This Finding Aid was produced by Mr. Donald A. Smithies during the
winter/spring of 1999/2000, the result of many hours of volunteer work. We
are grateful for his assistance and diligence.
The three part number, 1997.33.01 is our inventory
control number, what we call an accession number. When you locate what
you are looking for, then note the accession number so that the item can be retrieved. Use
your browser "find" feature to search for your keywords on
this web page.
1997.33.01 DOCUMENTS AND PHOTOS
Share Certificate in Quinte Navigation Co. 55 shares
to JE Rathbun 1910. Certificate for 1 share Quinte Steamships Ltd 1917
to JE Rathbun. Picnick Poster no date. Schedule Harbour Dues no date,
Belleville, S Vandervoort, Harbour Master. Photo of 3 steamers,Varuna,
Aletha, Brockville. Photo of Aletha. Photo of Brockville. 7 Photos of
Varuna. 2 Photos of Capt Rathbun with Mate Fred Jarrell. Photo Capt JE
Rathbun, Photo Capt A Hicks. 2 Schedule Cards undated for Steamer
Varuna.
1997.33.02 LEGAL AND OTHER RECEIPTS STATEMENTS AND
CORRESPONDENCE 1909-22.
Agreement dated March 1911 between Quinte Navigation
Co. and Ontario and Quebec Navigation Co. Judgement against J E
Rathbun and others dated 1922 by Canada Steamship Lines and Ontario
and Quebec Navigation Co. as plaintiffs.
1997.33.03 LETTERS AND RECORDS
Letters and records, mostly on Canada Steamship
Lines letterhead from April to August 1914, mainly being letters to
Capt Rathbun including some instructions to lay up Varuna.
1997.33.04 BILLS, STATEMENTS, RECEIPTS
Bills statements and receipts including Undated
telegram to J E Rathbun, Repair Statement undated; bills 1905 and 1908
; Cash sheet 1907; routine letter 1904, 23 bills and receipts Apr- Dec
1909; 8 statements or receipts for 1910; 17 blank Bill of Lading
forms; Wages cheque Sept 1914; 1932 confirmation of stock sale.
1997.33.05 NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS MOSTLY UNDATED
1930-1955 approximately.
Topics recall events in early 1900s, some obituries
- Capt W. Harvey Solmes, Capt J. E. Rathbun, Feb 1944. Undated
Clipping about J E Rathbun buying 2 ferries, Yennek and Missiquois,
from Gananoque, from Capt DJ Kenney. A letter and signed description
of Aletha dated 1901 by Capt JA Roys.
1997.33.06 PUBLIC RELATIONS DOCUMENTS
Mostly receipted bills from a file on promotion and
ticketing payables. Bills from Trenton Courier, The Intelligencer and
the Gazette, Picton, The Times, Picton, also Weekly Ontario and T S
Carman, Book and Job Printing.
1997.33.07 G. RATHBUN NOTES
"Historical Sketch of Rathbun Bus Service"
some typed pages on Rathbun Bus Service letterhead, some handwritten
notes, some typed notes on the history of Rathbun transportation
businesses in a folder originally marked G. Rathbun Notes. 3 letters
from the City of Belleville 1960 and 61 cutting Rathbun stops and
extending the city’s exclusive stops.
1997.33.08 STEAMER PHOTOS
Some undated unidentified photos probably Varuna and
some recognizable as Varuna, Alexandria and St. Lawrence (CSL), 2
newprint photos of the sidewheeler, Bay of Quinte, and the Geronia.
1997.33.09 BILLS LETTERS NOTES STEAMER VARUNA
Bills, some receipted, receipts, letters notes from
accounts payable, itemized accounts, all for 1909-1910 covering most
months. Includes a letter proposing a booking, a passenger list and
ticket reports. See also folder 14.
1997.33.10 PROMISSORY NOTES
Some promissory notes written by JE Rathbun,
receipts and waivers by creditors and receipt stubs for casual
payments 1908-14.
1997.33.11 BILLS STEAMER VARUNA
Contains paid invoices and statements and some
handwritten notes with random dates between 1910 and 1928.
1997.33.12 INVENTORY VARUNA 1914
Inventory of furnishings and equipment on board
Varuna Aug 18, 1914.
1997.33.13 BILLS 1904- 1911
Invoices both undated and from 1904-11 for Steamer
Varuna and Rathbun Stage and an inventory of logs at a sawmill.
1997.33.14 BILLS 1909-18
Some invoices from 1909 and 1910 for Steamer Varuna,
groceries hardware, fire insurance receipt, repair bills and some
correspondence about repairs to a wheel (propeller?) In the United
States, a customs receipt. More invoices for period 1914 to 1918 from
stage business.
1997.33.15 JOURNAL OF CARGO 1904-6 STEAMER VARUNA
Slim, legal size, red bound journal untitled, but
with cargo manifests for dates 1904-5-6 and one separate folscap sheet
folded with heading, " Manifests landed from Str Varuna at Picton
1906".
1997.33.16 JOURNAL OF EXPENSES 1902-06
Bound Journal with entries showing expenses by days
and weeks at front and in back entries of weekly cash balances versus
expenses. Interleaf are 3 loose sheets, 2 of rough calculations and
one of an itemized account receivable with Belleville Canning Co.
1997.33.17 FLOOR PLAN 1914
Folded Blueprint of a Floor plan for Rathbun Stage
premise approved by Trenton City Clerk on Sept 9, 1914
1997.33.18 TWO BLACK NOTEBOOKS AND CHEQUE WALLET.
1997.33.18.01 Black notebook 4" by 6" hand
notes of expenses " Varuna" 1901
1997.33.18.02 Black notebook 4" by 6" hand
notes of expenses in back 1918-19; in front undated list of names and
addresses.
