A.E. Vickery
Encyclopedia
A.E. Vickery was a wooden three masted schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
built in 1861 and measured 136.2 ft. x 26.2 ft. x 10.8 ft. The boat was launched in July 1861 at Three Mile Bay, New York
Three Mile Bay, New York
Three Mile Bay is a community located in Jefferson County, New York. The elevation there is 259 feet. It was settled between 1810 and 1820. Early resident Asa Wilcox built 48 brigs, propellers, schooners, and other seafaring vessels from 1835 to 1853. Some of these vessels like the A.E. Vickery,...
as J.B. Penfield, and under that name sailed through the Welland Canal
Welland Canal
The Welland Canal is a ship canal in Canada that extends from Port Weller, Ontario, on Lake Ontario, to Port Colborne, Ontario, on Lake Erie. As a part of the St...
coming from Detroit to Oswego, New York
Oswego, New York
Oswego is a city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 18,142 at the 2010 census. Oswego is located on Lake Ontario in north-central New York and promotes itself as "The Port City of Central New York"...
.. It was renamed A.E. Vickery on 25 February 1884 and sank on 17 August 1889 when it struck a shoal while entering the American Narrows
American Narrows
The American Narrows is a channel in Jefferson County, New York. It refers to a very narrow but deep section of the St. Lawrence River near Alexandria Bay, New York. With its strong currents and jagged rocks it has been the cause of demise for more than one boating vessel. This is the site of the...
with a cargo of 21,000 bushels of corn destined for Wisers Distillery at Prescott, Ontario
Prescott, Ontario
Prescott is a town of approximately 4,180 people on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario, Canada. The Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge, 5 km east of Prescott in Johnstown, connects it with Ogdensburg, New York...
, the makers of Wiser's whisky
Wiser's whisky
Wiser's Whisky Distillery was established in Prescott, Ontario in 1857. In the early 1900s, Wiser's was the third largest distillery in Canada, producing high-quality whisky that supplied markets in Canada and the United States, China and the Philippine Islands. In 1911, the company employed over...
. The wreck now rests at about 35 metres (114.8 ft) underwater near Rock Island Light
Rock Island Light
Rock Island Light is a Lighthouse on Rock Island in the Saint Lawrence River in New York. It is currently owned by the New York State Parks. In 2007, the Council of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation received a $900,000 grant from the US Department of Transportation as part of the...
house at position 44°16.820′N 76°01.183′W