Identification & Site Information

Vessel Name OTTAWA (formerly A.B. TAYLOR)

Type Steam Screw Passenger & Package Freighter

Year Built 1884

Built At Saugatuck, Michigan

Builder R.C. Brittain & Ruben T. Rogers

Hull Material Wood

Length 106 feet

Beam 20 feet

Depth 7.8 feet

Gross Tonnage 104 tons

Net Tonnage 73 tons

Engine High-pressure, 16” x 20” cylinder, 150hp

Propulsion Single Screw

Vessel Type Description

The OTTAWA, originally built as A.B. TAYLOR, was a wooden steam-powered screw freighter designed for passenger and package freight services. Equipped with a single mast and a Firebox Boiler, it was a typical vessel of its era, versatile enough to navigate the inland waters of the Great Lakes and later Lake Ontario.

History

•1884: Built in Saugatuck, Michigan, for Rodgers & Bird, the vessel began its career as A.B. TAYLOR, serving as both a passenger and freight carrier.

•1886: Rebuilt to increase its beam by 2 feet, enhancing stability and adding a passenger cabin to expand its service capabilities.

•1901, November 7: A catastrophic fire at Grand Haven, Michigan, destroyed the vessel down to the waterline.

•1902: Renamed OTTAWA after a substantial Rebuild and resumed operations under new ownership.

•1903 – 1906: Passed through several ownerships, including Indiana Harbor Navigation Co. and Theodore P. Ladne of Detroit, Michigan.

•1906: Purchased by the Thousand Islands Steamboat Co., Cape Vincent, New York, marking the vessel’s transition to Lake Ontario service.

Final Voyage

•Incident Date: December 14, 1910

•Location: Cape Vincent, New York, Lake Ontario

•Cause of Loss: Fire (cause unknown)

•Outcome: The vessel burned to the waterline and sank while docked. All 18 people aboard survived.

The fire marked the end of the OTTAWA, a Total Loss attributed to the vulnerabilities of wooden steamers and the risks of onboard fires.

Final Disposition

The charred remains of the OTTAWA were left at its mooring site in Cape Vincent, New York. The vessel was not salvaged and was struck from the registry following its destruction.

Legacy

The OTTAWA had a career that spanned over 25 years, navigating the challenges of evolving maritime commerce. It served various roles, from passenger transport to package freight delivery, adapting through significant rebuilds and changes in ownership. Its tragic end underscores the perils of early steam-powered vessels but also highlights their importance in shaping the economic and social connectivity of the Great Lakes and Lake Ontario regions.

References & Links

•David Swayze Shipwreck File

•Great Lakes Ships Database

•Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes