Lake Ontario Maritime History

Image of the tug “George S. Dodge”  by famous marine artist James G. Tyler.Built in   Philadelphia 1864 US #10546 blew up in Oswego harbor, September 28, 1870. Owned by Thomas Dobbie and Frost Brothers.  67’5”’x18’ x 6’ 37 gross tons. Enrolled in Oswego May 23, 1870.  (Oswego County Historical Society John S. Parsons Marine Collection) Oswego Advertiser and Times Wednesday, September 18, 1870 TERRIFIC EXPLOSION Destruction of the Steam Tug Dodge - Heavy and Wide-spread Damage - Remarkable Escape of Crew from Injury - The City Treated to a Mild Earthquake Experience                             ___    About ten minutes past 4 o’clock this morning the whole city was aroused by a most terrific report and concussion that shook buildings to their foundations and rattled windows and crockery ware like a veritable shock of an earthquake. Indeed such was the overwhelming force of the concussion, ...

 

 

 

                          Kingston Harbor in the 19th century.                   Another old view of Kingston harbor.   Nineteen Drowned When Yacht Capsized in 1851 Near Wolfe Island By Richard Palmer A voyage that started out as a pleasure cruise to attend a regatta from Kington to Cape Vincent and Clayton on August 14, 1851 came to a tragic end when the yacht Janet overturned during a squall, drowning 17 women and two men. There were 15 survivors. For its size the vessel was way overloaded with passengers. The Kingston Herald of August 15, 1851 reported:  With poignant and sorrowing feelings, we have to record one of the most melancholy casualties which ever cast its dark gloom over our city. Yesterday morning a gay and happy party started on a picnic excursion, to Cape Vincent and French Creek, in a new sail boat belonging to Mr. D. B. Jenkins of this city....

 

    Prominently shown in this early view of Oswego harbor are the paddle wheel steamers Rochester , left, and Lady of the Lake , which sailed on Lake Ontario. In the distance is a two-masted screw propeller. Regarding the propeller shown on the right, it is believed it may have been either the Chicago or the Oswego , built by Sylvester Doolittle in Oswego in 1842. It isn’t the Vandalia, the first screw propeller on the Great Lakes built in Oswego in 1841, as she was sloop rigged and the one shown is a two-master.  The Lady of the Lake and the  Rochester were built in 1842-1843, respectively, in Oswego by George S. Weeks, whose yard is seen at far right. Later this yard was operated by George Goble into the 1900s. These are the only known depictions of these vessels. The lithograph is also of historical significance as it shows details of the second lighthouse,  the locations of local landmarks such as Fort Ontario on the bluff at left, and other buildi...