### The Steamer Brownville: A Historical Overview – Raised Rebuilt WILLIAM AVERY
#### Identification
– **Vessel Name:** Brownville
– **Year of Build:** 1830
#### Construction and Ownership
– **Built At:** Brownville, NY
– **Vessel Type:** Steamer
– **Hull Materials:** Wood
– **Number of Decks:** 2
– **Location of Original Owner:** Sackett’s Harbor, NY
#### Power
– **Propulsion:** Sidewheel
– **Number of Cylinders:** 1
– **Number of Boilers:** 1
– **Propulsion Notes:** 22 horsepower engine
#### Hull Dimensions
– **Length:** 84 feet
– **Beam:** 20.1 feet
– **Depth:** 10 feet 2 inches
– **Tonnage (old style):** 93 tons
#### Final Disposition
– **Date:** 1835
– **How:** Abandoned
#### History
– **Chronology:**
– **1830-1832:** Enrolled at Sackett’s Harbor, NY
– **1831:** Rebuilt at Sackett’s Harbor; dimensions after rebuild: 85.1 x 20 x 7’4″, 114 tons
– **1833:** Possibly rebuilt again at Sackett’s Harbor as William Avery, 191 tons
– **Notes:**
– From the Collection of: C. Patrick Labadie
– Sources:
– C. E. Feltner Enrollments Database
– Lytle List
– John E. Poole notes, Bowling Green State University
#### Additional Historical Context
In around 1828, the steamer Brownville was constructed in Brownville village. After overcoming challenges to pass through the locks, it was tragically burned to the waterline on its first trip to Ogdensburg. Subsequently, the hull was towed back to Brownville, where it was rebuilt and renamed William Avery. The rebuilt vessel had the following dimensions: 80 feet keel, 40 feet beam, 100 tons burden, and a 40 horsepower engine. The eventual fate of the William Avery remains unknown. Steamboat navigation in and out of Brownville ceased shortly thereafter, marking the end of an era. After fifty years, a new steamboat was anticipated to navigate the waters of Black River at Brownville, signaling a revival of steamboat activity in the area.
#### Contact Information
– **Contact:** Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library
This detailed account of the steamer Brownville captures its early days, transformations, and eventual abandonment, providing a glimpse into the early 19th-century maritime history of the Great Lakes region.
