supposed to be the Oneida and she was refitted for
the timber trade and sailed out of Clayton. She was presumed to be
abandoned after many years and was left to decay in French Creek
Bay at the mercy of the elements and ice.
Plan of the USS Oneida.
SOS Newsletter
13
It is very unique that an iron cannon and artifacts such as cannon
balls and bar shot would be on a wreck in French Creek Bay,
Clayton, NY. Iron could be carried in a ship for ballast and does not
immediately confirm the ship’s identity. Charles Trollope, a member
of the Ordnance Society in Great Britain reviewed photos and
dimensions of the cannon and identified it as of French design of
the 1780-90s. This puts the gun in the time frame that it could have
been on the Oneida. It was also common that guns produced by
one country would be bought or captured and used by an other
country. Robert Malcomson’s book “Warships of the Great Lakes
1754-1834”, page 65, list the Oneida as having 18 guns, and two of
them were 6 pounders.
Skip Couch, a scuba diver since the 1960’s, is a founding member
of the Clayton Diving Club, and co-author of the book “Diver's
Guide to the Upper St. Lawrence River”. Skip’s ancestors include
Willard Cook, keeper of Rock Island Light House 1870 to 1879 and
Ivan Couch, Clayton ship builder whose St. Lawrence Skiff can be
seen in the Clayton Antique Boat Museum.
More information will be posted as it becomes available on
http://www.ghostshipsofthe1000islands.com/ .
There is no dilemma compared with that of the deepsea diver who hears the message from the ship
above, "Come up at once. We are sinking."
~ Robert Cooper
14
May 2009
NOW
AVAILABLE IN
SHIPS STORES!
Underwater Archaeology: The NAS Guide to Principles
and Practice provides a comprehensive summary of the
archaeological process as applied in an underwater context.
•
•
•
•
Long awaited second edition of what is popularly referred to as
the NAS Handbook
Provides a practical guide to underwater archaeology: how to get
involved, basic principles, essential techniques, project planning
and execution, publishing and presenting
Fully illustrated with over 100 drawings and new colour graphics
New chapters on geophysics, historical research, photography
and video, monitoring and maintenance and conservation
With Underwater Archaeology the Nautical Archaeology Society
reveals the real underwater treasure – a rich cultural heritage
that has helped shape the world in which we live. By outlining
the principles and practices, this book will enable the reader to
make informed and responsible decisions about how to get the
most from their involvement with underwater archaeology.
The Nautical Archaeology Society is a non-government
organization formed to further interest in our underwater
cultural heritage. The NAS is dedicated to advancing education
in nautical archaeology at all levels; to improving techniques in
excavating, conservation and reporting; and to encouraging the
participation of members of the public at all stages. The Society
has published The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology
since 1972 and also produces the newsletter Nautical
Archaeology, which is free to members.
SOS Newsletter
15
(L – R) Marc-Andre Bernier, Brian Prince, Marg Barker, David Taylor, Bryan Thomas, Chris
SOS Holds NAS
In conjunction with the NAS license SOS acquired in February
2009, SOS held an NAS Tutor training class on May 9th and
10th in Kingston at the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes.
Marc-André Bernier of Parks Canada (the Senior NAS Tutor for
Canada) was the instructor.
All of the people in the photo have graduated to be SOS NAS
Tutors, allowing them to teach the NAS curriculum under the
SOS license and gain more experience. SOS can now hold our
own classes without relying on the schedule of other
organizations.
The class started bright and early on Saturday and 8am. We
covered the curriculum items and extended the day a bit to free
up people's time for Mothers' Day on Sunday. Sunday we
started again at 8am and each person presented their 10 minute
topic of choice and was given a critique. The hardest part was
not the material or standing in front of others, but covering a
small topic is just 10 minutes. Most of us went over a bit.
Topics ranged from 2D & 3D survey techniques, project safety,
DSM software usage, the value of pictures, how to use the
National Archives,
to more technical presentations about
acoustic scanning, sonar, laser scanning, position fixing and GPS
types, accuracies and errors.
16
May 2009
Phinney, Nadine Kopp, Brandi Lockhart, Chris Holloway, Nathalie Lasselin, Ben Holthof.
Tutor Training
Many thanks again to Marc-André of Parks Canada for coming
out on a weekend cutting in to family time on Mothers' Day right
before departing for his field work season and to all the SOS
members who attended and will be working hard to bring the
NAS Introduction, Level 1 and Level 2 classes to Ontario divers
and non-divers. This is SOS History in the making!
