Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: New Era
- Type: ship
- Year Built: 1848
- Builder: G. Thurston
- Dimensions: 172 ft (52.43 m); Beam: 39 ft; Depth of hold: 9 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 263 tons
- Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Site Map: Unknown if New Era, but closest to shore
- Original Owners: O. S. Gildersleeve; O. Lynch (Beauharnois Navigation Co.); Beauharnois, Châteauguay & Huntingdon Navigation Co.
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Type: Sidewheel steamer
Description
The New Era was a sidewheel steamer originally built in 1848 and underwent a significant rebuild in 1862. The vessel was designed for navigation on the Great Lakes, primarily operating on Lake Ontario.
History
Chronology:
The New Era was originally built in 1848 by G. Thurston at Fowler’s Yard in Kingston and launched around June 1st of that year. The vessel underwent significant modifications and a complete rebuild in 1862 by the same builder, G. Thurston, this time at Portsmouth, Ontario. During the rebuild, the ship received a new keel, frames, bottom timbers, stem, deck beams, engine frame, and deck. The reconstruction included adding “false sides” to improve stability, which had been an issue with the original design.
Ownership History:
Owned by O. S. Gildersleeve (1852, 1862). Sold to O. Lynch (Beauharnois Navigation Co.) in 1865. Transferred to the Beauharnois, Châteauguay & Huntingdon Navigation Co. in 1866. Initially operated primarily on Lake Ontario, with periods of service on the Kingston-Montreal route from 1853 to 1856.
Significant Incidents
- On July 24, 1862, the New Era collided with the steamer Passport near Kingston.
- Grounded on August 16, 1862, while attempting to navigate the Lachine Rapids after dark, an incident attributed to an “incompetent” crew.
Final Disposition
The New Era met its demise on March 20, 1868, when it was destroyed by fire in Kingston, Ontario. The remains of the vessel were subsequently towed to Garden Island in October 1870, where it was beached and left to deteriorate.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the New Era is no longer intact and has deteriorated significantly since its beached state. Accessibility may be limited due to its location and condition.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”new-era-empress” title=”References & Links”]
The New Era had a varied and eventful career, marked by significant rebuilds, ownership changes, and incidents, reflecting the challenges and hazards of 19th-century steam navigation on the Great Lakes and surrounding waterways.
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.
Vessel Name: New Era
- Also Known As: Empress (1862)
Year of Build: 1848 Built at: Portsmouth, Ontario
Propulsion: Sidewheel
Tonnage (Gross): 132 tons - Hull Dimensions
- Original Dimensions: Not specified
- Rebuild Dimensions (1862): 172 feet in length, 39 feet in beam, 9 feet in depth Rebuild Tonnage: 263 tons
- Final Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- How: Burnt
HISTORY
Chronology:
The New Era was originally built in 1848 by G. Thurston at Fowler’s Yard in Kingston and launched around June 1st of that year. The vessel underwent significant modifications and a complete rebuild in 1862 by the same builder, G. Thurston, this time at Portsmouth, Ontario. During the rebuild, the ship received a new keel, frames, bottom timbers, stem, deck beams, engine frame, and deck. The reconstruction included adding “false sides” to improve stability, which had been an issue with the original design.
Ownership History:
- Owned by O. S. Gildersleeve (1852, 1862)
- Sold to O. Lynch (Beauharnois Navigation Co.) in 1865
- Transferred to the Beauharnois, Châteauguay & Huntingdon Navigation Co. in 1866
- Initially operated primarily on Lake Ontario, with periods of service on the Kingston-Montreal route from 1853 to 1856.
- On July 24, 1862, the New Era collided with the steamer Passport near Kingston.
- Grounded on August 16, 1862, while attempting to navigate the Lachine Rapids after dark, an incident attributed to an “incompetent” crew.
Final Days:
The New Era met its demise on March 20, 1868, when it was destroyed by fire in Kingston, Ontario. The remains of the vessel were subsequently towed to Garden Island in October 1870, where it was beached and left to deteriorate.
The New Era had a varied and eventful career, marked by significant rebuilds, ownership changes, and incidents, reflecting the challenges and hazards of 19th-century steam navigation on the Great Lakes and surrounding waterways.
new-era-empress 1870-10-14 07:50:00