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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Amelia Wheaton

Sternwheel Steamer:
  • Laid down in 1878 as the sternwheel steamer Amelia Wheaton for the U.S. Army post at Fort Coeur d’Alene by CAPT. C.P. Sorenson
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Purchased by U.S. Army, 24 August 1880 for $8,000
  • Amelia Wheaton operated on Lake Coeur d'Alene Idaho and the St. Joe river from 1880 to 1892
  • The steamer was used mostly for transporting feed for the cavalry mules at Fort Sherman, hay from the old mission at St. Maries and grain from Farmington. She was also expected to move troops in the case of conflict with the Coeur d'Alene people.
  • During the 1883 gold rush at Prichard Creek, a tributary of the Coeur d"Alene River, the government allowed the miners transport their equipment from Coeur d' Alene City to the head of navigation on the Coeur d'Alene river and to Kingston, Idaho.
  • Retired from U.S. Army service in 1888
  • Merchant Service
  • Sold in 1888 to St. Joe Transportation Co. to run a steamboat business on Lake Coeur d'Alene
  • The St. Joe Transportation Co. was absorbed into the Peoples Transportation Co. in 1892
  • On 3 December 1892 Amelia Wheaton was reported to have ceased its regular service on the lake
  • Final Disposition, 1 April 1893, it was reported that her machinery had been removed and installed in a new sternwheeler, the St. Joe and her hull was converted to a barge
    Specifications: from Wikipedia
    Displacement unknown
    Length 76'
    Beam 17'
    Depth of Hold 4'
    Draft unknown
    Speed 8-10 mph
    Complement unknown
    Passengers unknown
    Cargo Capacity unknown
    Propulsion
    two boilers
    two steam engines each had an 8-inch bore and a 24-inch stroke.The engines generated about 40 hp
    two sidewheels
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Amelia Wheaton
    301309601    		 86k Amelia Wheaton on Lake Coeur d'Alene, sometime between 1878 and 1892.
    University of Washington Digital collections    		 John Spivey
    Amelia Wheaton
    301309602    		 213k Amelia Wheaton on Lake Coeur d'Alene at the Old Mission, Idaho, circa 1885
    Museum of North Idaho Photo #TrW-4-4    		 John Spivey
    Amelia Wheaton
    301309603    		 151k Amelia Wheaton tied up in the area of Harrison, Idaho, circa 1890.
    Images of America, the Harrison Area, by Crane Historical Society, 2011, ISBN 978-0-7385-7448-6, pg52    		 John Spivey
    The history for Amelia Wheaton is from Wikipedia
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    Last Updated 18 November 2022