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35-474: Amelia Wheaton was built for the U.S. Army by C.P. Sorenson. Construction began in 1878, and after many difficulties in obtaining materials and components, was finally completed in late 1880. The steamer was named after a daughter of the post commander. Dimensions of the Wheaton vary. According to one non-contemporaneous source, Wheaton was 86 feet long (exclusive of fantail), 14 feet beam. Another source gives

70-409: A 24-inch stroke. The engines generated about 40 horsepower in 1888. The steamer's speed was said to be between 8 and 10 miles per hour. Amelia Wheaton was formally purchased by the government on August 24, 1880 for a price of $ 8,000. The Wheaton was however little used for the rest of the fiscal year, with operating expenses totally only $ 165. As of July 1881, Wheaton made only monthly trips to

105-542: A capacity of 60 thousand feet per day. In 1892, S.W. Crane opened a general store. The first post office was established in 1893, the name was chosen and W.E. Crane became the first postmaster. W.S. Bridgeman opened a Gen. Merc. in 1893, and another general store was opened in 1894 by W.A. Reiniger. The first newspaper, The Signal , was established in 1895, later it was known as the Mountain Messenger and in 1900 became known as The Searchlight . A paper with that name

140-475: A hospital. For a time around the turn of the century, Harrison was the largest town in Kootenai County; the city directory in 1911 reported a population of 1,250. Harrison's growth was a result of the development of eight or more sawmills & box factories. With the mills and woods jobs, approx. 280 men were employed with a combined monthly payroll around $ 25,000. Millions of board feet of timber were stored in

175-515: A length of 100 feet long and 16 feet beam, which would likely have included the fantail and the guards . An 1888 source is perhaps most reliable, as it is a listing of the steamer for sale by the government. According to this source, the Wheaton was 76 feet long, with a beam of 17 feet, and depth of hold of 4 feet. In 1888, the lower cabin measured 8x14x57 feet. The upper cabin measured 7.5x14x30 feet. The twin steam engines each had an 8-inch bore and

210-477: A list of ten or twelve inches to one side could cause the boilers to malfunction, which, if prolonged, could result in an explosion. This was difficult to manage, especially when for example passengers would crowd along one side of a boat to observe an attraction. Harrison, Idaho Harrison is a city in Kootenai County , Idaho , United States. The population was 203 at the 2010 census . Harrison

245-460: A steamboat business on Lake Coeur d'Alene. There were five directors, all of Coeur d'Alene City: Frank W. Bradley, E.B. Shnik, Arthur Powell, C.A. Waters, and George B. Wannacott. The company was already running boats on the lake prior to its incorporation. In the summer of 1892, the People's Transportation Company was organized by a number of citizens of Coeur d'Alene city, and the new company absorbed

280-402: A steamboat were extensions of the main deck out from the boat’s main hull. Guards were originally adopted for side-wheel steamboats to protect the paddle wheels and to provide a mounting point for the outer ends of the paddle wheel shafts. The main deck planking extended out over the guards, and when a steamboat was fully loaded, and sunk deeply in the water, it often appeared that the edges of

315-550: Is located on the eastern shore of Lake Coeur d'Alene , immediately south of where the Coeur d'Alene River flows into the lake. The community was named for President Benjamin Harrison . Harrison was incorporated in 1899 and was once the largest city on Lake Coeur d'Alene. Harrison developed from a squatters homestead to a thriving village in about twelve years. A branch of the O.R. & N. Railroad from Tekoa, Washington , to Harrison

350-542: Is still published annually by the Oldtime Picnic Committee. In 1895, a Methodist church was erected and School District #29 was formed. The first year of school was taught by Mr. Edelbute in the Methodist Church. The first school was erected in 1896 and by 1903 there were 59 students. The original townsite was in the form of a triangle and covered approximately 23 acres (9.3 ha). The Village of Harrison

385-550: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 0.76 square miles (1.97 km ), of which 0.69 square miles (1.79 km ) is land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km ) is water. Harrison is located 28 miles (45 km) south of Interstate 90 on the Lake Coeur d'Alene Scenic Byway, Highway 97. The Coeur d'Alene River flows into Lake Coeur d'Alene on Harrison's northern edge. The lower reaches of

