Northern Prairie Ships: Laura

Built at Icelandic River [now Riverton] in 1884, the Laura measured 66 feet stem to stern, had a beam of 15 feet, draught of 4.5 feet, and weighed 35 gross tons. This wood hull tow barge was registered at the same time as her larger sister-ship, the Sophia. Early owners are unknown, though from 1888 to 1891, it was operated by the Lake Winnipeg Transportation Lumber and Trading Company, during which she would have been towed by the Aurora. As of 1891, she was docked at Selkirk. The Laura was eventually broken up, with its Registry closed, in 1908.

Sources:

“Liquidator’s sale,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 19 October 1891, page 5.

Laura (IV), The Nauticapedia Project.

Ship Registrations 1787-1966, Laura, Library and Archives Canada.

We thank John MacFarlane (Nauticapedia) for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 12 February 2022