Alexander Peter Cockburn
Alexander Peter Cockburn (April 7, 1837 – June 2, 1905) was a Canadian businessman and political figure. He represented Victoria North in the 1st Parliament of Ontario and Muskoka and then Ontario North in the House of Commons of Canada ...
, on
Lake Muskoka
Lake Muskoka is located between Port Carling and Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada. The lake is surrounded by many cottages. The lake is primarily within the boundary of the Township of Muskoka Lakes, the southeast corner is within the boundary of t ...
, in 1866.
She was the first vessel employed by the Muskoka Navigation Company.
She carried passengers, mail and freight, and towed logs for the lumber industry, mainly on a cluster of connected lakes that covered much of the county of Muskoka, Ontario,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
. Some sources also say she was the first steamship on the
Magnetawan River
The Magnetawan River is a long river in Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada. The river flows 175 km from its source of Magnetawan Lake inside Algonquin Provincial Park to empty into Georgian Bay at the community of Britt on Byng Inlet. ...
, north of Muskoka.
Cockburn was elected to the
Ontario Provincial Parliament
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario (OLA, french: Assemblée législative de l'Ontario) is the legislative chamber of the Canadian province of Ontario. Its elected members are known as Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs). Bills passed by ...
in 1867. According to the ''
Dictionary of Canadian Biography
The ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography'' (''DCB''; french: Dictionnaire biographique du Canada) is a dictionary of biographical entries for individuals who have contributed to the history of Canada. The ''DCB'', which was initiated in 1959, is a ...
'', " ythe spring of 1869 he had induced the Ontario government to build a
lock
Lock(s) may refer to:
Common meanings
*Lock and key, a mechanical device used to secure items of importance
*Lock (water navigation), a device for boats to transit between different levels of water, as in a canal
Arts and entertainment
* ''Lock ...
Port Carling
Port Carling is an unincorporated community in the Township of Muskoka Lakes in the Canadian province of Ontario.
It has been the municipal seat of the township since 1971. It has several hundred year-round residents and is a service centre for ...
and a canal at Port Sandfield, to allow steamers to extend their runs to lakes Rosseau and
Joseph
Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the mo ...
." Cockburn also played a role in passing legislation to have rail service extended to Gravenhurst, one of the other ports served by the Muskoka steamships.
''Wenonah'' was abandoned in 1886, in favor of newer vessels.
In 2002 a modern excursion vessel, the '' Wenonah II'', was constructed to give passengers the look and feel of a traditional Muskoka Steamship. She was named in honour of the original ''Wenonah'', although her appearance more closely matches vessels like her berthmate, the heritage vessel RMS ''Segwun'', built a few decades later.