Kingston Shipyard - Product & By-Product: Schooner Days DI (501)

by C. H. J. Snider

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IT was not just to make conversation that Schooner Days asked in the 500th number—"Power's shipyard, Kingston — who remembers where it was?"

The question occurred through the Eliza Quinlon's unfortunate experience in anchoring there in a November gale in 1881, and driving into the schooner Wave Crest when her chain parted, an experience which well-nigh ruined her voyage.

We have had a lively curiosity about Power's shipyard, Kingston, ever since hearing, years ago, that the fatal yacht Foam, which drowned seven yachtsmen on the Niagara Bar in 1874, had been known as the John Power before becoming the Foam, and was assumed to be a product of the Power shipyard in Kingston. While no details of the John Power phase of her existence have been forthcoming, a Kingston reader of Schooner Days furnishes a lively account of the Power shipyard, which, it appears, is a shipyard still, after a hundred and fifty years of practically continuous operation under various names. It has war craft to its credit, very ancient and very modern, and one of its owners was also the owner of the super-Hood of her time, the three-decker H.M.S. St. Lawrence, of 102 guns. She silenced all opposition on Lake Ontario without firing a shot, and brought about that venerable disarmament agreement for the Great Lakes which has given us peace and amity with our neighbors for a hundred and twenty-seven years.

Mr. Edwin E. Horsey, 408 Albert street, Kingston, writes:

In Chapter D, "Schooner Days," June 14th, you make mention of "Power's shipyard, Kingston," and ask: "Who remembers where it was?" Answer: On site of present Kingston Shipbuilding Company dry dock.

The shore in this locality was flat in early days as compared with the bluff, rocky waterfront of Murney Point (Macdonald Park) to the west. A point jutted out into the harbor, known as Mississauga Point, affording shelter for the beaching of canoes, thus making the site a favorite Indian camping place. Close by a stream or creek meandered from the northwest and emptied into the lake. In its primitive state the surrounding vicinity was densely wooded. The present Gore street, leading to the locality, was originally called Point on that account.

It is presumed it was from this ideally situated camping ground, commanding view of approach by water from all directions, that the deputation of Iroquois chiefs, accompanied by the Abbe d'Urfe, put forth to welcome Count Frontenac when he ascended the St. Lawrence River and reached Cataraqui on July 12th, 1673.

Following United Empire Loyalists settlement (1784) vessels were constructed at the point and during the War of 1812 a battery was placed there to cross fire with the one established at Point Frederick (Royal Military College grounds).

This early shipyard became of importance during the years 1826-32 when operated by Robert Drummond, who was associated with Colonel By in the construction of the Rideau canal. It was this gentleman who purchased the dismantled 1812 man-of-war "St. Lawrence," which sank during a storm while moored off shore in front of his residence—St. Helen's—and distillery (now headquarters of M.D. No. 3). He constructed a number of steamers at the shipyard, among them the Margaret, Rideau, John By, and Lady-of-the-Lake. The first steamer operated on the Rideau canal—the Pumper—was owned by him. Mr. Drummond, sold out to Macpherson & Crane and then established a shipyard at Portsmouth.

Mr. Drummond's residence and distillery were considerably west of the Mississauga Point shipyard, and his Portsmouth yard was, of course, farther west still. The hull of the dismantled St. Lawrence was towed by a paddle-wheel tug, one of those named above, and beached on the shore, to form a fuel dock for the woodburning steamers then plying the lake. A wharf was built out to her, to enable the farmers to team their cordwood aboard. Wharf and ship alike vanished more than half a century ago, but the massive frame of the St. Lawrence is still discernible below the waves. Copper "tokens" of the old Bank of Upper Canada, and other early Canadian coins are washed up occasionally on the foreshore of Bywater, residence of Dr. J. C. Connell, of Kingston. They are probably change the farmers lost through the wharf planking a century ago, when being paid for their cordwood. The St. Lawrence had not been built at the Mississauga Point shipyard, but at Point Frederick, farther east. The ways from which she was launched are still visible in the area of the Royal Military College.

In 1836, the Mississauga Point shipyard, with other adjoining water lots, taking in as far north as Earl street, were acquired by the Marine Railway Company (a promotion of John Counter, eight times Mayor of Kingston, who arranged for the erection of the city buildings a hundred years ago). Considerable expansion of business followed, including the building of a foundry and row of stone dwellings on east side of Ontario street for employees, the latter known to older citizens as the "railway cottages." The row of houses was made use of by the Union Government (1841-44) as offices. The shipyard became a busy place during the "forties," employing a large force of workmen. Vessels of all description were built for river, lake and ocean trade. A number of the early Royal Mail Line steamers were constructed here. The hull plates for the Passport (to close its career as the Caspian) came out from England cut to dimensions and were put together at the yard, the launching taking place in 1847.

About the mid "fifties" financial difficulties were experienced and the company's property, including the marine railway, work shops, the Ontario foundry (forerunner of the Locomotive Works), the row of stone dwellings, a hotel, and extensive wharfage rights, was closed out under a Chancery sale. Interested Kingstonians at that time, among others, were Michael Doran, John Carruthers, Alexander Gunn, George Davidson, George Hinds and Joseph Bruce.

At a later date William Power took over and operated the shipyard for many years. Old residents spoke of him as a kindly and affable man, who wore a silk hat every day of the year. Gradually the shipyard efforts were curtailed and eventually the industry lost out to new competitors.

Following its closing, interest in the site was in course of time revived, when Sir John A. Macdonald secured for Kingston the establishment of the Dominion Dry Dock, resulting in the construction of the present dry dock, the opening of which in 1890 was one of Sir John's last public appearances here of note. The government dock was taken over by the Kingston Shipbuilding Company following its formation in 1910, bringing about considerable improvement to meet modern construction and repair requirements.

Thus, it may be said shipbuilding has gone on at the location for practically one hundred and fifty years.

So concludes the obliging Mr. Horsey, following up a kindness begun some years ago when we were at the unveiling of a memorial cairn at the head of Navy Bay, on the anniversary of the capture of Oswego, Another valued correspondent, Mr. George W. Bongard, of Picton, sets us right on the ultimate fate of the poor Eliza Quinlon, which must have followed close upon the heels of her hard-luck voyage which was interrupted at Power's shipyard in 1881. Possibly the year was 1882, for the captain and mate named in her loss are the same who signed the "protest" early in 1882 over her disastrous voyage of the preceding year. Mr. Bongard writes: "She was wrecked on Poplar Point in a heavy snowstorm, and the crew was taken off by Mr. Jackson Bongard, and not by Leroy Spafford, as this happened years before Mr. Spafford had the lifeboat. I was just a young man and lived home and took our team and sleigh and brought the crew to our home. The crew was composed of Capt. Van Vlack, Levi Collier, mate, and Albert Lobb, Reuben Bowerman, and a Norwegian."

One of the sixteen-inch oak ribs of the ST. LAWRENCE, in front Dr. Connell's Kingston residence.

H.M.S. ST. LAWRENCE, drawn from her building lines preserved in the Admiralty library, White Hall.