Young Explorer Finds Shipwreck in Ontario

An 8-year-old boy from Ontario recently stumbled upon a shipwreck that has been resting beneath the surface for nearly 200 years. Lucas Atchison made this exciting discovery while using his metal detector at Point Farms Provincial Park, located near Goderich.

It all started during a family trip two years ago. Lucas, with a metal detector he received as a birthday gift, noticed some steel spikes linked to a piece of wood. His curiosity led him to alert his father, and together they began digging, unearthing what turned out to be remnants of a shipwreck.

“We were on the beach. As soon as we set it up, it was like a surge from the wreck,” Lucas shared excitedly. “Then Dad said to me, ‘This is a shipwreck.’ I couldn’t believe it when I woke up that morning without a clue that I would find something like this!”

Following their extraordinary find, the family quickly notified the local park staff and reached out to the Ontario Maritime Heritage Committee (OMHC) for further investigation.

The Excavation Begins

With the green light for excavation officially granted earlier this month, the OMHC has since uncovered additional remnants from the ship. Marine archaeologist Scarlett Janusas stated, “We found a double frame, which suggests it may have been a powerful ship, possibly a schooner—a type of two-mast sailing vessel typically made from wood.”

While they’ve yet to recover enough wreckage to confirm the ship’s identity, there is a strong possibility it could be the schooner St. Anthony, which sank in October 1856. “Historical records indicate it landed about four miles north of Godellich, aligning perfectly with where these remains are found,” explained marine historian Patrick Fawkes.

As the excavation progresses, volunteers are busy creating detailed scale drawings of the wreck, including both top-down and side views, to assist in documenting this significant find.