Identification & Site Information

•Vessel Name: Pontiac

•Year of Build: 1901

•Built At: Arnprior, Ontario

•Type: Sidewheel Steamboat

•Hull Materials: Wood

•Number of Decks: 1

•Original Owner: McLachlin Bros.

•Tonnage (Gross): 116 tons

Vessel Type Description

The Pontiac was a wooden sidewheel Steamboat constructed in 1901, playing a vital role in the transportation and commerce network along the Ottawa River. As a sidewheel Steamboat, it used paddle wheels on either side of the vessel for propulsion, a common design for shallow waterways. With a Gross Tonnage of 116 tons, the vessel was crucial in ferrying goods and passengers, connecting communities in an era heavily reliant on water transport.

History

The Pontiac was commissioned by McLachlin Bros., a prominent regional company involved in the timber and transportation industries. Its operations supported the economic growth of the area, providing a vital link between towns and facilitating the movement of goods, particularly timber, and passengers.

For seven years, the Pontiac was a familiar sight on the Ottawa River, known for its reliability and utility. However, like many wooden steamboats of its time, the vessel was inherently vulnerable to fire, a common hazard for steam-powered wooden ships.

Final Disposition

On July 9, 1908, the Pontiac was destroyed in a catastrophic fire while at Chats Lake. Despite efforts to extinguish the blaze, the fire rapidly consumed the vessel, leading to its total destruction. The cause of the fire remains undetermined.

The incident marked the end of the Pontiac’s service and was a significant loss for the region, disrupting the transportation network and causing financial repercussions for the owners. The loss highlighted the inherent dangers of steam propulsion combined with wooden hulls, common for vessels of the period.

NOTMARs & Advisories

•Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs): No specific advisories related to the Pontiac wreck site are known.

Resources & Links

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Historical accounts and records of Great Lakes vessels.

•Ottawa River Maritime Archives: Further exploration of the maritime history of the Ottawa River and vessels like the Pontiac.

Keywords

Pontiac, Sidewheel Steamboat, Arnprior Ontario, McLachlin Bros., Chats Lake, 20th-century maritime history, wooden shipwreck.

Conclusion

The Pontiac’s destruction in 1908 underscores the risks and challenges faced by wooden sidewheel steamboats in the early 20th century. Despite its relatively short service life, the vessel was instrumental in supporting the economy and connectivity of communities along the Ottawa River. The tragedy of the Pontiac reflects the broader story of maritime innovation and vulnerability during a transformative period in transportation history.