MV Aricia was a ferry that operated on Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada.[1] She was built in 1912 by J. Y. Campbell and was also known as the Kelowna-Westbank ferry (not to be confused with the 1927 ferry by the same name), because she served the communities of Kelowna and Westbank, British Columbia.[2]
| History | |
|---|---|
| Canada | |
| Name | Aricia |
| Owner | Len A. Hayman |
| Route | Okanagan Lake |
| Builder | J. Y. Campbell |
| Launched | 1912 |
| Maiden voyage | 1912 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Ferry |
| Tonnage | 12.6 |
| Length | 50 feet (15 m) |
| Beam | 10 feet (3.0 m) |
Description
editAricia was the fifth ferry on the lake and had a passenger cabin, engine room, pilothouse, and life boat, and a stable was built on the west side of the lake for the public to use while waiting, including a feed locker for horses.[3] All in all, she was the best-equipped ferry by far.[4] In 1921, a scow with a capacity of eight cars was built and Aricia towed it across the lake.[5]
Career
editIn 1916, Captain Len A. Hayman bought her and piloted her for many years,[6][failed verification] operating on alternate years between Kelowna and Westbank.[7]
A colorful event in Aricia's career occurred on a dark night in 1924.[8] A headwind started up when Hayman was leaving Kelowna with six cars and nineteen passengers. A strong gale hit without warning near Westbank and Aricia hit the rocks. The gas line broke and passengers panicked before the life boat was lowered. The passengers and cars landed safely on the wharf only one hour and thirty minutes later than scheduled. The next day, Aricia was bailed out and sent to the shipyard at Okanagan Landing for repairs.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Goett, R. Lakeboats of the Okanagan (PDF). Retrieved 2 October 2017 – via Lake Country Museum.
- ^ Hayman, L. A. (1971) [1937]. "The Kelowna-Westbank Ferry". Reprint of report numbers 7, 8, 9, 10 of the Okanagan Historical Society. Vol. 10. pp. 39–44. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ^ Hatfield, Harley R. (1992). "Commercial Boats of the Okanagan". Okanagan history. Fifty-sixth report of the Okanagan Historical Society. pp. 20–33. Retrieved 2 Aug 2015.
- ^ Fortin, Ayla (1999). "Early Ferry Transportation and the Okanagan Lake Floating Bridge". Okanagan history: Sixty-third report of the Okanagan Historical Society. pp. 122–125. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ^ Powley, Hume M. (1995). "Dorothy Ann (Hewlett) Gellatly". Okanagan history: Fifty-ninth report of the Okanagan Historical Society. pp. 110–112. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ "History". Historic Westbank Association. Westbank. n.d. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ Zdralek, Alice (1999). "Casa Loma Origins". Okanagan history: Sixty-third report of the Okanagan Historical Society. pp. 112–117. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ "Lily E. Watts – Westbank, British Columbia – Headstones of Centenarians". Waymarking. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ Pooley, Ian (30 September 2013). "Getting across the Lake: Sinking Scows and Panicked Passengers". Daily Courier.