Explore the Water

The Barbara
THE HISTORY OF THE PUBLIC VESSEL “ROAMER” (BARBARA S. WILES)

In 1921 John E. & son John G. Lindsey purchased Hub Island (between Grenell and Wellesley Islands T.I.) and the J.E. and J.G. Linsey Boat Company was born.  The company soon established a reputation for excellence in the building of fine launches, yachts and even St. Lawrence  skiffs.  Around 1931 or so a prospective tour boat buyer from Kingston, Ontario approached the Lindseys and gave them a $2000 deposit to build for him a suitable tour boat for future operation out of Kingston.  A 48’ x 12’ hull was soon started in the Lindseys’ modest 56’ x 40’ foot  boat works.  It was nearly two years before the prospective Kingston buyer returned to inform the Lindsays that he could not raise any more capital to finish the boat.  Somewhat discouraged, the inverted, unfinished hull sat in the boat works for nearly five years while the Lindseys were busy filling other orders.  Finally, J.E. decided to gamble and finish construction of the vessel and to advertise it in the various Marine Trade Publications.  In early 1937 Alden Shaw and Walter Harris responded.  The two men from the Lake George Marine Industries made a trip to little Hub Island, liked what they saw, ordered twin screws with two Cris Smith gasoline engines (six cylinder)  in place of the single screw operation the Lindseys were going to fit the vessel with.   Total purchase price, $10,000.  After several trial test runs the vessel was ready for shipment to Lake George.  The Lindsays designed a unique wooden cradle that was floated over to Fishers Landing, T.I.   Then on November 10, 1937, the vessel (now named Roamer) was driven over to and right above the then submerged cradle where upon both boat and cradle were hauled ashore and then a set of four truck wheels were placed under the stern end of the vessel rig and the forward rig section attached to the heavy truck bed....NOTE: In reality, the ROAMER was NOT built at Fishers Landing, only placed ashore here.  Vessel was built in its entirety on HUB ISLAND (between Grenell & Wellesley Islands) Thousand Islands.  Post Office address for the Lindsay Boat Company was Fineview, Wellesley Island, N.Y.  The journey from Fishers Landing to Lake George began on November 17, 1937 and required nearly two days to complete the nearly 200 mile trip.  The Roamer enjoyed a forty year highly successful career on Lake George.  From 1937 to 1973 she operated under Lake George Marine Industries Captain Alden Shaw, owner.  In 1973 the Lake George Marine Industries operation was bought out by the Lake George Steamboat Company.  The Roamer lay idle for a couple of seasons while some major overhaul was done.  The Roamer was then assigned Sight-seeing operations out of Bolton Landing, N.Y. located nine miles up the north west shore of Lake George.  The operation continued until the 1980 season.....In March of 1981, after personal inspection of the vessel at the Lake George Steamboat  Company Steel pier, Midlakes Navigation Company, Ltd. owners, Peter Wiles, Sr. and Peter Wiles, Jr. purchased the vessel for dinner boat operation on Skaneateles Lake, N.Y.  After considerable renovation and installation of diesel engines for safer operation, the vessel was launched over the bridge in downtown Skaneateles, N. Y.  on April 28, 1981.  Renamed the Barbara S. Wiles, after Peter Wiles Sr.’s mother, the vessel then on Saturday, May 23, 1981 sailed for the first time on her new waters, Skaneateles-the Eastern Gateway to the Finger Lakes .

Researched by Dick Kowell,  March 1980

Reference Sources:

Charles D. Lindsey, Grandson of J.E. Lindsey    Wellesley Island, N.Y

KURT Hasselbalch, Curator, Thousand Island Shipyard Museum, Watertown Daily Times
Wayne Anderson, Marine Superintendent, Lake George Steamboat Co.