POLSON IRON WORKS

Toronto ON

Most recent update: February 19, 2015.
Polson Iron Works began operations in 1878 as Wm. Polson & Sons, an engine builder in Cobourg, Ontario.  It moved to Toronto in 1883 and was incorporated as Polson Iron Works Co. in 1886.  The company expanded by building a new shipyard in Owen Sound in 1888, but this closed in 1893.  The operations in Toronto continued with the construction of a large number of vessels and even more engines until finally closing in 1919.  Visit the Polson web site here and see the site, which was at the southwest end of the Port Lands district, from the air on Google here.
Hull # O.N. Original Name Original Owner Vessel Type GT Built Disposition
Built in Toronto
  92296 Mayflower   Wood Tug 4 1885 Registered 1886
  85330 Mocking Bird E. Todd Wood Yacht 38 1886 Sank in Lake Winnipegosis 1901
  90570 Conqueror C. Robertson Wood Tug 25 1886 Broken up 1904
  90577 Vivid F. B. Polson  Wood Yacht 56 1886 Register closed 1910
  92439 Rescue John Hanlan Wood Yacht 7 1886 Register closed 1913
  92729 Devenish John Fleming (1895) Wood Yacht 3 1886  
12 94801 Marion J. C. Hays Wood Sternwheeler 15 1887 Assembled at Golden BC, broken up 1902
  92438 Express Josiah Bell (1895) Wood Yacht 4 1887  
  92445 Cora Oliver B. Sheppard (1895) Wood Yacht 4 1887  
  92448 Gypsy R. Power Wood Yach 20 1887 Supply boat Muskoka Lakes 1897
  92449 Electric J. J. Wright Comp. Yacht 49 1887 Burnt and sank 1927
  92726 Spartan E. B. Andros Wood Yacht 2 1887  
  92737 Siesta John McRae Wood Yacht 3 1888 Register closed 1930
20 92734 City of Chatham Chatham Navigation Wood Passenger Vessel 341 1888 Stripped and abandoned 1921
  94981 Undine Polson Iron Works Wood Yacht 17 1889 Register closed 1910
  94982 Mizpah Clark Brothers Wood Ferry 18 1889 Broken up 1911
Built in Owen Sound
23 94879 Manitoba Canadian Pacific Railway Steel Pass/Freight  2,616 1889 Scrapped 1950
24 94763 Seguin Parry Sound Lumber Company Steel Cargo  818 1890 Later Mapleboro 1920, City of Montreal 1925, Arvida 1926, scrapped 1944
25 94885 Ontario Canadian Pacific Railway Steel Pass/Freight  1,615 1890 Barge 1926, foundered in Lake Superior 1927
  88538 Naiad William E. Sanford Comp. Yacht 29 1890 Burned 1967
  107366 Annie C. Hill J. Forsythe Wood Yacht 14 1890 Scrapped 1923
  95265 Rosedale Hagarty & Company Lengthening 1,507 1891 Lengthening, lost 1919
30 100412 Constance Minister of Fisheries Fisheries Cruiser 185 1891 To RCN 1912, sold 1921, closed 1966
31 100413 Curlew Minister of Fisheries Fisheries Cruiser 158 1892 To RCN 1912, sold 1922, closed 1937
32 103040 Petrel Minister of Fisheries Fisheries Cruiser 192 1892 To RCN 1912, sold 1923, closed 1927
Built in Toronto
  116252 Linnia T. Croucher Wood Tug 5 1892 Scrapped 1906
  103665 Rambler J. S. Whiting et al Comp. Tug 26 1897 Assembled at Rat Portage, wrecked 1930
  107087 Victoria Pembroke Navigation Company Comp. Passenger  188 1897 Assembled at Pembroke ON, retired 1932
  107157 Burpee Isaac Burpee Steel Sternwheeler 9 1897  
  112176 Espanola Spanish River Pulp & Paper Steel Tug 7 1897 Closed 1927
    Knapp's Roller Boat Frederick Knapp Steel Cargo Ship nm 1897 Buried in a landfill 1927
  107364 Wanda Timothy Eaton Comp. Yacht 12 1898 Rebuilt 1905 as Temagami, scrapped 1926
  107159 Tyrrell Canadian Pacific Navigation Comp. Sternwheeler 678 1898 Assembled at Vancouver, abandoned 1913
    Sparrow Yukon & Klondike Pioneers Comp. Pass/Freight 49 1898 Assembled at Athabaska Landing, fate unknown
38 107693 Majestic Richelieu River Navigation Steel Pass/Cargo 275 1899 Abandoned 1942
    Cutter   Comp. Yacht 15 1899 No trace
