The Norfolk & Washington Steamboat Company was a steamboat company that transported passengers and freight between Washington, DC and Norfolk, Virginia on the Potomac River.
History The company was organized in the Spring of 1889A Palace Boat - The Daily Critic - November 22, 1890 and charter in 1890 with the capital largely coming from Washingtonians."Capital's Steamboat Era Ends As Norfolk Line Closes Down" - Evening Star - November 28, 1948 - p. A-21 A bill was introduced on January 4, 1890 for incorporation in the Virginia State Senate. The object of the company was to equip and operate a line of steamers for the transport of passengers and freight between Washington, DC and Norfolk, Virginia on the Potomac River. The capital stock was to be no less than $100,000 and an option for a railroad to be built inland was introduced. The Company was to build four first-class powerful steamers with all modern improvements according to the incorporation bill. They would run from Washington, DC to Norfolk with stops in Alexandria at Old Point and Newport News.Washington Steamboat Company - Alexandria Gazette - January 4, 1890 The original Commissioners were Chas. C. Duncanson, John Callahan and Levi Woodbury.The Washington Critic - February 20, 1890 - p. 3
Early years (1890–1900) In 1890, the company started operating with a sidewheeler named the George Leary. It operated from Washington to Norfolk with stops in Alexandria and Old Point Comfort. Two additional boats were specially ordered to run the line at night. Two other boats were to be built if the business need arose to have day trips.Alexandria Gazette - March 6, 1890 These boats would be known as the Washington and the Norfolk.
The Washington Its first steamer of the fleet that was to be nicknamed the Potomac Palaces was the Washington. It named after one of the ports being serviced by the company and was launched on November 22, 1890 in Wilmington, Delaware. Manufactured by Harlan and Hollingsworth, it was launched at 9 am on that day in the presence of several members of the company who had traveled to the city for the occasion.The Washington Floats - The Evening Star - November 22, 1890 It was christened by Miss Jane McCoy, aged 12 years old and daughter of Dr. McCoy of Philadelphia. It measured 258 feet in length with a width of 46 feet and a depth of 23 feet. It was made of iron and double-plated from the front to mid-ship at the waterline to allow it to cut through the ice that could form in the area. Six bulk heads divided the ship and offered additional protection in case of a leak occurring in a compartment. It was driven by a screw propeller of 13 1/2 in diameter with triple expansion engines of 2,000 horse power and 14 feet boilers guaranteeing a speed of 17 miles per hour.
The saloon deck extended the entire length of the ship. It had forty bedrooms and eight double state-rooms. The interior was decorated and paneled and the main colors were white and gold. The Officer's quarters had a gallery containing twelve bedrooms with an inside stairway connecting it to the saloon. The staterooms and the main stairways were finished in quartered oak while the dining room was made of maple and could accommodate 60 people. The kitchen with its pantry and refrigeration and steward's room were equipped with the latest standard in appliances at the time. The main deck had 22 staterooms, a social hall, a barbershop, bathroom, a purser's office and a baggage room decorated in paneling terra-cotta, butternut and gold. The entire ship was lighted with electricity.
A trial trip was conducted on March 12, 1891 on the Delaware River and Bay from Christian's Creek to Ledge Light and back, a distance of eighty miles. Guests including the commissioners, were on board to witness the trial and were served a luncheon by the builders. A speed test was conducted during the run resulting in the boat making a mile in three minutes and seven seconds.The Critic - Evening Edition - March 12, 1891 The steamer arrived at the DC wharf on March 26, 1891 under the command of Captain S. B. Davis who had been navigating the Potomac since 1871.Town talk - The Sunday Herald - March 29, 1891
On September 29, 1890, it was recommended by Captain Rossell that a lease be approved for a wharf located next to the arsenal wall. The steamboat company had made a request a few days earlier to have a landing point in the city. The recommendation called for an annual rent of $2,500 with an allowance of $1,500 for keeping the wharf in working order. It was approved by the Commissioners.Lease of a Wharf Site Recommended - Evening Star September 29, 1890
The Norfolk
The second steamer of the fleet was named the Norfolk after the second port being serviced by the company and was launched on January 10, 1891 at 12:25 in Wilmington and also manufactured by Harlan and Hollingsworth as its sister ship. It was christened by Bessie Callahan, the 18-year-old of John Callahan, one of the company's commissioner. It was built to exactly the same specification as its twin-sister, the Washington.Potomac Palaces - The Critic - January 10, 1890 - Front Page
The Washington and the Norfolk were the only ones in Washington, DC able to navigate the Potomac when ice formed. Due to their design, they were able to crush the ice under their weight and make a channel to navigate. On February 7, 1895, while the rest of the boats had to remain docked, the steamboats were able to make the trips on time. Ice was reported to be heavy all the way to Piney Point and fields off Point Lookout.Fears of Flood - The Evening Star - February 7, 1895 - p. 2
The line operated with two boats from 1891 to 1894. On September 13, 1894, the Alexandria Gazette reported that the Mayor of Alexandria, Henry Strauss, addressed a letter to the company informing them that its steamers were damaging the wharves as well as the small crafts docked there. They were going too fast as they passed the city as well as when they docked. Superintendent Callahan promptly acknowledged the concern and replied that he had ordered the captains to be careful and make sure no damages were done.Local Intelligence - Alexandria Gazette - Evening Edition - September 13, 1894 This prompt response was probably warranted by the upcoming announcement done only two days later.
