This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE

This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE.

I’ve become a nut over history. The six years that I spent researching the history of this area was a time well spent, and I’m hopeful that you’ve secured a copy of my book…”Great Moments in Klamath History.” They are still available at the Klamath County Museum.

Occasionally I like to refer to one of those moments.

Tomorrow would have been the 102nd anniversary of what was a very important moment for this area, a moment that has vanished in history, but was very important at the time.

It was a very brisk Saturday…that February first. A wintry wind was blowing down the lake, but a big crowd had gathered for this event.

Swinging a bottle of French wine...Mrs. F. W. Jennings, wife of one of the local businessmen…..said “On the waters of the Mighty Klamath, under God’s blue canopy, with wine from sunny France, I christen thee Winema.”

At least three people had suggested the name Winema for the big boat, and Mrs. Jennings name was drawn from a hat to do the christening.

Two people, John T. Totton and Harry Hansberry were the builders of the Winema which was 125 feet long with a 22 foot beam an d cost about $10,000 to build.

The hull was actually designed by an Egyptian who carved a model for the builders to use as their blueprint. The boiler for the steamer weighed 14,000 pounds and was brought in by a team of horses from the Pokegama terminal of the Klamath Lake Railroad Company and brought to the area by Joe Moore’s team.

It was certainly a great moment in the life of the small community.

News of a possible huge irrigation canal project was already setting the area buzzing.

Prior to the Winema...only small boats plied both Upper and Lower Klamath Lake. This was a big boat….a steamboat.

The Winema scheduled regular trips three times weekly to Odessa.

For just a dollar one could take a trip around the lake on Sundays. Generally a brass band would provide the entertainment with lunch at a ranch on the lake.

The Winema could carry upwards of 76 tons and was also availab le for special charters. It traveled at 10 to 12 miles an hour.

Devere Helfrich interviewed Ray Telford in 1965 on history of the boats of the area. In talking of the Winema, Telford said: The Winema was started in 1904 and finished in 1905. It was built on the west side of Link River. A ship’s carpenter was brought in from Portland to build it. Totten put up the money. Cap Hansberry was also an owner

Totten lived on Front Street not far from where the boat used to dock, and lived to an old age. Hansberry was fatally injured in 1937 when a team of horses bolted and dragged him.

With the development of better roads out of the area and the advent of automobiles in the area the days of both the Winema and the Klamath were numbered. In 1919 the Winema was pulled out of the lake and beached.

In 1927 sparks from a nearby donkey engine ignited the steamboat and completely destroyed the “Queen of the Lake” as she was called.

At any rate…..it certainly was a great moment in the history of the Klamath area.

This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.

Text Box:
This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE.

              I’ve become a nut over history. The six years that I spent researching the history of this area was a time well spent, and I’m hopeful that you’ve secured a copy of my book…”Great Moments in Klamath History.” They are still available at the Klamath County Museum.
              Occasionally I like to refer to one of those moments.
              Tomorrow would have been the 102nd anniversary of what was a very important moment for this area, a moment that has vanished in history, but was very important at the time.
It was a very brisk Saturday…that February first. A wintry wind was blowing down the lake, but a big crowd had gathered for this event.
Swinging a bottle of French wine...Mrs. F. W. Jennings, wife of one of the local businessmen…..said “On the waters of the Mighty Klamath, under God’s blue canopy, with wine from sunny France, I christen thee Winema.”
At least three people had suggested the name Winema for the big boat, and Mrs. Jennings name was drawn from a hat to do the christening.
Two people, John T. Totton and Harry Hansberry were the builders of the Winema which was 125 feet long with a 22 foot beam an d cost about $10,000 to build.
The hull was actually designed by an Egyptian who carved a model for the builders to use as their blueprint. The boiler for the steamer weighed 14,000 pounds and was brought in by a team of horses from the Pokegama terminal of the Klamath Lake Railroad Company and brought to the area by Joe Moore’s team.
It was certainly a great moment in the life of the small community.
News of a possible huge irrigation canal project was already setting the area buzzing.
Prior to the Winema...only small boats plied both Upper and Lower Klamath Lake. This was a big boat….a steamboat.
The Winema scheduled regular trips three times weekly to Odessa.

              For just a dollar one could take a trip around the lake on Sundays. Generally a brass band would provide the entertainment with lunch at a ranch on the lake.
              The Winema could carry upwards of 76 tons and was also availab le for special charters. It traveled at 10 to 12 miles an hour.
              Devere Helfrich interviewed Ray Telford in 1965 on history of the boats of the area. In talking of the Winema, Telford said: The Winema was started in 1904 and finished in 1905. It was built on the west side of Link River. A ship’s carpenter was brought in from Portland to build it. Totten put up the money. Cap Hansberry was also an owner
Totten lived on Front Street not far from where the boat used to dock, and lived to an old age.   Hansberry was fatally injured in 1937 when a team of horses bolted and dragged him.
With the development of better roads out of the area and the advent of automobiles in the area the days of both the Winema and the Klamath were numbered. In 1919 the Winema was pulled out of the lake and beached.
In 1927 sparks from a nearby donkey engine ignited the steamboat and completely destroyed the “Queen of the Lake” as she was called.
At any rate…..it certainly was a great moment in the history of the Klamath area.
This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.