Upcoming NAS Intro/Level 1 Courses
July 3-5
Hamilton, ON
July 24-25
Ottawa, ON
August 28-30
Central or Western Region
September 25-27
Eastern or Northern Region
Please direct all inquiries to Chris Phinney at:
[email protected]
SOS Newsletter
17
"THE STORY OF GROG"
Embellished from a PUSSER'S RUM booklet
by Brian Prince
Grog had its beginning in the Royal Navy - specifically on August 21st, 1740.
It is the most traditional of all sea drinks. Prior to 1740, PUSSERS RUM
was issued to the men 'neat' (undiluted). Their ration was 1/2-pint twice
daily, and the men were often times drunk because of it. Admiral Edward
Vernon, Commander-in-Chief West Indies, was much concerned with the
drunkenness and the severe punishment that followed. Believing that
dilution with water would reduce drunkenness, he ordered the men's daily
rum ration be mixed with water in a scuttled butt (a wood water cask with a
hole half way up). And that the men be given extra lime juice and sugar so
that it be made more palatable to them.
The men had affectionately nicknamed Vernon Old Grog on account of the
grogram (coarse mixed fabric) cloak he often wore. They were incensed
that he'd watered their rum, and thus named it contemptuously grog from
the name they'd given him. And so it was that Grog became the first
cocktail! Thereafter, all of the Royal Navy adopted the practice.
The 'scuttled butt' became known as the 'Grog Tub' as sailors embellished
it to be an oak cask, with fancy top and banded with polished brass or
copper. As the men stood in line waiting for their ration of grog, rumours
were exchanged and in time the word scuttlebutt became synonymous with
gossip.
To try "liquid history":
In a short glass, over the rocks, pour
2 ozs. of dark rum
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
2 oz. soda water
1 tsp. dark cane (brown) sugar
Mix till sugar dissolved. Garnish with a
lime wedge.
SOS reminds you to please enjoy responsibly, and
NEVER DRINK AND DIVE!
18
May 2009
From the Archives
JULIE CARL
Originally printed in the London Free Press October 29, 1993
Divers Discover
'Ghost Fleet' of St. Clair
The Yakima.
The four ships were scuttled in the
1920's and 30's.
SARNIA – Take nothing but pictures and
memories; leave nothing but bubbles.Bubbles?
That's right bubbles. It's a fine motto
for scuba divers exploring shipwrecks.
Cris Kohl should know. He's a shipwreck
historian who's een exploring shipwrecks
in Ontario – the St. Clair River in
particular – since 1974.
Kohl and his partners recently
discovered four late 19th-century and early
20th-century shipwrecks in Lake Huron,
about 18 kilometers northeast of Sarnia.
The ships, which the divers have
named the Ghost Fleet of the St. Clair
River, sunk in other locations and then
were refloated, stripped of equipment
which could be reused, towed to Sarnia
Bay and scuttled – purposely sunk. The
bay became crowded with scuttled ships.
During the 1920s and 1930s there were
massive clean-up efforts and the ships
were towed out into the lake and scuttled
again.
Last June, Kohl, of Chatham and
fellow divers found the Yakima, a 85metre (279 foot) wooden steamer.
Researching old newspapers, shipping
records and archives in Ottawa, Kohl
discovered the ship went aground north of
Stag Island near Marysville, Mich., on
June 10, 1905. Three days later it burned
and sank.
Later that year, it was taken to Sarnia
to be stripped and scuttled in the bay.
While exploring the wreck, found
mostly intact in 23.4 metres (77 feet) of
water, the divers found the hull littered
with 1920s beer bottles. Kohl guesses the
SOS Newsletter
19
crew which scuttled it had a few beers
while they worked and tossed their
empties into the hull.
It's the people stories connected with
shipwrecks that fascinate Kohl.
His team found the Province, a 49.3metre (162 foot) dredge barge, in October.
It sank Sept. 27, 1923, 6.4 kilometers
south of Sarnia. Newspaper accounts say it
settled gently in the shallow water just six
metres (20 feet) from shore but two of the
11 crew members couldn't swim, panicked
and drowned. One was 29, the other 37.
One left five children.
The Province was found with the
remains of the Aztec, a 54.8 metre (180foot) wooden steamer, resting on it. The
Aztec burned in its moorings in the Belle
River near Marine City, Mich., Nov. 8,
1923. When Sarnia Bay was cleaned up in
1936, the Aztec was dynamited and placed
on the Province to be towed out to the
lake.
