Urger (canal tugboat)

Summary

Urger, originally named H.J. Dornbos or Henry J. Dornbos, is a historic canal tugboat based at Waterford in Saratoga County, New York.

Urger
Urger in 2013
History
United States
Name
  • H. J. Dornbos (1901-1922)
  • Urger (1922-present)
BuilderJohnson Brothers Shipyard and Boiler Works
Yard number11
Launched1901
IdentificationOfficial number 96562
StatusInactive
General characteristics
Tonnage45 GRT
Length73 ft 5 in (22.38 m)
Beam14 ft 9 in (4.50 m)
Depth9 ft (2.7 m)
Urger (canal tugboat)
Urger (canal tugboat) is located in New York
Urger (canal tugboat)
Nearest cityWaterford, New York
Coordinates42°47′47″N 73°41′15″W / 42.79639°N 73.68750°W / 42.79639; -73.68750
Built1901
ArchitectJohnson Bros.
Architectural stylecanal tugboat
NRHP reference No.01001320[1]
Added to NRHP29 November 2001

Design and construction edit

H. J. Dornbos was built in 1901 as a fish tug for Verduin Brothers (William Verduin) of Grand Haven, Michigan, by Johnson Brothers Shipyard and Boiler Works of Ferrysburg, Michigan as Yard No.11.[2] As built, she was 63 ft (19 m) long, with a beam of 15 ft (4.6 m) and depth of 8 ft (2.4 m), and measuring 44 gross register tonnage.[3]

Canal service edit

She was purchased for service on the New York State Barge Canal system in 1922 and was in regular use until the 1980s.[4] She was altered in several stages through 1949. She is 73 feet 5 inches (22.38 m) in length, 14 feet 9 inches (4.50 m) in beam and 9 feet (2.7 m) in depth. She is registered at 45 gross tons. She has a molded steel frame, deck beams, and riveted plates.[5]

In 1991 the Urger was reactivated "to educate school children and adults about the importance of New York's historic Canal System." As of 2013 the Urger is "the flagship vessel in the New York State Canal Corporation's fleet."[4] Urger was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.[1]

The New York State Canal Corporation again retired Urger placing her in drydock at Waterford in 2018, with a view to transferring her to a visitor centre in Montgomery County as an onshore static exhibit.[6][7] In September 2021, the tug was towed to the corporation's maintenance shops at Lysander, Onondaga County, for engineering survey and review of her future.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Urger". National Register of Historic Places. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Johnston Boiler". Shipbuilding History. Tim Colton. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  3. ^ Blue Book of American Shipping. Cleveland, Ohio: Penton Publishing. 1913. p. 39. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b "About the Canal Corporation: Tugboat Urger Educational Program". New York State Canal Corporation. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  5. ^ Peckham, Mark L. (July 2001). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Urger". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Retrieved 12 October 2010. (Java required)
    "Accompanying 20 photos". (Java required)
  6. ^ Grondahl, Paul (22 May 2018). "Canal fans not ready to give up the ships". Times Union. Archived from the original on 6 December 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  7. ^ Liberatore, Wendy (2 August 2018). "Preservation League wants to keep the historic tugboat Urger on canal waters". Times Union. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Tug URGER on the Move!". Preservation League of New York State. 21 September 2021. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.

External links edit

  Media related to Urger (canal tugboat) at Wikimedia Commons