When Dad Was a Boiler Room Stoker on the City of Jamestown Steamer

“City of Jamestown “(1931 — 1963)

When Dad Was a Boiler Room Stoker on

The City of Jamestown Steamer

 
The City of Jamestown was originally built in 1891 as the W.C. Rinearson in honor of then General Passenger Agent of the Erie Railroad.  That name only lasted for one year when it was renamed the City of Cleveland (1832 - 1930).  

It was the first all steel hull steamer on Chautauqua Lake, primarily built in the Buffalo, NY and Erie Railway Shipyards.  Built in sections and then riveted together in Jamestown, NY.  Lastly, the upper section was built, machinery installed, and a crew was assembled.

The steamer was 110 feet long and 24 feet at the beam (width) with a draft of 5 foot 6 inches.  In July of 1891, she was put into commission, joined the Black Stack fleet which was owned by the Burroughs Brothers, and navigated under the Peoples Line of steamboats.

In the later years of under its then name of “The City of Jamestown,” one of the crew members was my Father, Willis Barton.  He held the position of Furnace Stoker, and was responsible for keeping the furnaces fired up so the ship would have plenty of steam power to navigate Chautauqua Lake. 

The work of a stoker was extremely hot work with temperatures in the engine room ranging anywhere from 120 º to 160º therefore, the stoker usually only tends the furnace for four hours at a time.  In between adding coal to the furnace the stoker typically shovels several shovels full of coal and then rushes to a breathing tube where he can breathe in fresh air for a couple moments before returning once again to tending the furnace.  It’s grueling work and often takes a terrible toll on the crew men performing this job.  Quite often a stoker might come rushing out of the boiler room to the deck only to jump over board, desperate for relief from the extreme temperatures.

In 1941, any employment was a blessing, even that of a stoker on steamship.

To a young 16 year old in 11^th grade who felt the need to quit school to help provide for his family this work probably was a real blessing.  During those early years Dad scoured the city looking for scrap metal he could take to the recycling center for cash.  He even wadded the Chadakoin River clear up into the center of town where the buildings were built right over the river.

How long he managed to hold onto this job I’m not really sure, but before long he was employed at the W.C.A. (Woman’s Christian Association) Hospital, as an Orderly helping to take care of patients.  As War was beginning for America with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, it became necessary for him to go down to the Draft Board to register for the Draft. 

Now 18 years old he soon got his notice from Uncle Sam calling him to serve his country.  While going through his evaluation they asked Dad where he was employed and he told them, “At the WCA Hospital as an Orderly.”  Smiling, they responded back, “Well, now you’re a Medic in the United States Army!”  He was sent to Buffalo, NY where he received Advanced Medical Training, and then to Texas, where he participated in further military training at Boot Camp.

Boot Camp where they learned hand to hand combat, how to use various weapons, how to survive under fire, everything he would need to survive in a combat situation.  Of course no one can teach you everything you need to stay safe, but they try to do their best and pray what it is enough.

Soon, Dad was overseas patching up his comrades during battle right on the front lines fighting the Germans.  Day in day out, going without sleep.  Marching miles from one battle to another, working his way from N. Africa, up through Italy, on up eventually into France and Germany.

Occasionally, to give the men relief from the fighting they would be sent back to what they called a R and R Center for some rest and recreation.  At these R and R Centers the men are given various tasks to keep them occupied but nothing too stressful given they’re there for a break from stress.  For some they are put to work building coat racks for the Officers Club, others digging ditches, but for the most part the men are there to relax.  Every morning though the men would wake to revelry and would have to line up for inspection.

Dad on the other hand had the unique privilege of being able to sleep in because of a particular skill he had that the Officers really appreciated.  Somehow it came out that Dad had been a Stoker on a Steamer; so, they asked him to try and get their boilers working that provided hot water for their showers.  The men they had operating them couldn’t keep a fire going in them for nothing and every morning the officers had to endure cold showers if they were to take one.

So it was Private Willis Barton took over the job of stoking the furnaces and keeping the boilers running hot all night long.  Come morning, the Officers were tickled to find they had plenty of hot running water for their showers.  Dad had no idea the skills he acquired while a stoker on “The City of Jamestown” steamer would come in so handy while serving his country as Medic with the 3^rd Infantry Division of the US Army.

One of his fondest memories of that time was when a new Junior Officer showed up at the R and R Center one day and found him still in bed when all the other men were lined up for Revelry.  He started jumping all over Dad’s case, threatening to have him court-martialed, when all of a sudden the Centers top Officer came in and stopped him.  All of a sudden it wasn’t Dad being chewed out, but this Junior Officer was instead being set straight.  He informed the Junior Officer that Pvt. Willis Barton, was responsible for keeping their boilers running hot all night long and he had Special privilege and wasn’t to be bothered!  Dad just smiled, rolled over, and went back to sleep.

Soon WWII was over with and Dad was back in the States looking for work again, but he never had need to or opportunity to stoke another furnace for heating up a boiler.  His greatest skill, that of using a hammer , led him into the field of Construction where he enjoyed building homes with his brother-n-laws.  His time on “The City of Jamestown” taught him to enjoy the fresh air of working outside and surviving the War taught him to never give up and to keep moving forward no matter what came his way.