IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION: #
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION: #
The Ida E. was a wooden steambarge constructed in 1887 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Initially measuring 132 feet in length, with a beam of 28.5 feet and a depth of 9 feet, the vessel had a gross tonnage of 181.92 and a net tonnage of 146.85. The Ida E. was powered by a single high-pressure engine with one cylinder, producing 250 horsepower, and was equipped with a 7-foot by 17-foot firebox boiler generating 100 pounds of steam.
The Ida E. served various roles throughout its operational life, including its use in the lumber industry and later in the sand and gravel industry after being rebuilt in Montreal, Quebec, in 1917. During this reconstruction, the vessel’s engines were removed, and its dimensions were altered, resulting in a reduced length of 120.3 feet and an increased beam of 29 feet.
HISTORY: #
The Ida E. had a dynamic ownership history, starting with the Manistee Salt & Lumber Co. in Manistee, Michigan. Over the years, the vessel changed hands multiple times, with various lumber companies and individuals in Michigan taking ownership. In 1909, the Ida E. was purchased by Grant Graham Horne of Wolfe Island, Ontario, Canada, and in 1910, it was registered in Canada with the official number C126222.
In 1917, the Ida E. underwent significant rebuilding in Montreal, resulting in changes to its dimensions and a reduction in tonnage. The engines were removed during this process, and the vessel was repurposed for use in the sand and gravel industry. It was owned by several companies in this sector, including the River Sand Co., Consolidated Sand Co., and Consolidated Oka Sand & Gravel Co., all based in Montreal.
FINAL DISPOSITION: #
The available information does not provide specific details about the sinking of the Ida E. near Île Perrot, Quebec, or the circumstances surrounding the incident. Despite its long service history and multiple rebuilds, the vessel’s final registration was closed in 1942, marking the end of its operational life. The Ida E.’s story remains incomplete without the details of its final moments, but its legacy as a versatile and durable vessel in the North American maritime industry endures.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES: #
No specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the Ida E. have been identified.
RESOURCES & LINKS: #
- Maritime History of Quebec: Provides records and historical accounts related to vessels operating along the St. Lawrence River and surrounding waterways.
- Montreal Archives: For further research into the history of vessels like the Ida E. and their role in regional industries.
CONCLUSION: #
The Ida E. was a resilient steambarge that served various roles over its extensive operational life, from the lumber industry in Michigan to the sand and gravel industry in Quebec. Despite the lack of details about its sinking, the vessel’s history of adaptation and service highlights its importance in North American maritime operations. The Ida E.’s final years, marked by its use in industrial activities around Montreal, reflect the changing needs of the maritime industry and the vessel’s ability to meet those demands until its registration was closed in 1942.
KEYWORDS: #
Ida E., Steambarge, Oshkosh Wisconsin, Montreal Quebec, Sand and Gravel Industry, Grant Graham Horne, 19th-century maritime history, wooden shipwreck, Île Perrot Quebec, Vessel Rebuild.
