The
Cockburn Pointer Boat
Perhaps nothing symbolizes
Pembroke's heritage and its relationship with the Ottawa River more
than this 32 foot steel replica of the famous Cockburn Pointer boat,
as seen in this monument at the gateway to the Kiwanis Waterfront Trails.
Designed by John Cockburn in the 1850s, these boats were built exclusively
here by three generations of his family and extensively used in the
Lumber Industry and development of rivers and ports throughout Canada.
History of the Cockburn Pointer
Boat
The first pointer boat was
designed and built in Ottawa, Ontario sometime in the 1850's by John
Cockburn, a recent immigrant from England.
Apparently John Cockburn had
been asked by J.R. Booth, the famous lumbering magnate, to build a strong
logging boat. These boats were needed to help the river drivers
in their task of pushing and pulling the hewn timbers on their way to
the broader stretches of the Ottawa River. These boats had to
be transported about 145 miles by horse and sleigh to the Pembroke area
near the logging operation. Consequently John Cockburn moved his
boat building business to the Pembroke waterfront around 1858 before
the CPR moved through Pembroke in 1876.
Albert, his son, became the
next owner. The boat building business was then inherited by Jack
Cockburn (grandson) who carried on the business until 1969. Jack
Cockburn died in 1972.
The boat was designed with
two high pointed ends which gave the craft its name "Pointer Boat".
There were twelve different types of boats ranging from 16 feet up to
50 feet. The Cockburn Pointer was known as "the boat that
floats on heavy due". It was noted for its shallow draught
and quick response. A 50 foot model weighed in about 1/2 ton and
could float in 1 1/2" of water. The boat could be reversed
in direction without being turned around. It was stable, tough,
easy to handle, yet graceful in appearance. The famous river boat
had three names, The Cockburn Pointer, The Pembroke Pointer and the
Ottawa Valley Pointer.
The material used to build these boats
remained the same and was available here in this area. The red
or white pine was used for the planking. The white cedar from
Allumette Island, Quebec, had twisted roots providing a strong bend
for the ribs. The oars were made from red pine or white spruce
and the paddles where taken from yellow birch or white oak. All
wood was air-dried for 12 months in a shed beside the building establishment.
The Pointer was guaranteed for 5 to 10 years.
When the craft was built, a preservative
made from double boiled oil and jewelers rouge was applied to the whole
structure except the middle of the plank seats where the loggers sat;
apparently this preservative would wear out the seats of the loggers
trousers. This distinctive bright brick red colour became another
trademark of the Pointer Boat.
In 1947 a square stern version
was introduced to handle an outboard motor. Mr. Cockburn introduced
a jet model in 1963.
The Pointer Boat was used
in many parts of Canada. They were well known throughout the lumbering
operations, pulp and paper industries, mining companies and northern
developments which needed transportation on difficult waterways.
These boats were used to establish the Dew Line and the construction
of the St. Lawrence Seaway. They were seen in the major ports
of Canada from time to time.
In the early 1900's a number
of famous artists from southern Ontario moved up through northern Ontario
and the Algonquin Park area to paint the Canadian Wilderness scenes.
Tom Thomson, one of the Group of Seven, painted two well known paintings
of the Cockburn Pointer Boat. Tom Thomson's "Bateaux"
was painted during 1914 to 1917 and the pointers depicted in this painting
are identical to the pointers produced right up to 1969. The original
painting was painted on an 8 1/2" by 10 1/4" board and is
hanging in The Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. The other called
"The Pointers" is a huge oil canvas 40 1/4" by 45 1/2"
painting that is hanging in Hart House, University of Toronto.
For a few years Pointer Boat
Races were held throughout the Ottawa Valley. These boats are
replicas and have created an interest in the history of the Pointer
Boat and the role it played in the area. These boats were designed
and built here in Pembroke for over 100 years by the Cockburn Family.
At the Annual Dinner of the
Ottawa Valley Historical Society on April 22, 1986, a significant presentation,
the original Pointer Boat Patterns, was made by Bess Cockburn.
This was a memorable moment for the OVHS as the patterns had been held
in trust for years.
During the summer of 1986 a number
of people from this area visited Expo in Vancouver, BC and while at
The Telecom Canada Pavilion with a 360 degree theatre viewed a film
entitled "Images of Canada", a Walt Disney Production.
The commentator spoke on Forestry as Tom Thomson's famous "Bateaux"
painting was presented on four screens.
During May 1986 a group from
Conservision Productions in Toronto arrived to capture this history
of Pembroke on film to be featured later on a series called "Sketches
of Our Town". The Cockburn Pointer Boat story was picked
up and used in the film which in turn was telecast to many parts of
the province.
In October 1986 the Ottawa
Valley Historical Society was donated an authentic nearly 32 foot Cockburn
Pointer Boat by Consolidated-Bathurst Inc., Portage-du-Fort, Quebec,
and is on display at the Champlain Trail Museum. The boat was
carefully scrubbed, all worn parts were checked and properly sealed
to stop any further deterioration. Notes were made and documented
on this procedure.
On October 21, 1991, the Ottawa Valley
Historical Society planned an event entitled "Upper Ottawa River
Boats in Art & History" held at the Museum. This history
of the Bronson & Murphy boats was given with exact hand carved replicas
on display. The Society presented the two reproductions of Tom
Thomson's famous paintings of the Cockburn Pointer Boat, "The Bateaux"
and "The Pointers". Terry McCann, Mayor of the day,
was totally responsible for obtaining these reproductions. The
City of Pembroke donated them to the Society.
On the evening of October
21, 1991 and important announcement was made on a joint venture between
the Economic Development and Planning Committee for the City of Pembroke
and the Ottawa Valley Historical Society was formed. The Cockburn
Pointer Boat Monument, a replica of the famous boat, was be erected
on the former Cockburn property at Pembroke's waterfront.
Complied by:
Eileen Sexsmith
Ottawa Valley Historical
Society
1992
Click
here for more information on the Cockburn Pointer Boat
Click
here for information from the Canadian Heritage Museum
