Glen Rose - Operated in the 1920s by Walter Stanton to supply groceries and sundry to the many cottages on Sparrow Lake.When the Torpitt Road was created the supply boat became redundant . Walter went on to build the Willdwood Inn resort which opened in 1931. photo from the collection of Jim Stanton
G-Whiz was built by Norman Bennett and James Whiteside (Idylwild Lodge). It was 85 feet in length and was the largest of the Sparrow Lake steamers. It was in direct competition with the LakeField steamer for river commerce. The two hotels, Bennett's Hotel and Idylwild Lodge had used the Steamer Champion (Captain Tom Woods) for their river service to Severn Bridge. They now had their own steamer which was launched in 1911. Having twin scews and a longer length and deeper draft it hung up a few times on the sand delta at the mouth of the Severn and had to blow for help. To their chagrin the steamer Lakefield came over to pull them off. It boasted two flush toilets on board and was quite a boat for the times. It operated until 1916.The sunken hull stem is still visible on the west bank of the Severn river at the Bennett's hotel site.
When the owner went to register the boat name, the name he had chosen was already in use, to which he exclaimed G-whiz! It was then decided this might be a good name.
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