Ogdensburg Coal & Towing Company

Location: Ogdensburg, New York

Overview:

The Ogdensburg Coal & Towing Company, based in the strategic port town of Ogdensburg on the St. Lawrence River, played a key role in the transportation of coal, grain, and other bulk commodities across the Great Lakes. This company not only owned and operated vessels but also provided essential tug and towing services, facilitating the movement of goods along the St. Lawrence Seaway and into the interior lakes.

Notable Contributions:

• Towing and Transport Services: The company was instrumental in linking Great Lakes water routes with rail transport. Working in close partnership with the Ogdensburg & Lake Champlain Railroad, Ogdensburg Coal & Towing enabled the efficient transfer of cargo to the eastern markets.

• Fleet Ownership and Operations: Ogdensburg Coal & Towing owned and operated vessels like the A. McVittie, which transported coal and bulk goods under the company’s management. This included managing its transport fleet even through changing ownerships, regulatory environments, and technological upgrades.

• Transition and Ownership Changes: The company gained full ownership of vessels such as A. McVittie in 1915 after the American Panama Canal Act required rail companies to divest from Great Lakes fleets. Ogdensburg Coal & Towing’s flexibility in adapting to these changes ensured the continuity of vital shipping operations, even as the fleet was gradually transferred to Canadian ownership in the subsequent years.

The Ogdensburg Coal & Towing Company maintained a critical role in facilitating commerce on the Great Lakes by managing transportation logistics, providing towing services, and partnering closely with regional railroads to meet the needs of the era’s industrial expansion.