IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION: #
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION: #
The Hamilton was a wooden sidewheel steamboat constructed in 1896 at Sand Point, Ontario. With an original gross tonnage of 320 tons, the vessel played a crucial role in the Ottawa River’s timber industry, primarily towing log booms between Chenaux and Chats Falls. Sidewheel steamboats like the Hamilton were vital to the region’s economy, facilitating the movement of timber, a key resource at the time.
HISTORY: #
The Hamilton was launched in 1896, during a period when the Ottawa River was a bustling hub of activity, particularly in the timber trade. The vessel’s primary function was towing log booms, which were large groups of logs bound together to float downriver to sawmills. The Hamilton’s powerful sidewheel propulsion system made it ideally suited for this demanding task.
In 1921, the Hamilton underwent a significant rebuild to extend its operational life and improve its performance. The rebuild resulted in new dimensions: a length of 118 feet, a beam of 24 feet, and an increased tonnage of 344 tons. These enhancements allowed the Hamilton to continue serving the timber industry effectively as the demands on the vessel evolved.
The Hamilton continued to operate for several decades, making it one of the last steamboats to ply the waters of the Ottawa River. However, by 1949, the vessel was sold and its days as a working steamboat came to an end. Instead of being completely decommissioned, the Hamilton’s bare hull was repurposed in a unique manner—deliberately sunk at Castleford to serve as an anchor for a glance boom. This structure was used in logging operations to contain and manage floating logs, highlighting the vessel’s continued contribution to the timber industry even after its operational life had ended.
FINAL DISPOSITION: #
The Hamilton was deliberately sunk at Castleford in 1949 to serve as an anchor for a glance boom, marking the end of its active service. The repurposing of its hull for logging operations reflects the vessel’s enduring value to the timber industry and the resourcefulness of maritime practices during that era.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES: #
No specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the Hamilton wreck have been identified.
RESOURCES & LINKS: #
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Provides records and historical accounts related to the vessels of the Great Lakes and surrounding waterways.
- Ottawa River Timber Trade Archives: For further research into the timber industry and the role of vessels like the Hamilton.
CONCLUSION: #
The Hamilton’s history is a testament to the vital role that steamboats played in the Ottawa River’s transportation and timber industries. As one of the last steamboats in the region, the Hamilton represents the end of an era of steam-powered river transport. Its transformation into an anchor for a glance boom underscores the adaptability of maritime assets and the ingenuity involved in repurposing vessels for new uses. The Hamilton remains a significant part of the Ottawa River’s rich maritime legacy.
KEYWORDS: #
Hamilton, Sidewheel Steamboat, Sand Point Ontario, Ottawa River, Timber Industry, 19th-century maritime history, wooden shipwreck, Castleford.
GLOSSARIES: #
- Sidewheel Steamboat: A steam-powered vessel propelled by large paddle wheels mounted on the sides of the ship.
- Log Boom: A barrier used to contain and manage floating logs on a river, often consisting of a series of logs chained or cabled together.
- Glance Boom: A structure used in logging operations to control the movement and storage of logs floating in water.
