19th-century schooner moved from Toronto condo site for preservation

CTV National News: Unearthing relic of the sea An old schooner uncovered in a downtown Toronto construction site was carefully moved to its new home. John Vennavally-Rao reports.

Crews moved what’s left of a 19th-century schooner that was unearthed during the construction of a condominium in downtown Toronto earlier this year.

The schooner was lifted out of its former resting place Thursday, to be preserved and put on public display at Fort York National Historic Site.

The nearly 200-year-old ship was discovered at the condo development site on Queen's Wharf Road, near Bathurst Street and Fort York Boulevard, in May.

Archaeologists believe the ship dates back to the 1830s, and that builders deliberately sank it so that it could be used as makeshift scaffolding for workers developing the Queen's Wharf. The shoreline was later extended approximately 200 metres to form what is now Toronto's harbour.

Concord Adex, the condo development company that unearthed the ship's wooden skeleton, worked with archaeologists to attempt to preserve the ship.

"Concord Adex is pleased to play a defining role in recovering a forgotten part of Toronto's history," Director of Construction Michael Hopkins said in a statement.

The remnants of the ship's keel, along with items including coins and plates that were found nearby.

In particular, a United States penny is helping archeologists date the ship, and to speculate about its place of origin.