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
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
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