The Hampstead
The 94-foot steamer, the Hampstead, was built in 1894 in Hampton,N.B. by owner - operator, Captain J. Gillis Mabee. She had a capacity of 159 tons. Captain Mabee had with him his three sons, Fred, Arn and Hal. Fred, who was initially mate, eventually became the captain.
Under Captain Gillis Mabee's command, the steamer at first ran daily from Hampstead to Saint John in the morning and returned at night, but it was soon decided to make Wickham her upriver terminal point.
The Hampstead was the first propeller passenger steamboat to operate on the St. John River. Her single propeller was driven by what was known as a "fore and aft steeple compound steam engine". The engine consisted of two units; each had a small diameter H.P. (high pressure)
cylinder placed directly above a L.P. (low pressure) cylinder. The L.P. cylinder was larger because the steam, after passing through the H.P. cylinder, had expanded and required more space. A long piston rod extended from the piston of the H.P. right through the L.P. cylinder to the connecting rod which was attached to the crank on the main shaft and propeller. The two units were identical in construction, except that the cranks were at right angles. This resulted in a smoother running engine, less strain on the working parts, and no danger of stalling on center. For its day, this was a very economical engine. After the Hampstead was destroyed by fire the engine was salvaged and installed in the Premier and was still in good working condition when she was withdrawn from service in 1933.
The Hampstead later served the head of the Belleisle and then for several years she operated a suburban service between Gagetown and Fredericton. She left Gagetown each morning and made stops at Gunters, Upper Gagetown, Sheffield, Barkers Wharf, Upper Sheffield, Burton, Maugerville, Court House Wharf, Oromocto, Wilmots, Upper Maugerville, and Glasiers. On board were Captain H.C. Crabbe, mate Theodore Vallis, stewardess Mrs. Vallis, and engineer William Hurder.
She fell victim to fire late in 1916. A replica of the Hampstead can be found at the New Brunswick Museum.