Overview
Steam navigation on Lake Coeur d'Alene lasted from the 1880s to the 1930s. More steamboats operated on Lake Coeur d’Alene than on any other lake west of the Great Lakes. The high point of steam navigation was probably from 1908 to 1913. After that railroads, and increasingly automobile and truck traffic on newly built highways supplanted steam navigation, although some vessels continued to be operated until the mid-1930s.
Operations
In September 1908, the Red Collar steamship line operated seven steamers on Lake Coeur d'Alene, which was 27 miles, running mainly in a north–south direction. The main city on the lake was Coeur d’Alene, at the northern, downstream end. By 1908 the city of Coeur d'Alene was connected by steam and electric rail lines to Spokane, Washington, about 30 miles to the west. The lake varied from 50 to 400 feet deep, and with the adjacent navigable St. Joe River, formed a natural water route just over 60 miles long. In the summer months, in 1908, the Red Collar Line ran three trips daily on the lake to St. Maries, a 45-mile run, and two trips daily to St. Joe. In 1908, the steamer North Star, made the St. Maries run in 3 hours 40 minutes. The fast steamers Flyer and Idaho were operated on the 20 mile run between Coeur d’Alene and Harrison.
Winter service on the lake often required ice-breaking, which sometimes took as many as three steamers to force a passage through the ice. Sources of coal in the area included Rosyln and Rock Springs.
Lack of regulation
There were no federal steamboat inspectors assigned to Lake Coeur d’Alene, and there were frequent races, overcrowding of vessels, instances of drunken crew members, including captains and pursers, and other hazardous actions. Another dangerous practice was to haul dynamite at the same time as a vessel carried passengers. However, there had been only one fatal loss of a steamboat, that of the first Spokane in the 1880s on the Coeur d' Alene River, where five people had died.
Competition
In the early 1900s, there was an intense rivalry on the lake and the rivers between two companies. One concern was the Coeur d’Alene and St. Joe Transportation Company, later known as the Red Collar Line, which had been formed by Joseph Clarence "J.C." White and Jim Spaulding and his son, Harry. The other company was White Star Navigation Co., also known as the White Star Line, which had been incorporated by Capt. George Reynolds and McDonald. In 1903, the Red Collar Line built the 147 foot long side-wheeler Idaho, which was described as "luxurious." In response, the White Star Line built the Boneta, originally 96 feet long, but later lengthened by 25 feet. In 1905, while operating on the St. Joe River under the command of Captain Reynolds, Boneta was rammed and sunk by a rival steamer, the side-wheeler Idaho. This occurred just upriver from the O-W R & N bridge over the St. Joe River.
In 1908, the White Star Navigation Company sold out to the Red Collar Line, which now achieved a virtual monopoly over transportation on the lake. Its fleet in 1908 comprised Idaho, Spokane, Colfax, Boneta, Flyer, Telephone, Georgie Oakes, North Star, and Milwaukie. The company also operated 14 barges as well as the tugs Rambler and Bonanza.
West side
Starting with the city of Coeur d’Alene, on the west side of the lake from north to south were the following points: Coeur d’Alene (city). Cougar Creek, Casca Bay, Kid Island Bay, Mica Bay, Lyondale (as of 1912 terminus of railway leading west into Mica Mountains up Mica Creek), Del Cordo Bay, Loff's Bay, Len Landing, Black Rock, Rockford Bay, Windy Bay, Amwaco (a rail terminus after 1910), Farmington Landing, and Conkling Park and Hotel. Amwaco was the terminus of the Lake Creek and Coeur d'Alene Railroad, completed in 1910.
Saint Joe River
At the far southern end of the lake, flowing in from an easterly direction, was the Saint Joe River, which was navigable for some distance.
East side from south to Coeur d’Alene river
Starting from the mouth of the St. Joe River and moving from south to north, points on the lake included: Lacon and Harrison.
Harrison and the Coeur d’Alene River
Harrison was located at the mouth of the Coeur d'Alene River, which was navigable in part. Points on the river included Harrison was located at the mouth, then Springston, Medimont, Lane, Roselake,Dudley, Old Mission, Cataldo, Kingston, and, at the head of navigation, Enaville. In 1908, Harrison was described as "the gateway to the Coeur d’Alene mining district, which produces half the lead mined in the United States."
