Workhorses on the Water: Steamboat Days in Aroostook County, Maine

By Dena Lynn Winslow Ph.D.

There has never been a complete history of steamboats in Maine. However there have been a few scattered publications related to specific southern Maine areas. For the first time ever, this book will tell the story of steamboats in the Aroostook County region in northern Maine. We don't often think about steamboats in Aroostook County but these iconic vessels could once be seen on many, if not all, of the navigable lakes and larger rivers in Aroostook County. There were at least twenty-one steamers in Aroostook County waters, with at least four of them on the Presque Isle Stream in Presque Isle; and one attempted, but unsuccessful one on the Aroostook River. In addition, there were at least sixty-five on the border between Maine and New Brunswick, Canada, in the Saint John River. Steam was once the prominent workhorse for many things - from steam engines that powered machinery and even cars, and of course, the well-known steam trains. But few people know that a man in nearby New Brunswick, Benjamin Tibbits, was the inventor of the compound marine steam engine - one of the most significant improvements in steam engine design. He also created a special steamboat hull design which, in combination with his compound steam engine, allowed for the fastest steamboat on the Saint John River, the "Reindeer," which ran from Woodstock to Grand Falls, serving many Aroostook County and New Brunswick travelers. And, last but certainly not least, he was also the inventor of the iconic steam whistle. This book includes the story of this nearly unknown genius who also played a part in the border war between Maine and New Brunswick, Canada, known as the "Aroostook War." The book also includes information and previously unpublished photographs of an important US Navy steamship involved in World War I named the, "USS Aroostook." This important ship served as a mine-layer during the war; and later served as an aircraft tender in 1919 in support of the first successful Navy trans-Atlantic crossing by airplane. After many productive years of service, the ship was sold in 1946 for use as a floating casino off Malibu, for which it was seized by the US Coast Guard as a "gambling ship," and was ultimately sold for scrap in 1947. These "workhorses on the water," were not known for being safe, and boiler explosions did take the lives of many people - not only in Maine, but elsewhere. However, they were a big improvement over the horse-boats, canoes, and other human and animal powered boats; and wind powered sail boats that were used prior to the arrival of the steam engine. This is their story in the Aroostook County, Maine region.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0F5NTKXCN
• ISBN13: 9798280547674
• Release Date: April 2025
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 125 Pages
• Dimensions: 11.0" x 0.3" x 8.5"