MV Aricia explained
MV Aricia was a ferry that operated on
Okanagan Lake in
British Columbia,
Canada.
[1] She was built in 1912 by J. Y. Campbell and was also known as the Kelowna-Westbank ferry (not to be confused with the
1927 ferry by the same name), because she served the communities of
Kelowna and
Westbank, British Columbia.
[2] Description
Aricia was the fifth ferry on the lake and had a passenger cabin, engine room, pilothouse, and life boat, and a stable was built on the west side of the lake for the public to use while waiting, including a feed locker for horses.[3] All in all, she was the best-equipped ferry by far.[4] In 1921, a scow with a capacity of eight cars was built and Aricia towed it across the lake.[5]
Career
In 1916, Captain Len A. Hayman bought her and piloted her for many years,[6] operating on alternate years between Kelowna and Westbank.[7]
A colorful event in Aricias career occurred on a dark night in 1924.[8] A headwind started up when Hayman was leaving Kelowna with six cars and nineteen passengers. A strong gale hit without warning near Westbank and Aricia hit the rocks. The gas line broke and passengers panicked before the life boat was lowered. The passengers and cars landed safely on the wharf only one hour and thirty minutes later than scheduled. The next day, Aricia was bailed out and sent to the shipyard at Okanagan Landing for repairs.[9]
Notes and References
- Book: Goett, R . Lakeboats of the Okanagan . PDF . Lake Country Museum . 2 October 2017.
- Book: Hayman, L. A. . Reprint of report numbers 7, 8, 9, 10 of the Okanagan Historical Society . 10 . The Kelowna-Westbank Ferry . 1971 . 1937 . 39–44 . 16 August 2015.
- Book: Hatfield, Harley R. . Commercial Boats of the Okanagan . Okanagan history. Fifty-sixth report of the Okanagan Historical Society . 1992 . 20–33 . 2 Aug 2015.
- Book: Fortin, Ayla . Okanagan history: Sixty-third report of the Okanagan Historical Society . Early Ferry Transportation and the Okanagan Lake Floating Bridge . 1999 . 122–125 . 2 August 2015.
- Book: Powley, Hume M. . Okanagan history: Fifty-ninth report of the Okanagan Historical Society . Dorothy Ann (Hewlett) Gellatly . 1995 . 110–112 . 3 August 2015.
- Web site: History . Westbank . Historic Westbank Association . n.d. . 4 August 2015.
- Book: Zdralek, Alice . Okanagan history: Sixty-third report of the Okanagan Historical Society . Casa Loma Origins . 1999 . 112–117 . 3 August 2015.
- Web site: Lily E. Watts – Westbank, British Columbia – Headstones of Centenarians . Waymarking . 13 May 2013 . 4 August 2015.
- News: Pooley . Ian . Getting across the Lake: Sinking Scows and Panicked Passengers . . 30 September 2013.