  75434 Cruiser F. B. Polson et al Comp. Yacht 15 1899 Rebuild of older vessel
  88632 Advance   Comp. Freighter 1031 1899 Rebuild of Sir S. L. Tilley
  107599 Bobs Parry Sound Lumber Company Steel Tug 38 1900 Wrecked 1928
43 111567 Islander Muskoka Lakes Navigation Steel Pass/Cargo 165 1900 Assembled at Gravenhurst ON, scrapped 1958
  111820 Kootenay G. G. Busby Steel Sternwheeler 8 1900 Assembled at Nelson BC, lost 1909
  111563 Bobs George Gooderham Steel Yacht 9 1900 Closed 1941
  111565 Llano Elmore Harris Wood Yacht 11 1900 Scrapped 1936
  none unknown Dept. of Public Works Steel Pontoons nm 1901  
  111577 Ina Wm. J. Gage Comp. Yacht 12 1901 Closed 1942
  150502 P.W.D. No. 305 (King Edward) Dept. of Public Works Steel Dredge 449 1901 Assembled at New Westminster BC
  111803 Algoma The Sault Ferry Company Steel Ferry 157 1901 Later Vercheres, scrapped 1967
  none Niobe Unknown Comp. Gas Yacht 3 1901 No trace
  112175 Kate H. MacDonald Mowat Comp. Yacht 22 1902 Closed 1969
  112179 Inenew Hudson's Bay Company Steel Lighter 109 1902 Scrapped 1930
  112186 Sir Wilfred Dept. of Public Works Steel Dredge 399 1902 Lost 1902, salvaged, later P.W.D. 117, sank 1952
  none Nakusp Dept. of Public Works Sternwheel Dredge nm 1902 Assembled at Arrow Lakes BC
  none Juanita E. Leadley Comp. Yacht 10 1902 No trace
  133910 M. & F. No. 7 ( J. Israel Tarte) Dept. of Marine & Fisheries Steel 873 1902 Later Glenbuckie, then Beaver Hercules, closed 1989
  116265 Mildred E. R. Wood Steel Yacht 39 1903 Suspended 2004
  116266 Rambler Mrs. Isabel McKinnon Steel Yacht 39 1903 Sold 1914
  116762 Wawinet Wm. MacKenzie Steel Yacht 68 1904 Sunk 1942
  116784 St. George City of North Vancouver Steel Ferry 544 1904 Frame and machinery, later North Vancouver No. 2, burnt 1939
  116862 Alert Upper Ottawa Improvement Co Steel Tug 53 1904 Assembled at Temiscamingue QC
63 116993 Lurcher Ministry of Marine & Fisheries Steel Lightship 396 1903 Later No. 14 1912, Lightship No. 14 1949, St. Yves 1957, foundered 1980
64 116994 Anticosti Ministry of Marine & Fisheries Steel Lightship 396 1904 Later No. 15 1912, Lightship No. 15 1949, deleted 1960
  none St . Charles Roman Catholic Mission Steel Mission Vessel 32 1904 Frame and machinery, wrecked in ice 1914
  130717 St. Marie Roman Catholic Mission Steel Mission Vessel 81 1904 Frame and machinery, assembled at Fort Smith in 1906, sold 1914,  rebuilt as Northland Trader, sank 1938
    Ariadne J. P. Northey Comp. Yacht 50 1905 Rebuild of older vessel
  121843 Wanda II T. Eaton Steel Yacht 51 1905 Burnt 1916
  126411 Keego Temagami Steamboat & Hotel Co. Wood Yacht 23 1905  
  121849 Blue Bell Toronto Ferry Company Steel Ferry 752 1906 Hulked 1956
70 117070 Vigilant Ministry of Marine & Fisheries Steel Fisheries Patrol 396 1904 Barge 1927, scrapped 1956
  122214 City Dredge No. 2 City of Toronto Steel Dredge 278 1906  
  122217 Hercules Dept. of Public Works Steel Tug 234 1906 Scrapped 1970
  125991 Pikouagami Quebec & Lake St. John Rwy. Co. Steel Tug 57 1906 Frame and machinery, assembled at Roberval QC
  134607 P.W.D. No. 201 Dept of Public Works Steel Dredge 442 1906 Frame and machinery, assembled at Selkirk MB
75 121850 Armour Maganetawan River & Lakes SB Co. Steel Passenger Vessel 191 1906 Frame and machinery, assembled at Burk's Falls, burnt 1928
  134187 P.W.D. No. 5 (Northumberland) Dept. of Public Works Steel Dredge 797 1906  
  none P.W.D. No. 103 Dept. of Public Works Steel Dump Scow   1907  
  none P.W.D. No. 104 Dept. of Public Works Steel Dump Scow   1907  
  107424 Morning Star Sir Clifford Sifton Steel Yacht 72 1907 Sank 1947
