Built in 1839 or earlier, Matilda was originally a cargo schooner on Lake Ontario. Between then and 1865 (I know, a very wide range of dates, but little is known about Matilda's history), it was purchased and converted to carry both passengers and cargo on Lake Simcoe, a smaller lake between the Great Lakes. It would pick up stone from the quarries near Orillia and sail south to drop them off at the train depot in Bell Ewart (now called Belle Ewart). In 1865, Matilda's crew were responsible for a collision with the largest and fastest steamer that ever sailed on that lake, Emily May (which I might also build and put in the workshop). Even though the ship was barely functioning, visibly unsafe, and practically falling apart, no repairs were made, and in its place were claims by Captain McCullough of the ship being "unsinkable". A year later, on October 13, 1866, while carrying a load of stone and 5 passengers from Orillia to Bell Ewart, the ship was caught in a violent storm and was pushed off course to just north of Fox Island, where she sank. George Dolittle, the father of a family of 4, was the only survivor, although his 3-year-old son's body washed ashore later.
FEATURES:
- adjustable sails
- some passenger interiors
- functioning lifeboat
- working oil lamps
- historically accurate scuttle mode
Instructions on how to use these features are available to see at the helm.
