Vessel Name: New Era #
Also Known As: Empress (1862)
Year of Build: 1848
CONSTRUCTION AND OWNERSHIP #
Built at: Portsmouth, Ontario
Propulsion: Sidewheel
Tonnage (Gross): 132 tons
HULL DIMENSIONS #
- Original Dimensions: Not specified
- Rebuild Dimensions (1862): 172 feet in length, 39 feet in beam, 9 feet in depth
- Rebuild Tonnage: 263 tons
FINAL DISPOSITION #
Final Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
How: Burnt
HISTORY #
Chronology:
The New Era was originally built in 1848 by G. Thurston at Fowler’s Yard in Kingston and launched around June 1st of that year. The vessel underwent significant modifications and a complete rebuild in 1862 by the same builder, G. Thurston, this time at Portsmouth, Ontario. During the rebuild, the ship received a new keel, frames, bottom timbers, stem, deck beams, engine frame, and deck. The reconstruction included adding “false sides” to improve stability, which had been an issue with the original design.
Ownership History:
- Owned by O. S. Gildersleeve (1852, 1862)
- Sold to O. Lynch (Beauharnois Navigation Co.) in 1865
- Transferred to the Beauharnois, Châteauguay & Huntingdon Navigation Co. in 1866
Service and Incidents:
- Initially operated primarily on Lake Ontario, with periods of service on the Kingston-Montreal route from 1853 to 1856.
- On July 24, 1862, the New Era collided with the steamer Passport near Kingston.
- Grounded on August 16, 1862, while attempting to navigate the Lachine Rapids after dark, an incident attributed to an “incompetent” crew.
Final Days:
The New Era met its demise on March 20, 1868, when it was destroyed by fire in Kingston, Ontario. The remains of the vessel were subsequently towed to Garden Island in October 1870, where it was beached and left to deteriorate.
The New Era had a varied and eventful career, marked by significant rebuilds, ownership changes, and incidents, reflecting the challenges and hazards of 19th-century steam navigation on the Great Lakes and surrounding waterways.