  122480 Loretta Dept. of Railways & Canals Steel Tug 75 1907 Broken up 1960
  122564 Bessie Butler Dept. of Railways & Canals Steel Tug 77 1907 Abandoned 1950
  125972 Roberval La Cie Le Nord  Steel Cargo  344 1907 Foundered near Oswego 1916
83 125975 Charles Lyon Canadian Pacific Car & Passenger Steel Ferry 1,658 1908 Split into two barges 1936, scrapped 1941
  130896 Dredge P.W.D. No. 301 Dept. of Public Works Steel Dredge 538 1908 Frame and machinery, assembled at New Westminster BC
  138413 Ruby Dept. of Public Works Comp. Tug 19 1908 Later Hecla 1916
  126270 Erl King Frank Simpson Contracting Co. Comp. Tug 46 1909 Later R.C. Co. No. 4, broken up 1958
  126835 Ella Mary Charles J. Gibson Steel Ferry 42 1910 Later Bigwin, under restoration
88 125978 City Dredge No. 3 City of Toronto Steel Dredge 412 1908  
  130921 H.C.M. No. 5 Montreal Harbour Commission Steel Dredge 498 1910  
90 134545 Aylmer Dept. of Public Works Comp. Tug 16 1910  
  122295 George V City of Prince Albert Steel Sternwheeler 105 1911 Assembled at Prince Albert SA, wrecked 1916
  126671 Shuniah Great Lakes Dredging Co. Steel Dredge  759 1910 Closed 1992
93 none unnamed Great Lakes Dredging Co. Steel Pontoons nm 1910  
94 126833 Trillium Toronto Ferry Co Ltd, Toronto Steel Ferry 673 1910 Active
  none unknown City of Toronto Lifeboat   1911  
96 131086 Drill Boat No. 6 John E. Russell Steel Drill Barge 289 1912 Later McNco No. 6, sank 1972
97 130555 Bonnington Canadian Pacific Railway Co. Steel Sternwheeler 1700 1911 Assembled at Nakusp BC, launched April 1913, scrapped 1946
  130325 Buena Vista Davis Dry Dock Co. Steel Passenger Vessel 144 1911 Frame and machinery, assembled at Kingston ON, later Maisonneuve, retired 1934
  131134 Batchawana Dept. of Railways & Canals Steel Tug 52 1912 Active
100 134036 Transfer No. 5 Canadian Pacific Railway Co. Steel Barge 681 1912 Assembled at Nelson BC
101 130313 G.R. Greary City of Toronto Steel Tug 199 1912 Scrapped 1972
102 none St. Gabriel Roman Catholic Church Steel Sidewheel Mission Boat 10 1912 Frame and machinery, assembled at Fort Resolution NWT, wrecked in ice 1920
103 none St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church Steel Sidewheel Mission Boat 11 1912 Frame and machinery, assembled at Fort Resolution NWT
104 none unknown Anglican Church Mission Steel Propeller Mission Boat   1912 Frame and steam machinery
105 130318 Kwasind Royal Canadian Yacht Club Steel Yacht 47 1912 Active
106 134258 Sir Hector Dept. of Public Works Steel Tug 134 1912 Frame and machinery, assembled at Selkirk MB, later Vaughan, scrapped 1937
  131137 Fredericton Dept. of Public Works Steel Tug 109 1913  
  133745 Port Nelson Dept. of Railways & Canals Steel Dredge 1,123 1913 Wrecked 1945
109 none St. Emelie Roman Catholic Church Steel Propeller Mission Boat 19 1914 Frame and machinery, assembled at Fort Chipewyan NWT
  134248 Hudson Bay Terminals Lighter No. 1 Dept. of Railways & Canals Steel Lighter 268 1914 Foundered in Hudson's Bay 1933
  134249 Hudson Bay Terminals Lighter No. 2 Dept. of Railways & Canals Steel Lighter 268 1914 Closed 1941
  134441 Hudson Bay Terminals Lighter No. 3 Dept. of Railways & Canals Steel Lighter 268 1914 Closed 1934
  134442 Q.H.C. No. 51 Quebec Harbour Commission Steel Dump Scow 236 1914 Later Rock Queen, closed 2000
  134443 Q.H.C. No. 52 Quebec Harbour Commission Steel Dump Scow 240 1914  
  134444 Q.H.C. No. 53 Quebec Harbour Commission Steel Dump Scow 240 1914 Closed 2003
  134445 Q.H.C. No. 54 Quebec Harbour Commission Steel Dump Scow 434 1914 Closed 2003
  134446 Q.H.C. No. 55 Quebec Harbour Commission Steel Dump Scow 434 1914 Now C.D. 155, active
