SS Aberdeen

SS ''Aberdeen'' was a steamship commissioned by Canadian Pacific Railway company. It was the first CPR steamship on Okanagan Lake and carried passengers and cargo from Okanagan Landing to Penticton from 1893 to 1919. ''Aberdeen'' connected communities along Okanagan Lake for the first time, creating a new era in the Okanagan Valley and greatly aiding the economy and settlement of the interior of British Columbia.

Construction

''Aberdeen'' was commissioned by CPR to extend the Shuswap and Okanagan Railway line from Okanagan Landing to Penticton. President William Cornelius Van Horne authorized construction in 1892. The ship was designed by the Danish shipbuilder John F. Steffen and master builder Edwin G. McKay supervised the building of the steamer. Horace Campbell of Portland, Oregon designed the engines, which were built at B.C. Iron Works. CPR built the boiler in Montreal. ''Aberdeen'' burned wood until 1902, when she was converted to a coal burner.

A shipyard named Okanagan Landing was constructed near Vernon to build and maintain ''Aberdeen''. Okanagan Landing was later used for many ships, such as , SS ''Naramata'', and ''Sicamous''. The construction of ''Aberdeen'' also provided work for local businesses, such as those supplying moulding, lumber, and fittings.

''Aberdeen'' was a sternwheeler of classic western design, and called the “Finest inland steamer set afloat in the Northwest in 1893". She measured 146.2 feet (44.6m) by 29.9 feet (9.1m) and her depth of hold was 6.8 feet (2.1m). Her passenger capacity was 250 and her cargo deck capacity was 200 tons (180 tonnes).

The first deck held the boiler, machinery, freight, and crew’s quarters for eight. At the front of the freight deck was a staircase leading to the saloon deck, which had a smoking room in front, purser’s office aft, and a spare room. The dining saloon was in the center with 11 staterooms lining both sides. The stewardess’ room, pantry, and ladies’ toilet and cabins were also on the saloon deck. However, the cabins were not completed when ''Aberdeen'' was launched. The woodwork needed a year to shrink fully before the last coat of paint and gilt stripping could be applied. Officers’ quarters were behind the pilothouse.

Crew

The first captain of ''Aberdeen'' was Captain J. Foster, former mate of the coaster liner ''Islander''. R. Williams was first mate, H. Fawcett was purser, and W.B. Couson was first engineer. A notable captain was Captain Joseph Weeks, who first joined ''Aberdeen''s crew as a deckhand. He later went on to command and ''Aberdeen'' before becoming the last captain of ''Sicamous''.

Name

''Aberdeen'' was named after John Campbell Gordon, 7th Earl of Aberdeen. He owned the large Coldstream Ranch near Vernon and was appointed Governor General of Canada in 1893.

Service

''Aberdeen'' was launched on May 22, 1893, with crowds arriving on foot or by train to Okanagan Landing to participate in the festivities. Farmers, settlers, and merchants were pleased to have a first-class, modern steam vessel to connect the Okanagan for the first time. Before ''Aberdeen'', only primitive transportation was provided by individuals on Okanagan Lake. The operations were small, unreliable and insufficient to promote the development of the region. ''Aberdeen'' greatly improved service for residents and held a virtual monopoly on the lake as there were no comparable vessels to compete with her.

She made round trips from Penticton to Okanagan Landing three times a week, with service being suspended between mid-January to March, when the steamer ''Penticton'' would fill in twice a week. In later years, this was done by and ''Greenwood''. Until the construction of ''Okanagan'' in 1907, ''Aberdeen'' ran south on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, leaving Okanagan Landing in the morning and arriving in Penticton by the afternoon. She ran from Penticton to Okanagan Landing on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

In the beginning, wharves were primitive and there were few traveller amenities, but improvements were made and business increased. Mining developments in the 1890s meant large volumes of traffic. The Okanagan had a booming fruit industry by the early 1900s and steamers were essential for exportations. ''York'' was launched in 1902 as relief steamer for ''Aberdeen''.
By 1904, it was becoming clear that the ageing ''Aberdeen'' could not handle the traffic on the lake. ''Okanagan'' was launched in 1907 and replaced ''Aberdeen'', freeing her for freight. ''Aberdeen'' was retired in 1916 and her hull was sold for $35.

See also

*Steamboats of Lake Okanagan

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aberdeen
Paddle steamers of British Columbia
Steamboats of Okanagan Lake