County of Yarmouth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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 Canada |
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| Name | County of Yarmouth |
| Namesake | Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia |
| Owner | William D. Lovitt |
| Port of registry | Yarmouth, Nova Scotia |
| Builder | Hilaire P. Boudreau, Belliveau's Cove, Nova Scotia |
| Launched | May 29, 1884 |
| Identification |
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| Fate | Sold to Argentina as training ship, 1896 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 2154 Gross |
| Length | 243 ft (74 m) |
| Beam | 44.5 ft (13.6 m) |
| Depth | 24 ft |
| Decks | 2 |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Sail plan | Ship |
The County of Yarmouth was a very large sailing ship. It was built in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1884. This ship was special because it was the biggest wooden ship ever made for owners in Yarmouth County. It was also the second largest wooden ship built in all of Canada! Only the ship William D. Lawrence was a tiny bit bigger.
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The Amazing Ship County of Yarmouth
Built for the Seas
The County of Yarmouth was a type of ship called a full-rigged ship. This means it had three or more masts. Each mast carried many square sails. It was built in a place called Belliveau's Cove, Nova Scotia. The ship was launched on May 29, 1884.
This ship was truly huge for its time. It was 243 feet long! That's longer than two basketball courts. It was built for William D. Lovitt, who owned many ships from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. The ship was proudly named after Yarmouth County. Many big wooden ships from Nova Scotia were named this way. They were built at the end of the time when sailing ships ruled the seas. This period is often called the Age of Sail.
Journeys Around the World
The County of Yarmouth had a very busy and successful first ten years. It sailed all over the world! Its main routes were between ports in South America, Canada, and Britain. The ship carried goods and made money for its owner.
A Ship's Tough Life
Life at sea was not always easy for ships. In 1893, the County of Yarmouth faced a big challenge. It ran aground, meaning it got stuck on the bottom, near Low Point in Cape Breton. Luckily, the ship survived this serious accident.
However, in December 1895, the ship was badly damaged again. Its masts were broken, an event called being "dismasted." This happened near Grimsby, England. It was thought the ship would have to be taken apart for scrap.
A New Purpose
But the story of the County of Yarmouth did not end there! The government of Argentina bought the ship. They decided to use it for a new purpose. Instead of being broken up, it became a "school ship." This means it was used to train new sailors. So, the County of Yarmouth continued its life, teaching young people about the sea.