On September 15, 1894, after months of speculation, it was announced by Superintendent John Callahan, that a third steamer was to be built. The route had been a success for the company and the traffic warranted a new addition to the line. It would operate during the day and be larger and more powerful than the other two steamers while retaining their comfort.Local Intelligence - Alexandria Gazette - Evening Edition - September 15, 1894 The contract was awarded to the Newport News Shipbuilding Company on November 15, 1894.Local Intelligence - Alexandria Gazette - Evening Edition - November 16, 1894 The steamer would operate the day trip during the summers leaving Washington, DC at 8:30 am and arriving in Norfolk at 6:30 pm. It would be touching Alexandria, Piney Point, Point Lookout and Old Point.The Evening Star - November 17, 1894 In the winters, she would relieve the other two ships o the company during their annual docking and overhaulingLocal Intelligence - Alexandria Gazette - Evening Edition - November 19, 1894.
On March 9, 1895, the District Commissioners granted a revocable permit to the Company. This permit allowed them to dredge a slip 56 feet wide, support the sides with piles to make it a steamboat berth. It was not to extend beyond he west building line of Water Street SW nor beyond the harbor line. The permit could be revoked with a 60-day notice to the company."Revocable Permit" - The Evening Star - March 11, 1895 - p. 12
The Newport News On April 9, 1895, the Newport News is launched from the city for which it is a namesake.Finished with Feast - The Evening Star - April 10, 1895 The trial trip took place on June 6, 1895 under the command of Captain Georghegan between Old Point Light and Windmill Point Light, a distance of 46 miles and back. The average speed was 19 miles with a maximum of 21 miles. The test was considered a success.The New Steamer - Alexandria Gazette - June 7, 1895 On June 18, 1895 it was formally turned over to its owners."Newport News Coming to Washington" - The Evening Star - June 17, 1895 A formal ceremony took place. The same day, it made the trip upriver to Washington leaving Norfolk at 6:30 pm on rough waters and arriving in Washington at 6:00 am. The public was invited to visit the ship on Sunday, June 23, 1895. It would take over for a few days the evening trip while the other ships were overhauled until July 1. Starting on July 4, 1895, the 1,500-ton ship would provide run the day trip."The New River Boat" - The Evening Star - June 19, 1895 - Front Page
The interior was furnished with heavy oak furniture richly upholstered in brown corduroy with Louis XVI design. The interior woodwork was enameled white, picked out in gold in artistic mermaid designs and panelings.
20th Century (1900–1948)
In 1907, the company experience the best year during the Jackson Exposition in Norfolk. A modern, all-steel day boat was built for the occasion. It was a sidewheeler called the Jamestown and ran the entire summer. It ran again in 1908 but the success was not there. The boat was sold to an Argentine firm.
On October 3, 1908 at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, in the Newport News Shipbuilding Company yard, the Southland is launched in front of a crowd of hundreds.Southland Slides Down Ways to Bay - The Washington Times - October 3, 1908 - page 4 In 1909, the new steamer is delivered, followed in 1911 with its sister ship, the Northland. These boats had steel hulls unlike its predecessors who were made of charcoal iron.
The Norfolk and the Washington were sold to the Colonial Line where they were renamed the Lexington and Concord. They operated the line between New York and Providence until World War I.
1918 Fire 1918 was a catastrophic year for the company. On the morning of September 3, 1918, C.B. Abbott, watchman and night clerk for the Norfolk & Washington Steamboat Company was sitting in the office. Around 3:30 am, he smelled smoke and went to the back of the building to investigate. He discovered smoke in the linen room and ran out the building. There flames were shooting up the side of the building. He pulled the alarm and yelled at the watchman on the boat that there was a fire. Within a few minutes, the fire had spread to three or four rooms. Five minutes later, the Newport News as on fire from flames of the warehouse. Explosions were heard on the steamer due to cans of paint in the hold bursting. A consignment of several hundred two-quart and one-gallon tins were on the ship. The fire department was unable to save the boat. A second alarm was turned on within ten minutes as the fire was spreading quickly. By 4 am, four alarms had sounded.The Washington Times - September 2, 1918 - Final Edition - pp. 1–2
A scow belonging to Portch & Jones, dock builders and pile drivers, was moored to the wharf which was also on fire. Emmett I. Portch, head of the company, climbed over a wooden fence between the street and the river before jumping in a small boat in an attempt to row to the scow to save it. He took a butter barrel sitting on the dock and started throwing water at the fire while trying to untie the scow to move it from the dock. At that very moment, he was hit in the chest by a stream of water from a fire hose, knocking him 20 feet in the water. He was saved by two soldiers standing on another dock who had jumped in a boat to fish him out. He jumped back to the scow and managed to move it way.