Boats

The history of Boat Building in Kenora is the subject of http:/retson.ca/boats.html. This site tells the story of various boats that traveled on Lake of the Woods.

Argyle I

The ferry boat Argyle begins operation on the lake in 1900. A new ferry dock is built in 1902 at the foot of Fort Street (now First Street South) by the merchants along Fort, Matheson, and the north end of Main Street. A lease agreement was made with Captain Lewis of the Argyle that the ferry would use it as a landing place for the next 10 years

Argyle II

The original Argyle operate from the early 1900 to 1935. She was owned and operated by Captain Pat Fraser. In 1936 the Argyle II was built in 1935-36 just off First Avenue where the Clarion Hotel sits today. The design and construction of the Argyle was supervised by Stan Cossey. Captain Fraser operated the Argyle for 25 years with Florence Affleck as silent partner. Her son Keith Affleck operated the business until a stroke forced him to retire and Murray Affleck Keith's son assumed day to day operations. Murray bought the business in 1979 until 1985 when the boat capsized as a result of its sump pump having been cut. The boat was soled to Al and Eric McLaughlin who did extensive renovations and turned it into a houseboat cottage. In 2007 the boat was sold to the Restore the Argyle II Committee.

Source: Affleck, Murray, The Argyle II, in Common Ground Stories II, Kenora, Ontario, Common Ground Committee, 2015

Grace Ann II

Grace Anne II was named for Grace Ann Forlong , a summer resident of Lake of the Woods from Winnipeg. She was built by the Ditchburn Boat Building Company in 1931 in Orillia Ontario. In order to arrive at Lake of the Woods the Grace Anne II was sailed to Thunder Bay where she was dismantled into three pieces and loaded on a a railcar to Rainey River. The Forlong owned the Grace Anne II until 1946 when she was sold to the Owner of Salisbury House Restaurant. In 1954 the shares of Salisbury Cruise Ltd were was purchased by 3M Company. In 1954 she was sold to Ron Christie and Brad Doerksen in 1954. Morris Chia purchased the Grace Anne II in 2004

John A. Minor

the John A. Minor was owned by Mand as a tug boat. Captain Mat Hickey was her master for some period.

Vebena

The Verbena was owned by the Lake of the Woods Milling Company. It used by the company's barrel manufacturing portion for towing logs from the Lake of the Woods into Keewatin Bay where they were used in fabricating flour barrels. Her captain was Jim Henderson. After the barrel factory was phased out she was bound by Mando and renamed the Kepamil.