Hi everyone. Just came back from Ottawa where I'd spent a few hours
at the National Archives photo section and then a few hours at the
Museum of Science and Technology.
Re the Archives. While I wasn't researching paddlewheelers I just had
to take a few peeks in the appropriate sections. Big hint - the
archives aren't as well organized as you might think. Mostly this has
to do with complexity of photos - e.g. I saw two photos of Alligators
(Wabis and Beaver) on a pic of a scow wintering on Lake Temiskaming
but there wasn't enough room/info to describe the other vessels - and
the lack of knowledge of the archival staff e.g. I saw a neat little
sternwheeler in the scow section and several canoes being paddled in
the rowboat section. Having said that, I'd really recommend anyone
find a few hours when in Ottawa to go check out the Archive info.
Probably not great on designs, lines, etc. but they have two or three
extensive photo collections on watercraft.
When at the Museum I saw a diorama of a railway bridge being built
over the St Lawrence in Montreal. No descriptive info about it but
there was a very interesting side wheel tug with the name Beaver on
it. Anybody know anything about this tug? It'd make a great r/c model!
About my research. I'm looking for info on small commercial i.e.
working watercraft - scows, prams, skiffs, small paddlewheelers, etc.
that might have evolved in Ontario (I'm including eastern Manitoba
and western Quebec so as not to miss stuff.) Anyone any suggestions
re museums, private collections, etc. please contact me off list.
TIA
Bryant
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