Did you know that the steamboat era on Chautauqua Lake began as far back as 1828 when the small steamer “Chautauque” was launched – that being the early spelling of our region’s name. It was the first of about 30 such smaller passenger watercraft that traveled the Lake during much of the 19th century. It wouldn’t be until many years later, in 1863, that the first large steamer, the 120′ long “Chautauqua”, appeared on our local waters. About 15 of these large vessels ran passenger schedules up through around 1930. Interestingly, it was this first large steamer, “Chautauqua”, that met its demise in a serious accident. On August 14, 1871, while docked at Whitney Bay just south of Prendergast Point, a boiler explosion killed eight people & injured several more. Although this was a tragic occurrence, it was the only such life-threatening accident during the steamboat era on Chautauqua Lake that spanned many decades. Pictured is the “Chautauqua” in a photo taken about a year before its fateful ending.

Reference Credit & Photo Courtesy of Fenton Historical Society.