Keenora
Encyclopedia
The steamboat
SS Keenora is probably the best-known and most loved of all Lake Winnipeg
steamboats. The vessel began operations as a steamboat on Lake of the Woods
in Ontario
, where from she was transported to Winnipeg, Manitoba and rebuilt. Currently retired from service, the Keenora is the fireplace mantel
of collection
at the Marine Museum of Manitoba
in Selkirk, Manitoba
.
's Lake of the Woods
, where she ran successfully for over a decade
, serving isolated communities on the lake as distant as Rainy River
. When the Ontario and Rainy River Railway was built in 1901 traffic volumes began to decline, following the takeover of this railway by Canadian Northern Railway
in 1915, the vessel was sold to a consortium of Winnipeg lawyers. The Keenora was dismantled and transported in sections to Winnipeg on railroad flatcar
s in 1917.
Once reassembled in Winnipeg, she received an additional 30' (10m) extension on her hull, increasing her overall length to 158 feet (41,8 m). For a season she served as a floating dance hall in downtown Winnipeg, but was later assigned to cargo and passenger traffic on Lake Winnipeg and on Red River
. A total of 65 passenger cabins were constructed, and a new machinery was installed. The machinery guaranteed a speed of 15 knots (27,8 km/h).
The regular route started from Winnipeg, with a turnaround point located at the northern end of Lake Winnipeg, at Warren Landing
on the Big Mossy Point. From Warren Landing the passengers and cargo were transferred to a smaller steamboat, which covered the last 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) to Norway House
. The Keenora was clearly a too large vessel to enter the shallow Nelson River
.
Her career ended in the 1960s when she could not meet the new maritime regulations. At first she was destined to be scrapped, but was salvaged to be the cornerstone
of Marine Museum of Manitoba's collections.
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
SS Keenora is probably the best-known and most loved of all Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg is a large, lake in central North America, in the province of Manitoba, Canada, with its southern tip about north of the city of Winnipeg...
steamboats. The vessel began operations as a steamboat on Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods is a lake occupying parts of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba and the U.S. state of Minnesota. It separates a small land area of Minnesota from the rest of the United States. The Northwest Angle and the town of Angle Township can only be reached from the rest of...
in 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....
, where from she was transported to Winnipeg, Manitoba and rebuilt. Currently retired from service, the Keenora is the fireplace mantel
Fireplace mantel
Fireplace mantel or mantelpiece, also known as a chimneypiece, originated in medieval times as a hood that projected over a grate to catch the smoke. The term has evolved to include the decorative framework around the fireplace, and can include elaborate designs extending to the ceiling...
of collection
Collection (museum)
A museum is distinguished by a collection of often unique objects that forms the core of its activities for exhibitions, education, research, etc. This differentiates it from an archive or library, where the contents may be more paper-based, replaceable and less exhibition oriented...
at the Marine Museum of Manitoba
Marine Museum of Manitoba
The Marine Museum of Manitoba, at Selkirk, Manitoba, was established in 1972 to gather ships, artifacts, and items relating to shipping, to tell the story of the development and the operation of transportation on Lake Winnipeg and the Red River...
in Selkirk, Manitoba
Selkirk, Manitoba
Selkirk is a city in the western Canadian province of Manitoba, located about 22 km northeast of the provincial capital Winnipeg on the Red River, near . As of the 2006 census, Selkirk had a population of 9,515....
.
History
The steamboat Keenora was built in 1897 for passenger and cargo traffic along the OntarioOntario
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....
's Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods is a lake occupying parts of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba and the U.S. state of Minnesota. It separates a small land area of Minnesota from the rest of the United States. The Northwest Angle and the town of Angle Township can only be reached from the rest of...
, where she ran successfully for over a decade
Decade
A decade is a period of 10 years. The word is derived from the Ancient Greek dekas which means ten. This etymology is sometime confused with the Latin decas and dies , which is not correct....
, serving isolated communities on the lake as distant as Rainy River
Rainy River, Ontario
The Canadian town of Rainy River is situated on the Ontario-Minnesota border, along the Rainy River opposite Baudette, Minnesota, USA, and southeast of the Lake of the Woods...
. When the Ontario and Rainy River Railway was built in 1901 traffic volumes began to decline, following the takeover of this railway by Canadian Northern Railway
Canadian Northern Railway
The Canadian Northern Railway is a historic Canadian transcontinental railway. At its demise in 1923, when it was merged into the Canadian National Railway , the CNoR owned a main line between Quebec City and Vancouver via Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Edmonton.-Manitoba beginnings:CNoR had its start in...
in 1915, the vessel was sold to a consortium of Winnipeg lawyers. The Keenora was dismantled and transported in sections to Winnipeg on railroad flatcar
Flatcar
A flatcar is a piece of railroad or railway rolling stock that consists of an open, flat deck on four or six wheels or a pair of trucks or bogies . The deck of the car can be wood or steel, and the sides of the deck can include pockets for stakes or tie-down points to secure loads...
s in 1917.
Once reassembled in Winnipeg, she received an additional 30' (10m) extension on her hull, increasing her overall length to 158 feet (41,8 m). For a season she served as a floating dance hall in downtown Winnipeg, but was later assigned to cargo and passenger traffic on Lake Winnipeg and on Red River
Red River of the North
The Red River is a North American river. Originating at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail rivers in the United States, it flows northward through the Red River Valley and forms the border between the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota before continuing into Manitoba, Canada...
. A total of 65 passenger cabins were constructed, and a new machinery was installed. The machinery guaranteed a speed of 15 knots (27,8 km/h).
The regular route started from Winnipeg, with a turnaround point located at the northern end of Lake Winnipeg, at Warren Landing
Warren Landing, Manitoba
Warren Landing is a small community in Manitoba, Canada. It is located approximately 500 kilometers north from Winnipeg, at the northern end of Lake Winnipeg on Big Mossy Point, where the Nelson River originates....
on the Big Mossy Point. From Warren Landing the passengers and cargo were transferred to a smaller steamboat, which covered the last 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) to Norway House
Norway House, Manitoba
- Treaty and York Boat Days :Held annually each summer, the York Boat events serve as the main attraction.-External links:* * * *...
. The Keenora was clearly a too large vessel to enter the shallow Nelson River
Nelson River
The Nelson River is a river of north-central North America, in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Its full length is , it has mean discharge of , and has a drainage basin of , of which is in the United States...
.
Her career ended in the 1960s when she could not meet the new maritime regulations. At first she was destined to be scrapped, but was salvaged to be the cornerstone
Cornerstone
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
of Marine Museum of Manitoba's collections.
Recommended reading
- Russell, FrancesFrances RussellFrances Russell is a left-wing author and journalist in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She has been a columnist for the Winnipeg Free Press newspaper for several years, and has written two books: Mistehay Sakahegan – The Great Lake and The Canadian Crucible – Manitoba’s Role in Canada’s Great...
: Mistehay Sakahegan: The Great Lake, ISBN 1-896150-10-1 (Heartland Associates Publishing and Communications)