Bring Her On Home – Return of the S.S. Keewatin Free e-Book Download

Feb 24, 2016

S.S. Keewatin…a multi purpose vessel

Up until 1925 both Keewatin and Assiniboia carried loose grain from the Lakehead to Port McNicoll. Keewatin’s three holds could carry anywhere from almost 30,000 bushels in Hold #1, a little over 23,000 bushels in Hold #2 to almost 24,500 bushels in Hold #3.

A newspaper article from from 1916 stated Keewatin was loaded with 75,000 bushels of grain at the Lakehead for delivery at Port McNicoll. Keewatin was constructed with grain hatches to enable a loading spout into the holds from the loading elevator. These hatches also enabled the marine leg to be lowered in at Port McNicoll for unloading. The hatches were located on the port side of the ship. After 1925 loose grain was no longer carried and the hatches were sealed and cabins installed.

The 75,000 bushels the ship carried in 1916 is small by today’s standards but that year almost 42 million bushels of grain passed through the elevator in Port McNicoll and the CPR was making every trip count. It was one of the busiest years the elevator ever had.

In this view from 1913 four grain laden lake freighters are tied up at the elevator dock waiting to be unloaded at Port McNicoll but S.S. Keewatin appears poised to dock at the empty spot under the towers to unload. At the same time S.S. Alberta or Athabasca is departing the passenger dock on the other side of the slip.

The second view shows the marine unloading leg in Keewatin at the Port McNicoll grain elevator.

Download the Free e-Book of the Return of the Keewatin here.