Wenonah II
Encyclopedia
The Wenonah and the Wenonah II are two steamships that navigated a series of connected lakes that covered much of the county of Muskoka, Ontario
, Canada
.
, on Lake Muskoka
, in 1866.
She was the first vessel employed by the Muskoka Navigation Company.
She carried passengers, mail and freight, and towed logs for the lumber industry.
Cockburn was elected to Ontario's Provincial Parliament in 1867. According to the Dictionary of Canadian Biography
he "By the spring of 1869 he had induced the Ontario government to build a lock on the Indian River
at Port Carling and a canal at Port Sandfield
, to allow steamers to extend their runs to lakes Rosseau
and Joseph
." Cockburn also played a role in passing legislation to have rail service extended to Gravenhurst, one of the other ports served by the Muskoka steamships.
The original Wenonah was abandoned, in favor of more recent vessels, in 1886.
She is homeported in Gravenhurst
, Ontario
, and is operated by Muskoka Steamships, which also operates the RMS Segwun
.
The Segwun is the last surviving original steamship from the fleet of several dozen that served the county of Muskoka, Ontario in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century.
As a road network was built the steamships became less useful, and were either broken up, or not replaced when they were lost. The final two ships, the Segwun and the RMS Sagamo were retired in 1958. The Sagamo was destroyed by a fire in 1969. In 1972 volunteers started to restore the Segwun. In 1981 she started to carry sightseers on the lakes, and to host dinner cruises. She is the oldest steamship in North America
.
Her cruises were so popular that the Segwun's operators decided to construct a modern replica, inspired by the original vessels, named the Wenonah, to supplement the historic Segwun.
The modern replica was completed in 2002 and while it has the appearance of an early twentieth Century steamship, it has modern conveniences, like air conditioning, and an elevator.
She is larger than the Seqwun, and also carries sightseers and dinner cruises.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The Original Wenonah
The original Wenonah was a sidewheel steamship, built by Alexander Peter CockburnAlexander Peter Cockburn
Alexander Peter Cockburn was an Ontario businessman and political figure. He represented Victoria North in the 1st Parliament of Ontario and Muskoka and then Ontario North in the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal member from 1872 to 1887.He was born in Finch in 1837, the son of Scottish...
, on Lake Muskoka
Lake Muskoka
Lake Muskoka is located between Port Carling and Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada. The lake is surrounded by many cottages. The lake is primarily in the Township of Muskoka Lakes, with the southeast corner in the Town of Gravenhurst. The Town of Bala, Ontario is located on the southwest shores of the...
, in 1866.
She was the first vessel employed by the Muskoka Navigation Company.
She carried passengers, mail and freight, and towed logs for the lumber industry.
Cockburn was elected to Ontario's Provincial Parliament in 1867. According to the Dictionary of Canadian Biography
Dictionary of Canadian Biography
The Dictionary of Canadian Biography is a dictionary of biographical entries for individuals who have contributed to the history of Canada. The DCB, which was initiated in 1959, is a collaboration between the University of Toronto and Université Laval...
he "By the spring of 1869 he had induced the Ontario government to build a lock on the Indian River
Indian River (Ontario)
There are five rivers named Indian River in Ontario, Canada:* The Indian River in the Kawartha Lakes/Peterborough region flows from Stoney Lake into Rice Lake...
at Port Carling and a canal at Port Sandfield
Port Sandfield
Port Sandfield is a community on Lake Rosseau in Ontario, Canada, located within and governed by the municipality of Muskoka Lakes.It was founded in 1870, when a canal was built connecting Lake Joseph to Lake Rosseau....
, to allow steamers to extend their runs to lakes Rosseau
Lake Rosseau
Lake Rosseau is located in Ontario about 200 kilometers north of Toronto. The lake is surrounded by many cottages, some dating back to the late 19th century. The south end of the lake is in the Township of Muskoka Lakes, and the north end is in Seguin Township. Lake Rosseau is connected to Lake...
and Joseph
Lake Joseph
Lake Joseph is located in Seguin Township, Ontario. The lake is surrounded by many cottages. Lake Joseph is connected to Lake Rosseau through the narrows at Port Sandfield and the Joseph River.-Lake Front Resident Advocacy Group:...
." Cockburn also played a role in passing legislation to have rail service extended to Gravenhurst, one of the other ports served by the Muskoka steamships.
The original Wenonah was abandoned, in favor of more recent vessels, in 1886.
Modern replica
The Wenonah II is a modern replica of the early 20th century steamships.She is homeported in Gravenhurst
Gravenhurst, Ontario
Gravenhurst is a town in the Muskoka Region of Ontario, Canada. It is located approximately south of Bracebridge, Ontario. The mayor is Paisley Donaldson...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, and is operated by Muskoka Steamships, which also operates the RMS Segwun
RMS Segwun
RMS Segwun is the oldest operating steam driven vessel in North America, built in 1887 to cruise the Muskoka Lakes in the District of Muskoka, Ontario Canada, a resort area with many lakes and rivers. Early in the 20th century Muskoka was poorly served by roads...
.
The Segwun is the last surviving original steamship from the fleet of several dozen that served the county of Muskoka, Ontario in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century.
As a road network was built the steamships became less useful, and were either broken up, or not replaced when they were lost. The final two ships, the Segwun and the RMS Sagamo were retired in 1958. The Sagamo was destroyed by a fire in 1969. In 1972 volunteers started to restore the Segwun. In 1981 she started to carry sightseers on the lakes, and to host dinner cruises. She is the oldest steamship in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Her cruises were so popular that the Segwun's operators decided to construct a modern replica, inspired by the original vessels, named the Wenonah, to supplement the historic Segwun.
The modern replica was completed in 2002 and while it has the appearance of an early twentieth Century steamship, it has modern conveniences, like air conditioning, and an elevator.
She is larger than the Seqwun, and also carries sightseers and dinner cruises.