East side from Harrison to Coeur d’Alene City
East Point, Powderhorn Bay, Half Round Bay, Carlin Bay and Carlin Creek, Turner Bay and Turner Creek, Driftwood Point, Echo Bay, Squaw Bay, Hill, Wolf Lodge Bay, Beauty Bay, Wolf Lodge, Bennet Bay, Silver Beach, and Sanders Bay.
Steamboat graveyard
Five or more steamboats are sunk in 30 to 45 feet of water at Stevens Point. These vessels are believed to be the remains of Bonanza, Colfax, Harrison, Samson, and St. Maries. All were deliberately sunk.
Companies and shipyards
* Carscallen Bros. of Coeur d’Alene. Owned the sternwheeler Shoshone as of February 1909. In 1901, the brothers set up a lumber mill near Coeur d’Alene city, about a mile down the Spokane River. * Coeur d’Alene & St. Joe Transportation Company Ltd. Formed in April 1903, with James H. "Jim" Spauding, president, J.C. White, vice-president; J.H. "Harry" Spauding, secretary and treasurer. These officers, together with Jonathan B. Goode and James H. Harte, formed the board of directors. The company began the construction of the side-wheeler Idaho the same month. Later known as the Red Collar Line. * Coeur d’Alene Transportation Company. Formally organized on December 16 by James Lotan, Z.J. Hatch, M.W. Henderson, and I.B. Sanborn. first vessel was the sternwheeler Coeur d’Alene. Irwin Sanborn was captain and Henry Pape was engineer on the Coeur d’Alene.
Sanborn sold Coeur d’Alene to the Northern Pacific Railroad and built a replacement, Georgie Oakes. * Johnson Boat Works. Owned by Peter W. Johnson (1861–1951), an immigrant from Norway. Active in 1907. The officers of the newly formed company were George B. Wonnacutt, president, George P. Mims, treasurer, and J.H. Brown, general manager. The new company acquired Boneta and Telephone, and, from the Carscallen Brothers, four barges. Had its office at the Johnson Dock in Coeur d'Alene City. Operated four steamers in September 1909: Seattle, Harrison, Wardner, and Mica Bay. The assets purchased included the steamers Harrison, Hercules and three barges. The new concern would operate the Lyons boats (Tacoma and Lyondale) and the Perry boats (Milwaukee and Spray). * Red Collar Line. Under J.C.
White, manager, the Red Collar Line operated four boats in March 1908: Idaho, Colfax, Spokane, and North Star. * St. Joe Boom Company, a non-profit association for the purpose of organizing and sorting logs, set up in 1902 by F.J. Davies of the Rutledge Timber Company. May have encountered financial problems by late 1892, as had past due taxes owing to the City of Coeur d’Alene. In January 1908, Jenkins was the president of the line, and Hartson was the vice-president. Jenkins held the controlling interest in the White Star line. In April 1908, it was reported that J.C. White, manager of the Red Collar Line, had purchased the entire interest of Colonel Jenkins in the White Star line for a price of $42,500. This brought most of the freight and passenger traffic on the lake into the hands of the Red Collar line.
List of captains and officers
* Adams, G.E., purser, North Star, March 1908. * Backlund, Alf, captain, North Star, March 1908. * Bell, Fred C. (b.1867), engineer, served on Amelia Wheaton, Volunteer, Echo, General Sherman, Coeur d’Alene, Kootenai, Georgie Oakes, and others. * Bennet, W.E., purser, Colfax, March 1908. * Frederic, John, purser, Georgie Oakes, 1902. * Fuller, C., chief engineer, Flyer, March 1908. * Groves, George W. (b.1867). Began marine service on steamer General Sherman, later on Amelia Wheaton, and Kootenai. Transferred to Georgie Oakes by 1895, and was still working on that vessel in 1907. * Hill, Ray, purser, Flyer, March 1908. Also the owner of Johnson Boat Works. * Knight, purser, Boneta, March 1908. captain, Colfax, March 1908. The settlement of Lyondale, on Mica Bay, was named after him. * Megquier, C., purser, Colfax, March 1908. * Pape, Henry, engineer, Georgie Oakes.