The wreck of the Sachem rests
nearby. The 56.9-metre (187-foot) steamer
started life in the lumber trade. It sank Oct.
9, 1928, in the St. Clair River.
Kohl says about 4,000 ships went
down in this area and only about 2,000
wrecks have been found.
The Province.
20
May 2009
The high school English teacher put
together his diving skills and his
background in historical research and is
now known in diving circles for his books
Dive Southwestern Ontario, Dive Ontario
and Shipwreck Tales of the St. Clair River
(to 1900).
He is working on two books now:
Shipwrecks in the St. Clair River since
1900 and Diving Rondeau Provincial Park,
near Chatham.
A shipwreck cannot be owned by
anyone, says Kohl. It becomes a heritage
site when someone finds it and nothing
can be removed. Unfortunately, many acts
of piracy happen in the Great Lakes with
smaller items such as brass compasses,
bells and anchors being pilfered, he says.
A diver exploring the history of a
shipwreck is seeking the same information
as an archaeologist on a dig, says Kohl.
Divers measure the wreck, check out the
engines in they are still in place, take
pictures and try to piece together the
information to identify the ship.
“What I'm trying to do is put together
the tapestry of the shipwrecks, patchwork
together the history of them,” says Kohl.
2009 SOS Board and Committee Representatives
President
Eastern Region Representative
Webmaster
Brian Prince
137 King Street East
Brockville, ON K6V 1C1
(613) 342-3900
[email protected]
Past President
Northern Region Representative
SOS Manitoulin Chairperson
Jim Hopkins
38 Shamess Crescent
Espanola, ON P5E 1B9
(705) 869-3532
[email protected]
Vice President
Public Relations Officer
Michael Hill
48 Fairway Hill Crescent
Kingston, ON K7M 2B4
(613) 767-7446
[email protected]
Secretary
Quartermaster
Margaret Barker
103 MacDougall
Kingston, ON K7N 0A1
(613) 384-8049
[email protected]
SOS Hamilton Chairperson
Walt Irie
169 Victoria Street
Ingersoll, ON N5C 2N2
[email protected]
(519) 425-4449
SOS Ottawa Chairperson
Luc Lafontaine
1571 Prestwick Drive
Ottawa, ON K1E 2E6
(613) 288-4181
[email protected]
Treasurer
Central Region Representative
OUC Insurance Chairperson
David Taylor
15 Dalewood Crescent
Hamilton, ON L8S 4B5
[email protected]
(905) 526-9026
SOS Port Dover Chairperson
Jim Murphy
PO Box 299
Port Dover, ON N0A 1N0
(519) 583-2884
[email protected]
Board Director
Ethics Chairperson
SOS Toronto Chairperson
Jonathan Ferguson
1911-730 Dovercourt Road
Toronto, ON M6H 2W9
(416) 536-1247
[email protected]
Board Director
Brian Nickle
PO Box 924
Granton, ON N0M 1V0
[email protected]
(519) 225-2472
SOS Quebec Chairperson
Nathalie Lasselin
6380 de Bordeaux
Montreal, QC H2G 2R8
[email protected]
(514) 276-9020
SOS Sarnia Chairperson
Position Vacant
Contact Brian Prince
(613) 342-3900
[email protected]
Board Director
Western Region Representative
SOS Huron Shores Chairperson
Krissy Nickle
PO Box 924
Granton, ON N0M 1V0
(519) 225-2472
[email protected]
SOS Thousand Islands Chairperson
Debbie Brooks
PO Box 551
Brockville, ON K6V 5V7
(613) 498-0382
[email protected]
Membership Director
SOS Windsor Chairperson
Roy Pickering
1230 Mariners Road, PO Box 39
Erieau, ON N0P 1N0
(519) 676-2136
[email protected]
Bernie Roy
18 Ada Crescent, RR #2
Tobermory, ON N0H 2R0
(519) 596-2607
[email protected]
Contents
The View from the Bridge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Treasurer’s Report for 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
AGM Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Marine Heritage Award 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Director’s Achievement Award 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
H2O Secrets J.B. King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
200 Year Old Ship in French Creek Bay? . . . . . . . . 12
Underwater Archaeology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
SOS Holds NAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Tutor Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
The Story of Grog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
From the Archives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19