Iron Scow Stuck Above Niagara Falls For 101 Years Dislodged During Storm

A massive iron scow that has been stuck on the rocks above Niagara Falls since 1918 was dislodged by a storm on Halloween night on Thursday.

The iron scow, which remained unmovable for a century, had drifted about 160 feet downriver from its original spot, due to heavy currents of the river and severe rain and wind.

"[The scow] been stuck there for 101 years and it appears to have sort of flipped on its side and spun around," Jim Hill, Senior Manager of Heritage at Niagara Parks Commission, explained in a Facebook video. "It's not in the exact same spot it was yesterday."

The iron scow broke loose from its tug during a dredging expedition, about a mile above Horseshoe Falls, on Aug 6, 1918. Two people ⁠— Gustav Lofberg and James Harris ⁠— were on board at the time and the scow floated midstream into Niagara River and was stranded in the upper rapids, said Niagara Parks' website. The men were rescued but freeing the scow from the rocky perch deemed impossible at the time. The scow had "deteriorated badly" over the century, Hill said.

The vessel is resting at the edge of the Falls now. "It could be stuck there for days or stuck there for years. It's anyone's guess," Hills said in the video.

Authorities are closely monitoring for further activities.

"It looks secure at the moment; however, if there's severe weather that comes along, it may shift it some more," David Adames, Niagara Park CEO, told CBC News.