| Miss Emily
Hull #676. Winch boat. Hull #676. Winch boat. Length 26', beam 7'6, built 1946. It was built for the Gordon Lumber Company of Cache Bay (Geo. Gordon and Co. Sawmill (Cache Bay, Ontario)), and sold to the Goulard Lumber Company when the Gordon Lumber Company closed. Sturgeon Falls centenarian, Reuben McNiell bought it from the Goulard Co., and then in 1995 it was bought by Richard Lalonde of Sturgeon Falls, Ont.
John Slater of Sturgeon Falls says (May 19, 2009): "I have a good friend, Richard Lalonde, in Sturgeon Falls, Ont., who owns a Russel Bros. tug, or alligator boat. It is Hull Number 676, and is 26' in length. Richard is a marine mechanic, and has restored the original engine. The boat is complete with it's original steering Wheel, winch, and identification plates inside the cabin and outside on the back of the cabin. Apparently the hull number is still welded on under the bow. The boat is in the water and running.
I was onboard earlier this morning, and took several hi-res. pictures.
Miss Emily, May 19, 2009, owned by Richard Lalonde of Sturgeon Falls, Ont. Photos by John Slater.
Excerpt from "Heritage Perspectives" March 16, 2001, a column by Doug Mackey.
source: http://www.pastforward.ca/perspectives/Mar_162001.htm
Richard Lalonde's Alligator the "Miss Emily." Wayne Lebelle photo. |
There is a brief profile of (the Miss Emily) in Wayne Lebelle's book West Nipissing Ouest 1998 (p. 167). The "Miss Emily," built in 1946, has a steel hull and is twenty-six feet long, three feet wide, and is powered by a two-cylinder gasoline engine. It has the usual alligator winch on its bow, and has pulled itself out of the water on a number of occasions.
It was built for the Gordon Lumber Company of Cache Bay (Geo. Gordon and Co. Sawmill (Cache Bay, Ontario)), and sold to the Goulard Lumber Company when the Gordon Lumber Company closed. Sturgeon Falls centenarian, Reuben McNiell, acquired the "Miss Emily" and Richard Lalonde, who was a friend of Reuben's, acquired it when Reuben died at 101 years of age in 1995.
After considerable restoration, Richard launched the tug and named it "Miss Emily," after his daughter. The "Miss Emily" may be on display at the Callander dock, as a part of the boat festival this summer.
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Update May 5, 2020...Richard Lalonde comments: I have a 1946 winchboat for sale. All original. With original 2cyl gas engine that still works... I have the original parts manual for boat. It needs new paint though. The horn is hooked up to an air tank and is from a steam locomotive.....very very loud.
I first saw it when I was 13, I'm 59 now. Bought it in winter with 18 inches of ice inside. 9 inside the motor...bought it without wife’s permission, she didn’t talk to me for two weeks. When it was done she asked me what name I’m going to give it, I said you hate it and if we part company with your name on it I would send it to the bottom of the river; I said it will name itself, have patience...poof she got pregnant....and for 9 months my daughter rode that boat every chance we got...when she came into the world successfully it was christened the Miss Emily.
For more Russel exhibits visit Owen Sound Marine & Rail Museum 1165 1st Ave West, Owen Sound, ON N4K 4K8
(519) 371-3333  http://marinerail.com |
