Did you know that one of the steamers on Chautauqua Lake lived on well beyond the end of the steamboat era and survived for much of the 20th Century? Originally named “W.C. Rinearson”, this steel hulled, double deck, propeller driven boat, 110 feet in length, was first launched in 1891. A year later, it was renamed “City of Cleveland” and, in 1931, was again renamed “City of Jamestown”. By that time, regular steamboat passenger service on the lake had all but disappeared. Over her lifetime, this steamer had several different owners — 4 of them after 1935. During the following several years, each of them made efforts to operate on a limited excursion schedule. But none were profitable. Times had changed and passenger steamboats on the lake were from a bygone era. In September, 1963, the “City of Jamestown” was fired up one last time and made a final trip up the Chadakoin River to Chautauqua Lake.

Reference and Photo Credit: Fenton Historical Society.