Gay Head (steamboat) facts for kids
The Gay Head, circa 1897.
|
|
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Name | Gay Head |
| Namesake | Gay Head, Massachusetts |
| Operator | New Bedford, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket Steamboat Co. |
| Launched | 1891 |
| Out of service | 1924 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Paddle steamer |
| Displacement | 701 long tons (712 t) |
| Length | 203 ft (62 m) |
| Beam | 34 ft (10 m) |
| Draft | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Propulsion | Pusey and Jones steam engine |
The Gay Head was a special kind of boat called a sidewheel steamer. It worked like a ferry, carrying people and goods between the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. This was a long time ago, from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. The boat was named after a town in Massachusetts called Gay Head, which is now known as Aquinnah.
Building the Gay Head
The Gay Head was built in 1891 in Philadelphia. It was made for a company called the New Bedford, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket Steamboat Co.. This boat was very large for its time.
It weighed 701 tons and was 203 feet long. Its width, called the beam, was 34 feet. The boat's engine was built by the Pusey & Jones Co. in Philadelphia. The Gay Head was the biggest sidewheel steamer that this company ever used.
Inside the Ship
The Gay Head was also very fancy inside! Its social hall and ladies' rooms were decorated in a "Neapolitan style." This meant they had gold trimmings and beautiful cherry wood. The seats in the cabins were covered in soft, maroon fabric.
The main deck's social hall floor was made of black walnut and maple wood. It was a huge room, about 50 feet long. Above this deck, there were more areas for walking and relaxing. You could reach them by climbing "richly carved staircases." The ship even had five private rooms on each side, with special willow furniture. A cool feature was its "hurricane deck," which stretched from the back of the boat all the way to the pilot house. Older steamers didn't have this kind of open deck.
The Gay Head's Journey
The Gay Head had several captains during its time. Some of the first captains in 1891 were Capt. A. P. Bartow and Capt. G. L. Daggett. Later, Capt. Charles H. Fishback and Capt. Charles H. Coulter also commanded the ship.
A Foggy Collision
In July 1898, something unexpected happened. The Gay Head was sailing through Vineyard Sound when it hit another steamer called the Nantucket. It was a very foggy day, making it hard to see. The front part of the Nantucket boat was badly damaged in this accident.
The Gay Head continued to operate for many years. It served as a ferry for 33 years before it stopped working in 1924.
