SS Maude-Moore facts for kids
| History | |
|---|---|
| Canada | |
| Owner | William Jessup Snodgrass |
| Acquired | 1899 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Screw steamer |
| Length | 45 ft (14 m) |
| Capacity | 20 passengers |
The SS Maude-Moore was a special kind of boat called a screw steamer. It ran on wood and worked like a ferry. This boat helped people travel between towns like Summerland, Naramata, and Penticton. These towns are all found on Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada.
Building the Maude-Moore
In 1899, a man named William Jessup Snodgrass bought the Maude-Moore. He was a pioneer who helped start the community of Okanagan Falls. The boat's main body, called the hull, was sent all the way from Peterborough, Ontario. It arrived at the Okanagan Landing shipyard. This shipyard was at the north end of Okanagan Lake.
The boat was named after Snodgrass's youngest daughter. Captain Joseph Weeks helped build the top part of the Maude-Moore. He later became the last captain of the famous SS Sicamous. The boat's engine and boiler came from an older boat named Jessie.
The Maude-Moore was 45 feet long. It could carry up to 20 passengers. It also had a special flat boat, called a scow, for carrying heavy items. The hull was very strong. However, the steering room (pilothouse) and cabin were a bit boxy. They had sliding windows. The boat was actually better for rivers than for big, open lakes.
Maude-Moore's Adventures
At first, Snodgrass used the Maude-Moore on Skaha Lake. In 1905, he sold the boat to another pioneer, John Moore Robinson. After that, the Maude-Moore worked on Okanagan Lake. It was Robinson's private boat, along with his MV Rattlesnake.
In 1908, Robinson started the Okanagan Lake Boat Company. The Maude-Moore then became an official ferry. Another ferry, the MV Mallard, was moved to Skaha Lake. For the next five years, the Maude-Moore traveled twice a day. It also made special trips to Kelowna and Penticton.
The boat faced many rough winter storms. But it never had any serious problems. Besides its regular ferry duties, it also took business travelers to Penticton. It carried baseball and cricket teams, and even people going to dance parties.
Once, it carried two tons of dynamite. This was for building roads. Another time, it helped search for two people who had left the Canadian Pacific Railway company's SS Okanagan.
The End of Service
In 1911, Peter Roe bought the Okanagan Lake Boat Company. He decided to replace the Maude-Moore and Rattlesnake. He used two newer gas-powered boats instead. The Maude-Moore was pulled ashore. Sadly, it was later burned at Naramata.