  134447 Q.H.C. No. 56 Quebec Harbour Commission Steel Dump Scow 434 1914 Closed 2003
119 134547 Grenville Dept. of Marine & Fisheries Steel Buoy Tender 497 1915 Wrecked in ice and scrapped 1969
  134451 Cyclone Canadian Stewart Co. Steel Dredge 911 1914  
  137895 Tornado Canadian Stewart Co. Steel Dredge 911 1914  
122 134455 Seventy Five Canadian Stewart Co. Steel Derrick Scow 405 1914 Sold 1918
  none Nelson Dept. of Railway & Canals Steel Sternwheel Tug nm 1914 Assembled at Churchill MB, lost shortly after delivery
  151109 C.S.B.D. & C. Co. Derrick No. 1 C.S.Boon Dredging Co. Steel Derrick Scow 70 1914  
  138623 Komba (rebuild?) Roman Catholic Church Steel Mission Vessel 17 1915 Frame and machinery, assembled at Hay River NWT
126 137978 Ontario No.2 Ontario Car Ferry Co Ltd Steel Train Ferry 5,568 1915 Scrapped 1952
127 137902 Wanda III T. Eaton Steel Yacht 60 1915 Now a museum vessel
128 none Patricia Hudsons Bay Co. Comp. Tug   1915 No further trace 
129 none unknown Hudsons Bay Co. Comp. Lighter   1915 No further trace
130 none unknown Hudsons Bay Co. Comp. Lighter   1915 No further trace
131 none unknown Hudsons Bay Co. Comp. Lighter   1915 No further trace
132 none unknown Hudsons Bay Co. Comp. Lighter   1915 No further trace
133 142642 Tento The Shipping Controller Steel Cargo Ship 2,316 1918 Later Toyo Maru No. 5 1928, torpedoed and lost 1944
134 142746 Asp The Shipping Controller Steel Cargo Ship 2,234 1918 Later Francisca 1921, Capo Mele 1928, Etiopia 1936, bombed and lost off Tobruk 1942
135 140922 Festubert Canadian Naval Service Steel Minesweeper 320 1917 Later Inverleigh 1947, scuttled 1971
136 140923 Ypres Canadian Naval Service Steel Minesweeper 320 1917 In collision and sank 1940
137 140924 Messines Canadian Naval Service Steel Minesweeper 320 1917 Later Lightship No. 3 1920, scrapped 1962
138 140925 St. Eloi Canadian Naval Service Steel Minesweeper 320 1917 Later Lightship No. 20 1920, scrapped 1962
139 140926 St. Julien Canadian Naval Service Steel Minesweeper 320 1917 Later Lightship No. 21 1920, sold as Centennial 1958, active
140 140927 Vimy Canadian Naval Service Steel Minesweeper 320 1917 Later Lightship No. 22 1920, scrapped 1958
141   TR-15 Royal Navy Steel Minesweeper 275 1918 Sold 1920 as Jacqueline, captured 1940, designated M-3630, later M-3830, sunk by bombing 1943 but salvaged
142   TR-16 Royal Navy Steel Minesweeper 275 1918 To Mexico as Salinas 1920, later Acapulco
143   TR-17 Royal Navy Steel Minesweeper 275 1918 Later Jeanne 1920
144   TR-18 Royal Navy Steel Minesweeper 275 1918 Later Marie Louise 1921
145 141364 War Hydra The Shipping Controller Steel Cargo Ship 2,251 1919 Later Baffin 1919, Franquette 1920, Capo Noli 1926, Marcantonio Bragadin 1935, Nina Bianchi 1939, in collision and lost 1940
146 143211 War Taurus The Shipping Controller Steel Cargo Ship 2,240 1919 Later Cormount 1920, Femund 1024, Rendal 1928, Einvik 1934, sunk by gunfire 1941
147 143380 War Timiskaming The Shipping Controller Steel Cargo Ship 2,085 1919 Later Oise 1919, Kotkas 1929, Farida 1941, Nidaros 1946, Kien Yuan 1948, in collision and sank 1949
148 141369 Aquila/War Hamilton The Shipping Controller Steel Cargo Ship 2,251 1919 Later Belchers 1919, Koryu Maru 1927, bombed and lost 1944
149 143824 War Algoma The Shipping Controller Steel Cargo Ship 2,212 1919 Later Nina 1920, mined and lost off Genoa 1944
150 143934 War Halton The Shipping Controller Steel Cargo Ship 2,096 1919 Later Saint Tropez 1919, Latymer 1937, bombed and lost 1940
151     C. Hannevig Steel Cargo Ship     Cancelled
152     C. Hannevig Steel Cargo Ship     Cancelled