The (First) Trip to the Ship....

Seeing What's Involved

Once a semblance of a Committee was in place, it was decided that a trip out to see the Argyle II was in order. On a blustery day in September a group of interested yet (for some) still uncommitted folks made their way out to the boat. We all hopped into Malcolm's cruiser and headed out to Channel Island. The McLaughlins knew we were coming so there was anticipation on both sides.

What would we see when we got there? Was the boat in a state of condition where a salvage attempt was even feasible? These were questions going through everybody's mind. Still there was a good deal of optimism for most involved as it would be neat just to go and see the Argyle II.

It took about 15 minutes or so to get out to the site and once we arrived we were greeted by Mr. Alan McLaughlin who we're sure, was as interested in checking us out as we were in doing the same to the boat. After some standard introductions and pleasantries, we all became consumed with the 72 foot vessel that lay half submerged in a small bay.

It looked pretty far gone at first and we all were warned to be careful about standing in certain parts of the deck, as the boards were anything but safe to walk on. One thing that did occur to everyone was the apparently solid condition of the steel ribs from which any restoration effort would begin. The old diesel engine - a Cat - was there but half under water. The lower deck of the boat was filled with water and you could see a mini-aquarium type environment with dozens of crayfish and minnow visible and swimming within the ships hull.

Alan McLaughlin gave a quick overview of their family's history of ownership and even showed us some plans he had drawn out - complete with measurements of the boat in its original condition - including the top wheelhouse which had been completely disassembled years earlier. We even got to see the original Registry and a number of other interesting pieces related to the boat's history.

A lot of discussions occurred about what may be involved in pumping the water out, patching the holes and soft spots in the outer hull and trying to get it floated and moved to a location in Kenora. Lots of theories and ideas were bandied about. The McLaughlins graciously provided some lunch for the group where more discussion and ideas were exchanged.

After lunch, the group of volunteers who made the trip felt an effort could be made to try and bring the Argyle II back home to Kenora. This desire was communicated to the McLauglins and it was conveyed that a salvage plan using qualified personnel would be developed. This plan would identify how the job would be done, who would do it and where the boat would be towed to.

What was need was time and that could only be granted by the McLaughlin Family. It was and the Argyle II received a stay of execution over the winter and spring of 2008 during which time, the promised plan for salvage would be developed and presented for consideration.

That process is the subject of our next post......

You Want To Do What?

You Must Be Crazy.....

Yes, we have heard a lot of that and maybe we are - but there's nothing wrong with that - well at least we don't think so. As a matter of fact, there are many more peole than some in Kenora may think that feel saving and restoring the Argyle II is a GREAT idea! We hope your one of those people or at the very least, that you have an open mind before making your judgement.

Anyway....back to how this all got started.

Well once upon a time, way back in August of 2007 a former Kenora boy (now a summer resident) Malcolm Fisher heard of the impending destruction of the Argyle II and decided to try and do something to stop it. You see as a kid, Malcolm had great memories of riding on the boat, especially the trips to Coney Island Beach where all the fun was in the summer. The Argyle II was the way you got there and to Malcolm, it's loss would be like having a piece of your youth taken away.

Malcolm decided to start talking about the idea of saving the Argyle II, which was set to be scuttled in the fall of 2007 or Spring of 2008. The hull was located on Channel Island at the summer residence of Winnipegers Alan and Erica McLaughlin. They were obviously the first people to talk to to see if they would even entertain the idea. The McLaughlins purchased the Argyle II in the 1980s and had for a period of time, ran the boat on the lake. They also used it as accommodations on their lakefront property.

The McLaughlins agreed to keep an open mind and give Malcolm a chance to get something more formal - like a plan - in place. Malcolm had about two months to convince the McLaughlins that a plan could be developed or at least underway, showing that the Argyle II could be re-floated and towed to a site in Kenora for its eventual restoration.

Public Appeal Made

Malcolm immediately went to work.he first approached a few people on the lake - summer resident mostly - and was met with some skepticism. Seeing the need to do more, a public appeal was made for people in the City of Kenora to form a Committee to see what could be done. Really it became was there any interest by anyone to try to do this? Radio spots were graciously made available and the local newspaper provided front page coverage of the appeal.

This seemed to work, as a meeting at the Lakeside Inn saw almost a dozen people attend. There was now a number of people who wanted to help, or at least wanted to know a little bit more about the idea. A formal "Committee" was kind of struck at this first meeting. It was decided a trip out to the boat to see what was involved in its salvage was the first order of business. The new group included a former Captain of the Argyle II Murray Affleck, Tom Thomson, Darren Henry, Bart Bergman, Martin Camire, Murray MacDonald and Gerry Cariou.

The initial trip to the Argyle II is the subject of our next post, stay tuned......

Restoring a Piece of History

What Does History Mean to You?

Flash Back to 1936 and what do you see? A country just starting to recover from the Great Depression and Kenora, still a "frontier" town connected to the outside world by railway. With its location next to Lake of the Woods and logging a good business, the lake played an integral part in Kenora's economy. The work horses of the lake were the wooden boats. Used to haul logs, fish, flour and transport people or just to enjoy leisure time on the water, wooden boats had a distinct place in Kenora's history, its economic development and the interaction between the local people, visitors and the lake.

There were many of these boats, the Keenora, the Mather, the Grace Anne, the Argyle I followed by the Argyle II - to name just a few. The era of the big wooden boats is an idelible part of Kenora's history but sadly, the traces of this bygone time are almost gone. The Grace Anne II is around of course and there are a few of the boats on display - one in town and one in Selkirk, Manitoba but that's about it.

There is of course, the hull of the Argyle II and it could serve as a beacon of hope in attempts to preserve local history and the wooden boat era on Lake of the Woods.

The Argyle II is a wonderful story really and one that everyone who has ever lived in or visited the community is aware of. Serving as Kenora's "water bus" the Argyle II ferried countless thousands of people during its fifty years on the lake. It could have been the trip to Coney Island or from Keewatin to downtown Kenora, but just about anybody who lived in Kenora between 1936 and 1985 rode on the Argyle II.

This fact alone is a great reason to pause for thought and think about the important and real links this has for the people who live in Kenora and for those who visted the community. Were you a kid from Winnipeg who came out on weekends in the 1960s and took a ride on the trip to Coney? Or were you one of the hundreds of kids in the 70s and early 80s who took swimming lessons on the island and rode the Argyle II to each and every lesson? For some whose families have lived in Kenora for a long time, there is a generational link with the Argyle II - three generations in one family that all rode on this boat. Now that's pretty cool!

The Argyle II Historic Trust has been formed by local supporters of the project to oversee the complete restoration of the boat and its eventual re-launch on Lake of the Woods. The history of the rescue/restoration effort is already an interesting story.....

.....for more on that read our next post.