Tour Boats on the Lake
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Les Bateaux de Randonnée sur le Lac
For both the original Native Americans and the earliest settlers, Lake Memphremagog was important for transportation and portage, but it also would develop an illustrious history as a tourist destination. Once fronted by the grand Memphremagog House hotel, the tour boats that traveled the waters of the lake were popular with hotel guests and locals alike.
Newport's first important tour boat, the Mountain Maid, was a 105-foot wooden paddlewheel steamer, launched from Georgeville, Que. in 1849. The owner and Captain of the Mountain Maid was George Washington Fogg, known on the lake as the "Father of Commercial Navigation." A poetic orator, Uriah Jewett, known as "Uncle Ri" Jewett, would often entertain the passengers with his stories of the "sea serpent" that resided in Lake Memphremagog, known today as "Memphre". There have been many reported sightings of this serpent through the years.
In the autumn of 1867, with much fanfare, the world-class Lady of the Lake was launched. The steamer plied the international waters along with the Mountain Maid I and II (1849-1892). Note: See photograph that shows both the Lady of the Lake
this page online
The Anthemis, meaning "The Goddess of Steam", a 100-foot steamer capable of carrying 250 people, operated on the lake from 1909 - 1947. She was the last wood-burning steamer on the lake. This Canadian-owned steamer, based in Georgeville, stopped at any wharf that raised a flag indicating waiting passengers.
[Photo captions, left to right, read]
• Lady of the Lake tour boat, circa 1890
• Memphremagog House and tour boats, circa late 1800's
Autant pour les Autochtones américains d'origine que pour les premiers colons, le lac Memphrémagog a été important pour le transport et le portage, mais il a eu, aussi,
Le premier bateau de randonnée d'importance de Newport, le « Mountain Maid » (La Fille de la Montagne), était un vapeur long de 105 pieds (environ 32 m.) à traction de roue à aubes de bois. Il avait été mis à l'eau à Georgeville, au Québec, en 1849. Le propriétaire et captaine du « Mountain Maid », George Washington Fogg, était connu, autour du lac, comme le « père de la navigation commerciale ». Un orateur poétique, Uriah Jewett, mieux connu sous le nom de « Uncle Ri » Jewett, fascinait les passagers avec ses histoires au sujet d'un « serpent de mer » qui habitait dans les eaux de lac Memphrémagog. Au fil des années, on a rapporté de nombreuses apparitions de ce monstre marin connu, aujourd'hui, du nom de « Memphré ».
À l'automne de 1867, accompagné d'une grande fanfare, le « Lady of the Lake », de classe internationale, était mis à l'eau. Ce vapeur a fait la navette sur les eaux internationales
L' « Anthemis », mot signifiant « Déesse de la Vapeur » un bateau-vapeur long de 100 pieds (environ 31 m.), capable de transporter 250 personnes, a sillonné le lac entre 1917 et 1947. Il a été le dernier vapeur sur le lac utilisant la combustion à bois. Ce bateau, de propriété canadienne, ancré à Georgeville, s'arrêtait à tous les quais où un drapeau était levé pour indiquer la présence de passagers en attente.
[Légendes photo, de gauche à droite, lisez]
• (Le bateau de randonnée « Lady of the Lake ») (« La Dame du Lac ») circa 1890
• (Le Memphremagog House et les bateaux
de randonnée) circa late 1800'sErected by Memphremagog Historical Society. (Marker Number 3.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1849.
Location. 44° 56.219′ N, 72° 12.41′ W. Marker is in Newport, Vermont, in Orleans County. It can be reached from Main Street. Marker is along the walking trail in Pomerleau Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Main Street, Newport VT 05855, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in North America, the Great North Woods, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France and also the Vermont Republic.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Arrival of the Railroad / L'Arrivée du Chemin de Fer (within shouting distance of this marker); Pomerleau Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Newport's Hotels and Tourism / Les Hotels de Newport et le Tourisme (within shouting distance of this marker); The Lane Opera House / Le « Lane Opera House » (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Northern Forest Canoe Trail (about 400 feet away); Early 19th Century Newport / Newport au dèbut du 19e siècle (about 500 feet away); Hebard Building Site History / Histoire du site de l'Édifice Hebard (about 600 feet away); Newport's Splendid Years / Les Belles Années de Newport (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newport.
Also see . . . Historical Walking Tour of Newport, Vt. Brochure. (Submitted on August 30, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 25, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 505 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 31, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
