St. Lawrence Republican, 2 Jun 1880

The Watertown Despatch is printing some steamboat reminiscences of fifty years ago. It says:

"About 1828 the steamer Brownville was built at Brownville village and having with difficulty passed the locks was burned to the water's edge on her first trip to Ogdensburg. The hull was afterwards towed back to Brownville, rebuilt and the name changed to Wm. Avery. This boat was 80 feet keel, 40 feet beam, 100 tons burthen and 40 horse power. Whatever became of her is not now known. Steamboat navigation to and from Brownville seems to have ended about that time--and now after a lapse of fifty years another steamboat is about to float on the waters of Black River at Brownville."

The Wm. Avery's engines were put into the steamer Oneida, built at Pultneyville. The Oneida, built at Pultneyville. The Oneida was one of the most successful and best paying boats that ever ran on Lake Ontario. She laid the foundation of the palatial steamers that flourished from 1844 to 1861. The Oneida's engines were placed in the steamer British Queen which ran from Ogdensburg to Montreal, forming a daily line in connection with the British Empire. The Queen was a failure, having insufficient power to drive her up over the Gallops rapids at seasons of low water.