Other Names #
- J.H. Kelly
- John Thorn
Site Description #
- Side Wheeler
- 60ffw 20m
- 125ft Length
- Alexandria Bay, St Lawrence River
- 44° 20′ 17.4984″ N
-75° 55′ 11.9316″ W
The steamship originally known as KELLY, J. H., but also recognized under the names THORN, JOHN, and ISLANDER, was built in 1871. Constructed in Rochester, NY, the vessel was a wooden-hulled steamer, measuring 95 feet in length, 20 feet in beam, and 7 feet in depth. It had a gross tonnage of 69. The ship’s builder was D. W. Springstead.
Propelled by a sidewheel, the KELLY, J. H. embarked on its maritime journey, navigating the waters with its distinct propulsion system. Over the course of its history, the ship encountered several notable events and ownership changes. In 1873, it ran aground on rocks in Alexandria Bay, marking a significant incident for the vessel.
Ownership of the steamship transitioned throughout the years. By 1876, it was under the ownership of Swift in Cape Vincent, NY. In 1879, George Sweet of Rochester, NY, assumed ownership. In 1881, the ship was renamed JOHN THORN. In 1885, it was enrolled in Carthage, boasting dimensions of 125 feet in length, 20 feet in beam, and 7 feet in depth, with a tonnage of 118.61 gross and 59.31 net tons. However, the ship underwent another name change in 1888, this time becoming known as ISLANDER.
In 1899, ownership of the vessel transferred to the Thousand Island Steamboat Co., marking yet another chapter in its history. Tragically, on September 16, 1909, the ship met its final fate. It succumbed to a devastating fire at Crossman Dock in Alexandria Bay, NY, situated on Lake Ontario.
The story of the KELLY, J. H., or THORN, JOHN, or ISLANDER, reflects the ebb and flow of ownership, name changes, and significant events that occurred during its existence. The ship’s burning in 1909 serves as a somber end to its maritime legacy, leaving behind a tale intertwined with the waters and history of Alexandria Bay and the Thousand Islands region.
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