HIAWATHA C72982

The Hiawatha was a ferry built in 1874 in Dresden, Ontario. It had a wooden hull and two decks. The ferry was constructed by Henry Weston under the supervision of master carpenter Joseph A. Jenkins. The original owner of the Hiawatha was W.B. Clark from Sarnia, Ontario, with ownership later transferring to Alex Trerice in Dresden.

The Hiawatha was propelled by a single screw and had a high-pressure engine with one cylinder. The engine, manufactured by Farrar & Trefts in Buffalo, New York, had dimensions of 20 x 24 inches and generated 150 horsepower at 90 revolutions per minute.

With a length of 92.7 feet, a beam of 20 feet, and a depth of 7.2 feet, the Hiawatha had a gross tonnage of 162.62 and a net tonnage of 110.58.

Upon its launch in October 1874, the Hiawatha was intended for service between Dresden and Wallaceburg on the Sydenham River. There were also plans to operate the ferry between Dresden and Detroit. In 1875, it ran the Sarnia-Wallaceburg route in conjunction with the J.C. Clark.

In 1876, the Hiawatha underwent a rebuild and enlargement, resulting in new dimensions of 92.58 x 20 x 7.5 feet and an increased gross tonnage of 163 tons. Throughout its history, the ferry provided regular service as well as occasional excursions to destinations such as Point Edward, Goderich, and Lexington.

On June 22, 1881, ownership of the Hiawatha transferred to the Sarnia Tug & Transportation Co., Ltd. It operated as a ferry between Sarnia and Port Huron, Michigan. However, on August 5, 1887, the ferry suffered a fire but was subsequently rebuilt and enlarged in Sarnia.

In 1892, the Hiawatha underwent major repairs at the Phoenix Iron Works in Port Huron. In 1893, a new firebox boiler measuring 6’6″ x 12′ and producing 104 pounds of steam was installed at the Wolverine Dry Dock in Port Huron.

The Hiawatha underwent several engine modifications throughout its lifetime. In 1899, it received a new engine with dimensions of 18 x 20 inches and generating 280 horsepower, still manufactured by Farrar & Trefts.

Over the years, the Hiawatha experienced various incidents and accidents. It ran aground opposite Stag Island in Port Huron in September 1906, and in 1922, it was damaged by an explosion near the Omar D. Conger, requiring repairs.

In 1924, the Hiawatha was beached on Low Island in the North Channel of Lake Huron. It was eventually laid up and placed in reserve status in 1925. In 1930, ownership transferred to Norman Trotter from Little Current, Ontario, and the ferry operated between Little Current and La Cloche Island.

By October 1932, the Hiawatha was abandoned at Red Mill Point in Little Current, Ontario. It had undergone repairs in Gore Bay earlier that year but was ultimately left in a state of disuse.