Ship Type: Wooden Freighter
U.S.A. Registration No. U125669
Built: Cleveland Ohio, U.S.A,
Lifespan: Launched: July 6, 1878, Sank: May 22, 1922
Length: 252ft. Beam: 36ft.
Loss of Life: 0
Depth: 15ft. - 30ft.
Location: St. Lawrence River, Cardinal Ontario, Canada
Access: Boat or Shore, County Road 2 and Dundas St. in Cardinal

Click on Link to View SOS Land Plaque

The Conestoga was a 2,008 ton double planked propeller of 252 ft. by 36 ft. Launched July 6, 1878, she sank May 22, 1922. The bow is upstream and near shore with the vessel angled out into the river. Conestoga lies at about a 30 ft. depth with a very swift current, her stack protruding from the surface of the water. The anchor of the Conestoga was retrieved around 1968 by a team of Americans who had dove on the Consestoga during a training dive. Others had apparently attempted to raise the anchor without success. These new American divers were intrigued by the challenge of salvaging the anchor where others had failed. A raft was constructed by welding a steel framework for eight 55 gallon drums, leaving a hole in the center for a winch and chain fall. The anchor was pulled up to the raft and towed around the eastern end of Gallop Island to the boat ramp at Lisbon Beach on the US side of the river. A tow truck was called from Ogdensburg and the treasure was delivered as an unexpected gift to what was then "The Anchor Down Motel and Restaurant," owned by a river pilot acquaintance of the young diver whose idea it was to retrieve the anchor. Today the anchor can be found in front of the Gran View Restaurant and Motel in Ogdensburg, moved there by the new owner of the Anchor Down before its resale. The anchor of the Conestoga now rests in a place of honor at the base of three flag poles which to some small degree commemorate its history. Divers today are encouraged to take nothing but pictures, and leave nothing but bubbles when visiting 1000 islands area wrecks, leaving the artifacts for other divers to explore and enjoy.