Georgie Oakes, 1897 and also in 1907. Reynolds was captain of Colfax in 1901, at which time he was the senior steamboat captain on the lake. Also navigated St. Joe for several years in the 1890s. * Shuck, Ed., navigated St. Joe for several years in the 1890s. * Taylor, A.C., commanded Boneta in June 1908. * Williams, Otis, commanded Colfax in June 1908. * Wilson, A.B., captain, Spokane, March 1908. * Wilson, Fred, captain, Bellville, December 1897. operated as Defender in December 1897 or earlier. Also served as engineer on Georgie Oakes. Served on lake boats for forty years, as deckhand, fireman, engineer, and captain. * Wilson, Mont, captain, Rambler, June 1908.
List of vessels
* Amelia Wheaton, sternwheeler, was the first steamer to operate on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Amelia Wheaton was built for the U.S. Army by C.P. Sorenson. The steamer was named after a daughter of the post commander. In 1888, the lower cabin measured 8x14x57 feet. Built by P.C. Sorenson. The Wheaton was however little used for the rest of the fiscal year, with operating expenses totally only $165. steam launch. One of five steamers managed by C.B. King in April 1896. C.B. King is reported to have used Avondale on Hayden Lake before bringing the vessel to Lake Coeur d’Alene. Built by Johnson Boat Works. dismantled 1892. One hundred twenty (120) feet long and 14 feet beam. Sold in 1884 to D.C. Corbin interests, sold again in 1888 to the Northern Pacific Railroad. Abandoned in 1890, with machinery and superstructure being used for Georgie Oakes. Owned by People's Transportation Co. in early 1893.
One of five steamers managed by C.B. King in April 1896. * Dolphin. Operational in June 1905, carrying excursions brought in by train from Spokane. Dolphin also carried excursions in the summer of 1906, including a moonlight cruise on August 30, for the Young People's Society of the Swedish Lutheran church, to Beauty Bay where bonfires were lit and people sang. In April 1907, it was reported that Dolphin, then belonging to Captain McDonald of the White Star Navigation Company, would be overhauled at the Johnson Boat Works to meet the requirements of the U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service. The plan, as reported at the time, was that once the repairs were complete, the boat would be taken to Lake Pend Oreille and then to the Pend Oreille River, where it would be used to carry passengers and mail.
Advertised in April 1892 as departing Coeur d’Alene docks for Lake View Park daily at 10:00 a.m., Joe Boughton, proprietor, for a fare of 25 cents. Boughton was the owner of Lake View Park in the early 1890s. * Elk ex St. Joe, sternwheeler. Originally St. Joe, rebuilt with new machinery in 1896 and renamed Elk. In 1900, Elk was dismantled, and the machinery, fittings and superstructure were shipped to Lake Pend Oreille to be installed on the sternwheeler Pend Oreille. * Ferrell. Sternwheeler, 80 feet long, built circa 1906 for William W. Ferrell for service on the St. Joe River. Ferrell was operational as of in 1908. Converted to a liquor transportation barge. Reportedly "there was nothing fleet about this boat, however; the and a long flat bottom and the men called her 'Duck Butt.'" Flyer when launched was the largest propeller-driven vessel on the lake.
Possibly also referred to as simply the Sherman. Designed by Capt. Irwin B. Sanborn, who also supervised construction. but this cannot be correct, because construction was only started on April 17, 1903. Burned in 1903, but machinery salvaged to be installed in a replacement vessel to be built in Tacoma, Washington. * Irene, steam launch. Formerly known as Spokane, this vessel was renamed after having been raised after an April 1887 sinking involving the drowning of several passengers. By 1893, Irene was owned by Peter W. Johnson the boat builder. In January 1893, Irene had been hauled out to be prepared for the coming season on the lake, with a new hull being built for the steamer. Leased by Lieutenant Brook, of Fort Sherman, in early August 1896, with George Groves as engineer. When the O.R.&N rail line was completed into the mining district in 1890, ore shipments on the lake fell off.
