ALEXANDRA C112153

Other Names #

• ALEXANDRIA

The Alexandra, also known as Alexandria in some sources, was a propeller vessel built in 1902 in Chatham, New Brunswick, Canada. It had a wooden hull, two decks, and measured 97 feet in length, 24.6 feet in beam, and 9 feet in depth. The vessel had a gross tonnage of 201 and a net tonnage of 136.

From 1924 onwards, the Alexandra operated on the Great Lakes after being brought from the Atlantic Ocean. It was owned by T. Sims and served the routes between Little Current, Killarney, Gore Bay, and Cutler in Ontario, Canada.

Tragically, on December 19, 1927, while in winter layup, the Alexandra caught fire in the harbor off the Government Dock in Little Current, Ontario, located on Georgian Bay, part of Lake Huron. The fire consumed the vessel, causing it to sink. The remains of the Alexandra now lie approximately 40 feet from the east end of the Government Dock at a depth of 30 to 40 feet.

Prior to its demise, the Alexandra had a rich history as a coastal steamer. It operated a route from Chatham to Newcastle, Loggieville, Escuminac, Baie du Vin, and various points along Miramichi Bay, including Oak Point, Burnt Church, and Neguac. The vessel carried freight, wagons, and livestock on its enclosed main deck, and it had accommodations such as a saloon, dining room, and kitchen. During the summer, the Alexandra also offered holiday and moonlight excursions with live music, dances, and parties.

Captain James G. Nowlan, a Chatham native and son of a ship pilot, succeeded Alexander R. Goodfellow as the captain of the Alexandra in 1905. After the vessel’s retirement, Captain Nowlan went on to command the Frances Ullock, the ferry on the Chatham crossing, until his retirement in 1934.

External Links #

• Great Lakes Ships
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Marine Museum of the Great Lakes – Mills Listing
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• C-3 – Register of Wrecks and Casualties, Inland Waters