The Steamboat Woodstock
By Mitch Biggar
On May 12, 1832 the steamboat Woodstock was launched. Her overall length was 91 feet and 9 inches while her beam was 15 feet and 10 inches. The Woodstock was the smallest side wheeler that ever sailed a river in New Brunswick. The Woodstock had the distinction of being the first steamboat to make the trip to Hampton. The Woodstock also made regular trips to Grand Lake for coal and she also towed lumber from Oromocto.
In early part of May in 1833 it was decided that the Woodstock should sail to the village she was named after. So on May 14 Captain James Akerley and twenty passengers set out for Woodstock. By dark the same day the Woodstock had only made it about 20 miles above Fredericton. The next morning Captain Akerley was forced to return to Fredericton due to raising water and swift currents.
On may 25, 1833 another attempt was made to reach Woodstock. This time the steamboat made it 45 miles above Fredericton but she was forced to turnabout. It was then decided that the steamer would never reach Woodstock because she did not have sufficient power to navigate the Meductic Falls.
It was not until four years later that the steamer reached her namesake. On April 30, 1837 she reached Woodstock although horses were needed to pull her over the Meductic falls.
Over the course of her life the Woodstock sailed throughout the province. Some places she sailed to were St. Andrews, Campobello, Deer Island, Eastport, Grand Manan, Saint John, Shepody, Dorchester, Sackville, and Amherst.
This page was designed by Irene Doyle September 1999
