Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Silverland
- Type: Wooden-hulled screw steamboat
- Year Built: 1909
- Builder: Haileybury, Ontario
- Dimensions: Length 85 ft (25.9 m); Beam 17 ft (5.2 m); Depth 7 ft (2.1 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Unknown
- Location: Kipawa, Quebec
- Coordinates: Unknown
- Official Number: Unknown
- Original Owners: Haileybury Navigation Co. (1909–1910); Temiskaming Navigation Co. (1911–1916); Ville Marie Navigation Co. (1917–1926); J. Cunningham, Kipawa (1927)
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Silverland was a wooden-hulled screw steamboat designed for passenger and freight service on Lake Temiskaming.
Description
The Silverland was a screw-propelled, wooden-hulled passenger and freight steamboat launched at Haileybury, Ontario, in 1909. Measuring 85 feet in length with a 17-foot beam, she was built to connect the remote communities of Lake Temiskaming. With modest capacity and practical dimensions, she was versatile enough for both cargo and passengers, making her a lifeline for trade and travel in the Temiskaming region.
History
The vessel entered service in 1909 under the Haileybury Navigation Co., quickly establishing herself as a reliable carrier across Lake Temiskaming. She was transferred to the Temiskaming Navigation Co. in 1911, and later operated under the Ville Marie Navigation Co. from 1917 to 1926. In her final year she was acquired by J. Cunningham of Kipawa, Quebec.
Over her career, the Silverland transported both settlers and goods, fostering economic growth and community connectivity in a developing region of Quebec and Ontario. She served until 1927, when her operational life ended suddenly by fire.
Significant Incidents
- 5 July 1927: The Silverland was consumed by fire while moored at Kipawa, Quebec, resulting in the complete destruction of the vessel.
Final Disposition
On 5 July 1927, while moored at Kipawa, Quebec, the Silverland was consumed by fire. The blaze destroyed the vessel completely, leaving no significant remains. No casualties were reported, but the loss was a significant blow to local transportation at a time when water routes remained vital.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck has not been archaeologically located or surveyed. Her final resting place is documented as Kipawa, Quebec, but the vessel was destroyed above the waterline and likely left only debris at or near shore.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”silverland-1909″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
While the Silverland no longer exists as a wreck to explore, her legacy as a vital transportation link in the Temiskaming region remains significant. Divers are reminded to respect the laws regarding archaeological sites and to leave only bubbles, taking only memories.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
Other Names: None
Official Number: Unknown
Registry: Canada
Vessel Type: Wooden-hulled screw steamboat
Builder: Haileybury, Ontario
Year Built: 1909
Dimensions: Length 85 ft (25.9 m); Beam 17 ft (5.2 m); Depth 7 ft (2.1 m)
Tonnage: Unknown
Cargo/Passenger Capacity: Regional passenger and freight service
Engine: Screw propulsion
Date of Loss: 5 July 1927
Location: Kipawa, Quebec, Lake Temiskaming region
Coordinates: Unknown
Depth: Unknown (wreck destroyed by fire)
Home Port: Haileybury, Ontario (later Kipawa, Quebec)
Owners: Haileybury Navigation Co. (1909–1910); Temiskaming Navigation Co. (1911–1916); Ville Marie Navigation Co. (1917–1926); J. Cunningham, Kipawa (1927)
Crew: Unknown
Casualties: None documented
Description
The Silverland was a screw-propelled, wooden-hulled passenger and freight steamboat launched at Haileybury, Ontario, in 1909. Measuring 85 feet in length with a 17-foot beam, she was built to connect the remote communities of Lake Temiskaming. With modest capacity and practical dimensions, she was versatile enough for both cargo and passengers, making her a lifeline for trade and travel in the Temiskaming region.
History
The vessel entered service in 1909 under the Haileybury Navigation Co., quickly establishing herself as a reliable carrier across Lake Temiskaming. She was transferred to the Temiskaming Navigation Co. in 1911, and later operated under the Ville Marie Navigation Co. from 1917 to 1926. In her final year she was acquired by J. Cunningham of Kipawa, Quebec.
Over her career, the Silverland transported both settlers and goods, fostering economic growth and community connectivity in a developing region of Quebec and Ontario. She served until 1927, when her operational life ended suddenly by fire.
Final Dispositions
On 5 July 1927, while moored at Kipawa, Quebec, the Silverland was consumed by fire. The blaze destroyed the vessel completely, leaving no significant remains. No casualties were reported, but the loss was a significant blow to local transportation at a time when water routes remained vital.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck has not been archaeologically located or surveyed. Her final resting place is documented as Kipawa, Quebec, but the vessel was destroyed above the waterline and likely left only debris at or near shore.
Notmars & Advisories
No Canadian Coast Guard notices are associated with the Silverland. The remains pose no known navigational hazard.
Dive Information
Access: Not applicable (wreck destroyed)
Entry Point: N/A
Conditions: N/A
Depth Range: N/A
Emergency Contacts: Canadian Coast Guard (Quebec); Sûreté du Québec
Permits: Required for any archaeological disturbance
Dive Support: None (no wreck remains accessible)
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No casualties are recorded in association with the Silverland. No formal memorials to her crew or service have been identified.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The Silverland was one of the most important links in the Temiskaming navigation network, carrying freight and passengers between scattered communities until her destruction by fire at Kipawa in 1927.” – Regional vessel histories
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Registry records list ownership progression from Haileybury Navigation Co. (1909), Temiskaming Navigation Co. (1911–1916), Ville Marie Navigation Co. (1917–1926), and finally J. Cunningham, Kipawa (1927). No insurance documentation has been located to date.
Site Documentation & Imaging
The Silverland has not been imaged or archaeologically surveyed. Any remaining evidence would likely consist of fire debris near Kipawa. No known 3D models or diver documentation exist.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Newspapers.com
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
References
- Canadian vessel registry records (1909–1927).
- Regional maritime histories of Lake Temiskaming.
- David Swayze Shipwreck File – Silverland.
Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None
Official Number: Unknown
Coordinates: Kipawa, Quebec (exact position unrecorded)
Depth: Unknown
Location Description: Kipawa, Lake Temiskaming region
Vessel Type: Wooden screw steamboat
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 85 × 17 × 7 ft (25.9 × 5.2 × 2.1 m)
Condition: Destroyed by fire, remains unknown
Cause of Loss: Fire, 1927
Discovery Date: Not located
Discovered By: N/A
Method: N/A
Legal Notes: Registry closed after 1927 fire
Hazards: None
Permits Required: Yes (archaeological work or artifact recovery)