Oregon (sidewheeler 1852)
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 Advertisement for Oregon, placed March 10, 1854 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Oregon |
| Owner | Ben Simpson and others |
| Route | Upper Willamette River |
| In service | 1852 |
| Out of service | 1854 |
| Fate | Sunk after striking snag, total loss |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | inland steamship |
| Length | 120 ft (36.6 m) exclusive of fantail |
| Beam | 22 ft (6.7 m) exclusive of guards |
| Depth | 5 ft (2 m) depth of hold |
| Installed power | steam engine |
| Propulsion | side-wheel |
Oregon was a side-wheel driven steamboat that operated on the Willamette River in the state of Oregon from 1852 to 1854. The steamer was not economically successful and became a total loss by sinking after a short career.
Oregon was built at Fairfield, Oregon in the summer of 1852.[1] Fairfield was located 16 miles (26 km) downstream from Salem, Oregon, and was once one of the most important wheat shipping points on the Willamette River.[2] Ben Simpson, the held of the original ownership syndicate, was also the builder.[1] Construction was supervised in the summer of 1852 by George A. Pease (1830–1918).[1]
Oregon was 120 feet long.[3] The beam (width) of the steamer was 22 feet (6.7 m), probably exclusive of the guards.[3] The depth of hold was 5 feet.[3]
Oregon was described as a small sidewheeler and a poor money earner.[4]
Operations
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Upon completion, Parker and J.D. Shields served as captains.[1] George A. Pease was the pilot of the Oregon until July 1853.[1] Another report states that Jacob Wortman, later president of the First National Bank of McMinnville, was the captain of Oregon, starting in 1853.[5] Fare from Oregon City to Corvallis, Oregon was then $30 for a trip.[5]
Starting on December 3, 1853, the "fast running steamer" Oregon was advertised as making regular runs from Oregon to Marysville, as Corvallis was then known, and way landings.[6]
On March 4, 1854, the steamer Oregon was reported to have been purchased by the Willamette Falls Mill and Transport Company, sometimes referred to as the Willamette Falls Company.[7]
On March 17, 1854, the Willamette Falls Company placed into service a new steamer, the side-wheeler Gazelle, giving the company, briefly, two steamers operating above Willamette Falls.[3][8]