Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Silverland (1909)

Explore the history of the Silverland, a wooden-hulled steamboat lost to fire in 1927, once vital for transport on Lake Temiskaming.

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

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.