SS Wanderer facts for kids
| History | |
|---|---|
| Canada | |
| Name |
|
| Owner |
|
| Builder | N. H. Caesar |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. C. E. Woods |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Ferry |
| Length | 40 ft (12 m) |
| Beam | 9.5 ft (2.9 m) |
| Installed power | 5 hp (3.7 kW) |
The SS Wanderer was a special boat that worked as an unofficial ferry on Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada. It was the second boat to serve this lake. The Wanderer later got a new name, the Violet.
Contents
Building the Wanderer
The Wanderer was built by a man named N. H. Caesar. He had bought an older boat called City of Vernon. But he soon found out that the City of Vernon leaked a lot! So, he renamed it Mud Hen.
Instead of fixing the Mud Hen, Caesar decided to build a new boat. He used the Mud Hen's engine, which had 5 horsepower. The new boat was the Wanderer. It was about 40 feet (12 m) long and 9.5 feet (2.9 m) wide.
Where Did the Parts Come From?
The Wanderer's deck house, which is like the cabin on a boat, came from another ship. This ship was called the MV Penticton. The Penticton was changed into a towboat by the Lequime brothers. This meant they had extra parts they didn't need, like the deck house, which Caesar could use for the Wanderer.
The Wanderer was officially named with a traditional bottle of champagne.
What Did the Wanderer Do?
The Wanderer was a busy boat! N. H. Caesar used it for many jobs.
- It helped tow logs across the lake to Kelowna.
- It carried dynamite to Penticton for the Morning Glory mine.
- It also moved wheat from Caesar's farm to Okanagan Landing.
In 1901, Caesar sold the Wanderer to William A. D'Aethe. Later, William D'Aethe sold it to William Smith.
A New Name: The Violet
William Smith took the boat to Kalamalka Lake. There, he gave it a new name: the Violet.
The Violet continued to work hard. William Smith used it to tow logs for his company, the Smith Lumber Company. These logs were then cut into firewood and taken to Vernon, British Columbia.
The Engine's Long Journey
Eventually, the Violet's engine was taken out. It was then put into a sawmill to power it. The boat's hull, which is the main body of the boat, was left on a beach and slowly fell apart.
This engine had a very interesting history!
- It first belonged to the Mary Victoria Greenhow. This was the very first steamboat on Okanagan Lake.
- Then, it went into the SS Jubilee.
- After that, it was used in the Mud Hen (which was the old City of Vernon).
- Finally, it powered the Wanderer (which became the Violet).
So, when the Violet was no longer used, it marked the end of a long line of boats. All these boats had used the same engine, and they were all linked back to the Mary Victoria Greenhow in official records.
Where is the Engine Now?
The engine was saved! In November 1957, Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Worth from Vernon donated it. Their family had owned the engine for many years. Now, this important piece of history is kept at the Vernon Museum and Archives.