This was advertised as "the scenic trip on the lake." * Mica Bay. Operated by Lake City Navigation Company in September 1909. On Monday, October 19, 1896, Michigan sank on the St. Joe River with 30 tons of hay on board. According to another source, Milwaukie was built for the St. Joe River Freight Service and acquired by the Red Collar Line shortly after completion. Advertised as part of the Perry steamboat concern in 1909. According to one historian, Mudhens only claim to fame was that she capsized during a windstorm in 1892 and nearly drowned Captain Billings and his family." Was owned by J.C. White and later by Fred Herrick. * Reliance, steam launch, owned by the Gunderson Lumber Company, operational as of 1905. * Rob Roy. Steam launch, Placed in service in the summer of 1905.
Passenger capacity claimed to be 50 "with perfect safety." Rob Roy was 58 feet long with a beam of 8.5 feet. * Samson, tug. Deliberately sunk at Three Mile Point. * Schley propeller, built by Samuel Smith, David Groves, and Fred F. Wilson, under the direction of Sorenson, using the machinery from General Sherman. Capable of carrying 150 passengers. Later renamed Nairn, burned at the docks at Coeur d’Alene city. The boat was under water for several days before it could be raised. Also reported (inconsistent as to date with other sources) to have been sold for service on Lake Pend Oreille, and later taken below Albeni Falls, for service on the Pend Oreille River. Torpedo was later renamed Alert. * United States.
Made daily trips from Coeur d’Alene City to Rose Lake in late August 1907. * Victor, steam launch, built by Johnson Boatworks, launched May 18, 1901. built in 1888 by Sorenson for W.W. Roberts, chief engineer at Fort Sherman, and used in the construction of the O.R.&N branch line. Volunteer came to be owned by St. Joe Transportation Company by 1890. Sunk in shallow water by storm in early February 1893 while moored overnight at Coeur d’Alene city. By early January 1907, Backlund and Pipgras were reported to have sold Wallace to the Stack-Gibbs Lumber company for a price of $7,000. Offered for sale in July 1903, by Henry Krotzer, along with the steamer Dewey, "at low prices".
Gallery
File:US-ID(1891) p202 LAKE COEUR-D'ALENE.jpg Postcard ca.1891 File:WHEELER1893 pg050 COEUR D'ALENE LAKE AND RIVER.jpg Postcard ca. 1893 File:Colfax (steamboat) St Joe River 1909 or before.png Postcard ca. 1909 File:Arrowhead Point - CDA.png Postcard ca. 1920 File:Sweyolakan on Lake Coeur d'Alene (75410).jpg Postcard ca. 1930-1945 File:Reenactment Coeur d'Alene.jpg Ad for 1899 Fourth of July celebration featuring steamboats File:Spokane (sternwheeler) on St Joe River, Idaho, ca 1908.jpg The Spokane on the St. Joe River ca. 1908 File:Idaho (sidewheeler) on St. Joe River, Idaho, ca 1908.jpg The Idaho on the St. Joe River ca. 1908 File:The Columbia River Its History, Its Myths, Its Scenery, Its Commerce p 385.png The "Shadowy St. Joe River" in 1909 File:Georgie Oakes (sternwheeler) postcard ca 1910.jpg The Georgie Oakes on Lake Coeur d'Alene ca.
1910 File:Steamer Georgie Oakes at Draw Bridge, circa 1920 - Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (52307734693).jpg The Georgie Oakes at St. Maries ca. 1920
Images
* Colfax, with an excursion. UW Digital image TRA0266 * Colfax approaching dock. UW digital image TRA0265 * Georgie Oakes approaching Conkling summer park. Washington State Digital Archives, item number AR-07809001-ph005034 (old post card) * Georgie Oakes circa 1910. Washington State Digital Archives, item number AR-07809001-ph004946. * George Oakes at dock, sometime between 1908 and 1920. NCSU image schenck-dock_1 * Georgie Oakes at the head of navigation near the Old Mission moored next to hulk of the Coeur d'Alene. * Idaho, sidewheeler. Washington State Digital Archives, item number AR-07809001-ph005006. * Model of sidewheeler Idaho at the Museum of North Idaho. * Tacoma, winter 1908-08 Washington Historical Society image 2009.204.10 (old postcard) * Map of Red Collar Line routes, 1910. * Map of the Spokane Country (ca 1915).