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Rum running on Lake Ontario
When rum running moved to Lake Ontario By Richard Palmer One of the most interesting periods of Great Lakes maritime history was the Prohibition era between 1920 and 1933. This was a nationwide ban on the sale, production, importation and transportation of alcoholic beverages under the 18th Amendment known as the Volstead Act. This led to the formation of criminal syndicates that, among other activities, smuggled alcoholic beverages in from Canada. It did not work well and led to some of the worst corruption in American history. It took years to bring the problems associated with bootlegging and rum running that ran rampant on the Great Lakes under control. In August, 1929, residents of Oswego as well as those at all ports at the northern end of Lake Ontario learned through the newspapers that rum running syndicates in Detroit were planning to transfer their operations to Kingston, 60 miles directly across Lake Ontario.The reason for their decision is said to have been due ...
Steamboat "Lady of the Lake"
By Richard Palmer Steamboat Lady of the Lake was built in Oswego in 1842. Sketch by C.H. J. Snider Advertisement for steamboats, Ogdensburg Sentinel, May 30, 1848 Steamboat Lady of the Lake Sailed Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence By Richard Palmer One of the most popular steamboats on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River in the 19th century was the Lady of the Lake of the Ontario & St. Lawrence Steamboat Company. She launched from the shipyard of George S. Weeks in Oswego on April 28, 1842. The keel had been laid the previous December. It was described as “the best steam vessel which floats on our lake.” At that time, steamboat travel on inland waterways was at its zenith. About 300 people went on her initial shake-down trip that June from Oswego to Ogdensburg, a distance of 140 miles, was 11 hours, including three stops, or a running time of eight hours in what was described as rough seas. She was commanded by Captain John J. Taylor. She prov...
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