Kitty Belle history

Sandy Island fan · 12-04-2011, 07:37 PM

Here - if I did this right - are some more pictures of the Kitty Belle, bringing our fire truck to Sandy Island. (It was a tight fit!) Not historic pictures, but a historic day for us on the Sandy Island Fire Brigade!

NoBozo · 12-04-2011, 08:29 PM

I think the major advantage this boat has is:..It's maneuverability. It can do a 360 in it's own length. Turn on a dime.

A TWIN screw..in the hands of an expert skipper would not be able to replicate this..Close..but not quite.

NB

Jonas Pilot · 12-04-2011, 08:57 PM

... I talked to the skipper and asked if it was a fast boat. He said, no, but I can turn this on a dime and I can bring it to shore in any kind of weather.

Kamper · 12-06-2011, 07:33 PM

@ Sandy Island Fan,

I would disagree with you. I consider that an historic event, worthy of recording!

John A. Birdsall · 12-06-2011, 08:03 PM

I have been running a boat on the lake since about 1957 and have been to every cove on the lake. But I have never seen this sidewheeler. So I guess I have not seen everything. Nice ferry.

Barney Bear · 12-08-2011, 04:16 PM

We saw the Kitty Belle pass by our cottage on East Bear Island several times this past season. Reminds us of the car ferries on the Ohio River where we did our boating in previous years. Home port was Madison, Indiana, an old steamboatin' town.

Grant · 12-09-2011, 01:14 PM

Living in Melvin, we'd see the barge churning by almost daily when I was a kid in the '60s & '70s. In recent years, we didn't see it as much, but this year I saw it quite often. A real workhorse of the Lake.

ishoot308 · 12-09-2011, 02:30 PM

When I saw George this past summer he told me the Kitty Belle was for sale...

Dan

Misty Blue · 12-10-2011, 09:56 PM

If memory serves me right the first owners of the Belle were Bill and Filex (I think) Chipman from Black Cat island. Mr. "Chips" owned all of Black Cat back then and, I think, built the Belle to move things to the island. This is before the bridge.

My Big brother was the "ships boy" and helped Mr. Chips when he rented the barge out to the power company to bring power out to the islands on the Lake back in the 60's.

I remember being out on the Belle but not much more. It did look much bigger to the child than it does now.

So as you pass Black Cat island heading to Center Harbor look to the North. There is a small brown cottage that was Mr. and Mrs. Chips that has never changed since I was a kid. Think of the Belle still tied up there. A great piece of Winni. history.

Misty Blue

12-04-2011, 07:37 PM	#1
Sandy Island fan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 66 Thanks: 81 Thanked 32 Times in 21 Posts	More pictures of the Kitty Belle Here - if I did this right - are some more pictures of the Kitty Belle, bringing our fire truck to Sandy Island. (It was a tight fit!) Not historic pictures, but a historic day for us on the Sandy Island Fire Brigade! Attached Images

12-04-2011, 08:57 PM	#3
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	Many years ago ... ... I talked to the skipper and asked if it was a fast boat. He said, no, but I can turn this on a dime and I can bring it to shore in any kind of weather.

12-06-2011, 08:03 PM	#5
John A. Birdsall Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Norwich, CT Posts: 599 Thanks: 27 Thanked 51 Times in 35 Posts	amazing I have been running a boat on the lake since about 1957 and have been to every cove on the lake. But I have never seen this sidewheeler. So I guess I have not seen everything. Nice ferry.

12-08-2011, 04:16 PM	#6
Barney Bear Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 961 Thanks: 488 Thanked 274 Times in 175 Posts	Kitty Belle We saw the Kitty Belle pass by our cottage on East Bear Island several times this past season. Reminds us of the car ferries on the Ohio River where we did our boating in previous years. Home port was Madison, Indiana, an old steamboatin' town.

12-09-2011, 01:14 PM	#7
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,510 Thanks: 387 Thanked 234 Times in 128 Posts	Living in Melvin, we'd see the barge churning by almost daily when I was a kid in the '60s & '70s. In recent years, we didn't see it as much, but this year I saw it quite often. A real workhorse of the Lake. __________________ "When I die, please don't let my wife sell my dive gear for what I told her I paid for it."

The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to Sandy Island fan For This Useful Post:
Grant (12-09-2011), Jonas Pilot (12-04-2011), NoBozo (12-04-2011), Rattlesnake Gal (12-06-2011), Redwing (12-06-2011)

12-04-2011, 08:29 PM	#2
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	I think the major advantage this boat has is:..It's maneuverability. It can do a 360 in it's own length. Turn on a dime. A TWIN screw..in the hands of an expert skipper would not be able to replicate this..Close..but not quite. NB

The Following User Says Thank You to Jonas Pilot For This Useful Post:
KPW (12-05-2011)

12-06-2011, 07:33 PM	#4
Kamper Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Thornton's Ferry Posts: 1,314 Thanks: 67 Thanked 172 Times in 128 Posts	@ Sandy Island Fan, I would disagree with you. I consider that an historic event, worthy of recording!

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Kamper For This Useful Post:
KPW (03-13-2012), Sandy Island fan (12-08-2011)

12-09-2011, 02:30 PM	#8
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,537 Thanks: 2,455 Thanked 5,468 Times in 2,143 Posts	For Sale? When I saw George this past summer he told me the Kitty Belle was for sale... Dan

12-10-2011, 09:56 PM	#9
Misty Blue Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 658 Thanks: 121 Thanked 283 Times in 98 Posts	Captain Bill and the Belle... If memory serves me right the first owners of the Belle were Bill and Filex (I think) Chipman from Black Cat island. Mr. "Chips" owned all of Black Cat back then and, I think, built the Belle to move things to the island. This is before the bridge. My Big brother was the "ships boy" and helped Mr. Chips when he rented the barge out to the power company to bring power out to the islands on the Lake back in the 60's. I remember being out on the Belle but not much more. It did look much bigger to the child than it does now. So as you pass Black Cat island heading to Center Harbor look to the North. There is a small brown cottage that was Mr. and Mrs. Chips that has never changed since I was a kid. Think of the Belle still tied up there. A great piece of Winni. history. Misty Blue

The Following User Says Thank You to Misty Blue For This Useful Post:
KPW (12-12-2011)

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