Brownville Rebuilt As Wm. Avery – St. Lawrence River Steamer Shipwreck

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Brownville / Wm. Avery
• Type: Steamboat
• Year Built:
• Builder: E.B. Dodd and Jefferson County investors
• Dimensions:
• Registered Tonnage:
• Location: Near Alexandria Bay, NY
• Original Owners: E.B. Dodd and other Jefferson County investors

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Brownville was a steam-powered vessel designed for transporting goods and passengers along rivers and lakes. Steamboats like the Brownville were pivotal in the early 19th century, enabling navigation upstream and fostering commerce and travel in areas like the St. Lawrence River. Equipped with steam engines, these vessels were symbols of innovation but often carried significant risks due to the limitations of early technology.

Description

The Brownville was constructed and owned by E.B. Dodd and other Jefferson County investors. On its maiden voyage along the St. Lawrence River, the steamboat suffered a catastrophic fire near Alexandria Bay. Despite the total destruction of the vessel and its valuable cargo—including ashes, pork, beer, and whisky—there were no reported fatalities.

The fire marked a major loss, with damages estimated at $13,000, a significant sum for the era. The incident was widely reported in regional newspapers, including the Ogdensburg Gazette and the Buffalo Journal & General Advertiser, highlighting its impact on the local community and early steamboat navigation.

After the disaster, the Brownville was salvaged and towed back to Brownville, NY. The hull was rebuilt, and the vessel re-entered service under the name Wm. Avery. While the Wm. Avery continued operations, steamboat navigation to and from Brownville eventually diminished in the following decades.

History

The disaster involving the Brownville highlights the challenges of early steamboat travel on the St. Lawrence River. The fire demonstrated the inherent dangers of steamboat technology at the time, including the risks associated with cargo and fuel storage. Despite the loss, the vessel’s reconstruction underscores the resilience and resourcefulness of its owners and community.

The incident also marked a shift in steamboat navigation to and from Brownville. The recollections published in the Watertown Despatch around 1878 note that while steamboat navigation from Brownville waned after the incident, the area remained hopeful, with plans for new steamboat launches on the Black River.

Significant Incidents

• Original Incident: The Brownville was destroyed by fire near Alexandria Bay, NY, during its maiden voyage.
• Rebuild: Salvaged and reconstructed, renamed Wm. Avery, and returned to service.
• Final Fate: The ultimate fate of the Wm. Avery is unclear, though it likely operated regionally for several years.

Final Disposition

The physical remains of the Brownville (later Wm. Avery) are presumed to be lost to time, possibly scattered on the riverbed near Alexandria Bay or entirely deteriorated. The vessel’s story, however, lives on as part of the rich history of steamboat navigation in the United States.

The Brownville serves as a poignant example of the risks and resilience of early steamboat ventures. Its short-lived service as the Brownville and subsequent operations as the Wm. Avery reflect both the innovative spirit and the challenges of 19th-century river transport.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The story of the Brownville encapsulates the dual nature of steamboat history in the United States—marked by technological innovation and the persistent risks of early steam navigation. The vessel’s fiery end and subsequent rebirth as the Wm. Avery offer a snapshot of the resilience of those involved in early Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River commerce. The legacy of the Brownville reminds us of the critical role steamboats played in shaping regional economies and the risks undertaken by those who sailed them.

Resources & Links

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The disaster involving the Brownville highlights the challenges of early steamboat travel on the St. Lawrence River. The fire demonstrated the inherent dangers of steamboat technology at the time, including the risks associated with cargo and fuel storage. Despite the loss, the vessel’s reconstruction underscores the resilience and resourcefulness of its owners and community.