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420-555: The Jackass Trail to the gold fields. Transport costs were extreme: about $ 600 a ton to move freight from Coeur d'Alene city to Eagle City, a boomtown in the Prichard Creek valley. The Wheaton was sold to private parties in 1888. The sale was advertised as far away as Astoria, Oregon , to take place on May 19, 1888, at 11:00 a.m., at Fort Sherman. The St. Joe Transportation Company was incorporated on January 27, 1891 to run

455-531: The Old Mission, on the St. Joe River. Wheaton was expected to increase the frequency of the trips to the mission to tri-weekly once hay making season began in 1881. The first pilot of the Wheaton was Private William J. Applebee, who had had 14 years experience in the navy. Sorenson himself was made the first captain of the steamer. Wheaton was used mostly for transport feed for the cavalry mules at Fort Sherman, hay from

490-519: The Prichard Creek area. Although the Wheaton was still in government ownership at the time, the government permitted it to be used by the miners to transport themselves and their equipment from Coeur d'Alene City to the head of navigation on the Coeur d'Alene river. In low water, this was the Old Mission , and in high water this was Kingston, Idaho . From the head of navigation, the miners went overland on

525-546: The St. Joe Transportation Company. In late March, 1892, Wheaton made its first trip of the season up the St. Joe River , under Captain Ed Shuck, with A.H. Butler as engineer and Frank Bradley serving as purser. The boat was reported to have been "overhauled and fitted up in good shape for the season's work." By the end of the following May, however, the owners of the "fast and commodious steamer … Amelia Wheaton" were reported to be giving

560-501: The afternoon, the Wheaton would depart at 2:00 p.m. for Echo and Mica Bays, returning to Coeur d'Alene city at 5:30 p.m. Fare for each round trip was to be 50 cents. Wheaton was carrying freight on the lake bound for Harrison, Idaho in November 1892, when a high wind made the lake so rough that a landing could not be made, and the steamer had to proceed on its course to the St. Joe river. On December 3, 1892, Amelia Wheaton

595-420: The age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.71. In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.7% under

630-460: The age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 31.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 35,750, and the median income for a family was $ 38,500. Males had a median income of $ 31,667 versus $ 26,563 for females. The per capita income for

665-483: The city was 98.5% White and 1.5% Native American . Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population. There were 100 households, of which 19.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.0% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19% had someone living alone who

700-471: The city. The population density was 646.4 inhabitants per square mile (249.6/km ). There were 157 housing units at an average density of 380.1 units per square mile (146.8 units/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 96.25% White , 0.75% Native American , 0.75% Asian , 0.37% from other races , and 1.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.12% of the population. There were 124 households, out of which 21.0% had children under

735-456: The guards marked the line of the hull. The size of the guards was governed, on a sidewheeler, by the width of the paddle-wheels and their housings. On early steamboats operating on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers the overall width of the vessel, counting the guards, did not exceed more than about one-third of the hull width. However, by the 1850s, the width of the guards in extreme cases

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770-462: The lake at Harrison. Lake Coeur d’Alene and the St.Joe and Coeur d’Alene rivers were the major transportation routes for timber coming out of the areas forests. In 1917, the Grant Lumber Company caught fire and the ensuing blaze consumed about half of the residential area of Harrison and about half of the business district. Much of the town was never rebuilt. The easiest way to get to Harrison

805-632: The line was abandoned. Many early day photos are on display at the Crane Historical Society Museum along with a lot of information about Harrison. Community spirit continues today with the Old Time Picnic, which is always held the last weekend in July. Harrison's trail head for the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes rail trail is a welcome addition to the area and helps to keep the town "alive" during

840-561: The off season of lake traffic. The Trail is 72 miles (116 km) of easy riding and runs from Plummer to Mullan on the former right-of-way of the Union Pacific Railroad . In the mid-2010s, a Resort Condominiums International was constructed at Arrow Point on Lake Coeur d'Alene just north of town. Harrison is located at 47°26′59″N 116°46′50″W  /  47.44972°N 116.78056°W  / 47.44972; -116.78056 (47.449779, -116.780674). According to

