In a tragic steamboat disaster reported in the Ogdensburg Gazette on May 15, 1830, the newly built steamboat named Brownville, owned by E.B. Dodd and others from Jefferson County, met a devastating fate. The vessel was on its inaugural trip up the river when it caught fire approximately 30 miles above Ogdensburg. Loaded with a cargo primarily consisting of ashes, pork, beer, and whisky, the fire started beneath the furnace, rapidly spreading throughout the wooden structure. Realizing the boat was beyond saving, the crew steered it into Alexandria Bay, where they discarded as much of the cargo as possible. Although it is not reported that any lives were lost, the loss of the steamboat was a severe blow to the individuals involved, some of whom had invested their entire wealth in this well-intentioned but unfortunate enterprise.
Another report from the Buffalo Journal & General Advertiser on May 19, 1830, further details the steamboat disaster. This account reveals that the Brownville, a small steamboat owned in Brownville, Jefferson County, was completely destroyed by fire while traveling down the St. Lawrence River on May 9. The vessel was brand new and valued at approximately $13,000, including its cargo, which was entirely lost in the incident. Fortunately, everyone on board was able to escape. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
The Brownville, built in 1830 in Brownville, NY, was a steamer constructed with a wooden hull. It featured two decks and was originally owned in Sackett’s Harbor, NY. Powered by a sidewheel propulsion system, the steamboat was equipped with a single cylinder engine generating 22 horsepower and operated with one boiler. It had dimensions of 84 feet in length, 20.1 feet in beam, and a depth of 10 feet 2 inches. According to available records, the Brownville remained in service until 1835 when it was eventually abandoned.
There are indications that the vessel underwent a significant rebuild at Sackett’s Harbor in 1831, resulting in alterations to its dimensions. It was reported to have been reconstructed as the William Avery, potentially with a tonnage of 191 tons. However, the exact details of this transformation remain unclear.
