IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

Vessel Name: Alex Fraser

Year of Build: 1890

Built at: Pembroke, Ontario

Type: Sidewheel Steamboat

Hull Materials: Wood

Number of Decks: 1

Original Owner: Not specified

Dimensions (Original):

•Length: 140 feet (42.7 meters)

•Gross Tonnage: 320 tons

Dimensions (Post-1916 Rebuild):

•Length: 129 feet (39.3 meters)

•Beam: 23 feet (7 meters)

•Gross Tonnage: 344 tons

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The Alex Fraser was a wooden sidewheel Steamboat constructed in 1890 in Pembroke, Ontario. Designed for towing logs, the vessel was pivotal in supporting the timber industry along the Ottawa River. Sidewheel steamboats, known for their maneuverability and power, were integral to the region’s logging operations, particularly for transporting timber from Fort William to Lower Allumette Lake.

HISTORY

The Alex Fraser began service in 1890, quickly becoming a vital component of the timber industry in the Ottawa River area. It was frequently employed to tow large log booms through the river’s demanding and often treacherous waters.

•1903: The vessel struck a rocky obstruction near Murphy’s Wharf and sank. However, its value to the industry warranted a salvage operation in 1904, which successfully restored the Steamboat to service.

•1915: The Alex Fraser was relocated to Lake Deschenes to continue towing logs, demonstrating its adaptability to different regions and conditions.

•1916: The vessel underwent a major Rebuild in Quyon, Quebec, which reduced its length but increased its Gross Tonnage, enhancing its functionality and extending its operational life.

For decades, the Alex Fraser toiled in the timber trade, helping to sustain the economic activity that relied on the transportation of logs via the Ottawa River.

FINAL DISPOSITION

In 1942, the Alex Fraser was dismantled. Its iron components were sold, but the wooden structure was left behind, partially buried near the Quyon boom. The remnants of the vessel still lie there, a silent testament to its role in Canada’s maritime and industrial history.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

There are no specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the wreck of the Alex Fraser.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

The remains of the Alex Fraser are buried in the mud near the Quyon boom. While the site is not developed for diving or historical exploration, its location offers an opportunity for those interested in the history of the Ottawa River’s timber trade to reflect on the vessel’s legacy.

RESOURCES & LINKS

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Provides comprehensive records and accounts of vessels like the Alex Fraser.

•Ottawa River Timber Trade Archives: Documents the vital role of steamboats in the timber industry.

CONCLUSION

The Alex Fraser epihttps://shotlinediving.com/wp-content/uploads/52895851813_b64678c0f7_c.jpgizes the industrious spirit of Canada’s 19th and early 20th-century timber trade. Overcoming challenges such as grounding and sinking, the vessel’s long service life reflects the resilience of both the vessel and the industry it supported. The remnants near Quyon, Quebec, serve as a historical marker of an era when steamboats like the Alex Fraser powered regional economic growth and forged a lasting legacy in Canadian maritime history.

TAGS

#AlexFraser #SidewheelSteamboat #OttawaRiver #TimberIndustry #19thCenturyShipping #QuyonQuebec #CanadianMaritimeHistory