875-646: The old mission at St. Maries and grain from Farmington . The steamer was also expected to move troops in the case of conflict with the Coeur d'Alene people . Captain Sorensen, operating the Wheaton, named most of the bays and features of Lake Coeur d'Alene. In August 1883, news was announced in Spokane, Washington of a gold strike in the area of Prichard Creek , a tributary of the Coeur d'Alene River , which in turn flowed into Lake Coeur d'Alene . A gold rush then occurred, which quickly resulted in 10,000 people coming into

910-482: The paddle wheel being mounted at the stern, they had no structural function on the vessel. On sternwheelers the guards gave additional room to store freight and fuel, allowed a passage between different parts of the boat, and provided a place for passengers to promenade. One problem with guards was that they could make the steamboat less stable, and with the type of boilers used on the Ohio-Mississippi boats, even

945-572: The river's valley are filled with smaller lakes, and as such water dominates much of the local geography. The Saint Joe Mountains of the Bitterroot Range rise high above the flat lakes around Harrison. As of the census of 2010, there were 203 people, 100 households, and 54 families residing in the city. The population density was 294.2 inhabitants per square mile (113.6/km ). There were 165 housing units at an average density of 239.1 units per square mile (92.3 units/km ). The racial makeup of

980-613: The telephone, connecting Harrison with points up the St. Joe and Coeur d’Alene rivers. Rocky Mountain Bell purchased the property later that year and Harrison was connected to the outside world. The next few years saw the opening of the First National Bank of Harrison, the Opera House, various drug, grocery, hardware, furniture, clothing & jewelry stores along with tailoring, blacksmithing and shoemaker shops, and restaurants, hotels and

1015-469: The vessel a "thorough overhauling." When the repairs were complete, the steamer was to be placed on its old route between Coeur d'Alene City and the head of navigation on the St. Joe river. In late June 1892, the People's Transportation Company, of Coeur d'Alene city, was advertising Sunday excursions on Amelia Wheaton from the wharf of the St. Joe Transportation Company, departing the dock at 10:00 a.m. for Beauty Bay, returning at 12:30 p.m. In

1050-488: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.03 and the average family size was 2.70. The median age in the city was 52.6 years. 17.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.7% were from 25 to 44; 33.1% were from 45 to 64; and 26.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.7% male and 49.3% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 267 people, 124 households, and 77 families residing in

1085-509: Was by water. The OWR&N Company which absorbed the OR&;N railroad, constructed a 600-passenger steamer called “The Harrison” for transportation. There were several other steamers such as the Georgie Oakes that carried passengers and freight making the depot a popular place for area children. Passenger service was discontinued in the early 1920s but they continued to haul freight until 1932 when

Amelia Wheaton - Misplaced Pages Continue

1120-625: Was completed in 1890 and was a prime factor in the development of Harrison. In 1891, Silas W. Crane settled on a timbered tract which joins the present city on the south and east. He built the first house in Harrison which remained in the Crane family until 1936. The building is now used as the Crane House Museum. The same year Fred Grant purchased the Fisher Brothers Sawmill in St. Maries and moved it to Harrison. Known as Grants Mill, it had

1155-465: Was incorporated on July 21, 1899. The first meeting of the board of trustees for the Village of Harrison was held July 24, 1899. George W. Thompson was elected chairman. In August 1905, a Spokane company was granted a franchise to put in a water system with a pumping plant at a cost of $ 20,000. An electric light plant was also installed in 1901 by Kimmel Brothers at a cost of $ 8,000. The following year came

1190-601: Was more than twice the width of the hull. For example, the hull of the Jacob Strader , a large vessel (905 tons) built in 1853 for the Cincinnati and Louisville Mail Line, was 27.5 feet wide, but measured over the guards the main deck was 69 feet across. While the Strader was an extreme case, it was common for guards to make the main deck 50 to 75 per cent wider than the hull. Guards were also used on sternwheelers, where, with

1225-497: Was reported to have ceased its regular trips to Harrison, and to have been replaced by one of the smaller boats of People's Transportation Co. On April 1, 1893, it was reported that the machinery had been removed from the Amelia Wheaton and would probably be placed in a new hull. The engines were removed and installed in a new sternwheeler, the St. Joe . The hull was converted to a barge. Guards (steamboat) Guards on

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