The Hampton

The stern wheeler, the Hampton, was built in Hampton during the winter of 1905-06 for the Kennebecasis Steamship Company, managed by Captain A.T. Mabee. She was built to replace the Clifton, which burnt in 1905. She was 100 feet long with a 115-ton capacity. Her compound engine had a 4-foot stroke, and the connecting rods were of wood. The main fault of this steamer, which had three small rudders, was that she was hard to control in heavy wind.

The Hampton was the last of the stern wheelers to serve the St. John River system. She met with a good response in passenger and freight trade and provided three one-day round trips a week. Friday, however, was generally reserved for conveying excursions, both on the Kennebecasis and the main river.

She ran on the Kennebecasis until September 1917, when she transferred to the Belleisle route. Her final year on the river was 1930.

A replica of the Hampton can be found at the New Brunswick Museum.