The steam-powered propeller vessel named Cresco, built in 1882 in Ogdensburg, NY, had a notable history and eventual fate. Constructed with a wooden hull, the Cresco featured a single high-pressure engine with one cylinder and one propeller. The engine, manufactured by Sutton Brothers in Buffalo, NY, had dimensions of 12 x 12 inches and provided 165 horsepower at 160 revolutions per minute. The vessel was equipped with a firebox boiler measuring 4 feet 6 inches by 9 feet, operating at a steam pressure of 120 pounds.
With dimensions of 75 feet in length, 17 feet in beam, and 5 feet in depth, the Cresco had a gross tonnage of 62 tons and a net tonnage of 36.57 tons. Throughout its history, the vessel underwent various changes in ownership and experienced notable incidents. In 1884, it was owned by S.A. Cline of Ogdensburg, NY, and in 1885, it was enrolled in Waddington, NY. In January 1880, the Cresco became frozen in ice in Brockville, Ontario. In January 1890, it suffered damage during a storm on the river in Ogdensburg.
By 1899, ownership of the vessel had transferred to J. W. Hatch of Waddington, NY, and it was primarily engaged in river work. However, in October 1908, tragedy struck when the Cresco was consumed by fire. The incident occurred in its final location, Ogdensburg, NY, on the St. Lawrence River. The exact circumstances surrounding the fire are not specified in the available information.
The Cresco’s journey, from its construction in 1882 to its fiery demise in 1908, encompassed several ownership changes and encounters with challenging conditions on the river. Although the vessel ultimately met a tragic end, its history and contributions to river transportation serve as a reminder of the challenges and risks faced by vessels during that era.
