Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Carving, Marine |
Collection |
Lambton Heritage Museum Collection |
Accession number |
LHM 1987.008 |
Catalog Number |
LHM 1987.008.001 |
Other Name |
Carving, Beaver |
Description |
A spirited folk carving of a beaver clutching a branch with a maple leaf in its mouth. This piece is created in four sections and fastened together with pegs. It is carved out of softwood with finely etched detailing and a dark brown finish, possibly with golden highlights or was covered with a thin layer of gold paint originally. |
Provenance |
Belonged to the ship S.S. Ontario owned by the Beatty family. "Establishing a Great Lakes shipping company took ships that could withstand hard work and hard weather, and the Beatty family got both with 'The Ontario.' Launched in 1873 from a Chatham shipyard, the Ontario was the second ship built for the Beattys. The family owned the J & H Beatty Company which operated Sarnia's Beatty Line and was one of the pioneer navigation firms of the upper Great Lakes. Established in Sarnia about in 1870, the firm grew to a fleet of six ships within a few years. The Ontario was a favourite of Sarnians and new immigrants to the area, who used it to travel from the rail terminal in Sarnia to Thunder Bay (then Port Arthur) and the Canadian prairies. "The Ontario made the grueling Thunder Bay run until 1897 when heavy repair and maintenance bills led to her sale. "The Beatty Line was re-organized as the North-West Transportation Company and after thirty-two years of operating out of Sarnia, the company was purchased by Collingwood's Northern Navigation Company in 1902. This arrangement allowed the Beatty Boats to continue running their old routes, and it brought new ships and resources into the costly business of running a Great Lakes shipping company." |
Dimensions |
H-144.78 L-254 cm |
Search Terms |
Lambton 175 Wood Working Woodworking Carving Beaver S.S. Ontario Ship, Steamer Sarnia J & H Beatty Company Beatty Line |