1997.33.18.03 Well worn leather wallet of cancelled
cheques 1910-14
1997.33.19 BOUND LEDGER
Ledger, bound, containing in the middle cash account
entries "Str Varuna" 1907 to Dec 1909; followed by entries
for " Lumber Woods" and "T. Simpson" 1908 ending
December; "Sedan" expenses and revenue. There were some
pages carefully cut out at front, followed by entries of Bus expenses
and Vehicle fees 1928-1932. Note: interleaf found 1928 bond promotion
sheet produced by H. R. Bains, used on reverse for arithmetical
calculations and one loose sheet with entries Sept 7-Nov 27 no year; 2
sheets of bus revenue and expenses dated 1930 and ‘31 and two
insurance policy endorsements dated 1931. Also a letter, an invoice
for repairs to the Studebaker sedan and a booklet of regulations
governing the licensing of public vehicles.
1997.33.20 NOTEBOOK 8" BY 10" TITLED BILLS
Notebook 8" by 10" titled
"Bills" with lists of expenses 1904 to 1909 and 1911 likely
for Steamer "Varuna" with interleaf 2 sheets with a list of
lumber and of wages paid to named individuals undated and near back,
between Bywater and Head, a 1904 bill from Henry Head.
1997.33.21 THREE DRIVER’S TRIP RECORD NOTEBOOKS
Three drivers Trip Record booklets , 2 black covers
and one tan.
1997.33.21.01 Black booklet 4" by 6" with
lists of places and fees by day of month no year.
1997.33.21.02 Black booklet 8"by 10"
showing trip records 1925-26 with some interleaved sheets- some had
been pinned (removed pins).
1997.33.21.03 Tan booklet 3" by 5" Titled
"United Empire Bank of Canada" with pencilled entries
looking like a driver’s service and expense record.
1997.33.22 FOUR 4" BY 6" BLACK NOTEBOOKS
Four daily notebooks, all approximately 4" by
6", likely made by J. Rathbun.
1997.33.22.01 Black notebook July to Sept, no year,
recording items carried as freight.
1997.33.22.02 Notebook no cover dated Nov 1919 to
1921 also listing freight on "Stage".
1997.33.22.03 Notebook black with some dates in 1920
and interleaf Money Order Receipt "No.17.20".
1997.33.22.04 Black notebook with most dates Jan 1924
and 2 receipts signed J Rathbun interleaf near back.
97.33.23 TWO DIARIES AND AN ADDRESS BOOK.
1997.33.23.01 Diary brown leather, pocket size, 1902
by J. E. Rathbun, age 18.
1997.33.23.02 Diary red leather, 3" by 6",
1912, no name and few entries but entries frequently relate to steamer
times and distances between places.
1997.33.23.03 Address book 2" by 3" no
dates, probably J. Rathbun.
1997.33.24 THREE TOP FOLD STENO TYPE NOTEBOOKS
Three top fold steno- type notebooks showing trip
records, likely of steamer "Varuna".
1997.33.24.01 Varuna trip records, Trip 2, Apr 25,
1911 to 53, 24.06.11.
1997.33.24.02 Varuna trip records, Trip 54,26 June
1911 to Trip 112, 4 Sept 1911.
1997.33.24.03 Varuna Trip records, Trip 113, 5 Sep
1911 to Trip 178, 21 Nov 1911.
1997.33.25 HARD COVER JOURNAL, TITLED "SALESBOOK"
Hard cover Journal, titled "Salesbook"
approximately 6" by 14" containing Rathbun Stage, Trenton,
account ledgers by customer starting December 1897 and at rear Revenue
and Expenses Journal, 1900 to 1902.
1997.33.26 LARGE BOUND JOURNAL
Large Journal with entries grouped 1901 to 1906 and
1940 to 1950. Begins with entries 1901 by A. Hicks, Captain, Steamer
"Varuna" under headings "Woods York Road",
"Woods North" and "Boat". Summarizes revenues and
shows dividend. In 1902 "Ways" added with all entries ending
1906. On page 30 entries of Bus Expenses begin with 1930 ending Dec
1941on Page 133. From Page 148 entries of daily bus revenues and some
expenses to page 200. From Page 201 to 219 expenses and Revenue shown
for "Varuna" from 1902 to 1906. From Page 220 to 301 entries
cover 1940 to 1950. Page 302 to311 are Gasoline account entries. More
entries on Page 350 and381 to 400. Pasted inside back cover is a
statement by "Partners in the Steamer Varuna", dated Dec 31,
1940. Several interleaved invoices, receipts and rough notes found.
1997.33.27 LEGAL SIZE BOUND BOOK ## IN VERY BAD
SHAPE***
Legal size bound book in very bad shape headed,
"Day Book" " Steamer Varuna" Main entries are a
record of cargo traffic by dock site from 1907 to 1909. Some entries
for a "Steamer Reindeer" dated 1909. Some entries on Page
158 plus may be for the later stage company.
1997.33.28 LEGAL SIZE BOUND BOOK MARKED
"JOURNAL"
Bound Journal marked "Journal" legal size
with daily entries from 1902 January 1st. Entries begin as
"Expenses" changing to "Wages", by
"Customer". Entries beginning 1908 change to Livery and
Stage continuing until 1924 on Page 89. Gap to Page 95 from 1927 to
1951 A rear section has entries under many accounts for period
1933-1951.
1997.33.29 BLACK BOUND BOOK TITLED "
DAYBOOK"
Black bound book marked on Binding,
"Daybook" and headed Trenton and Belleville Stage. Holds
consecutive entries on unnumbered pages of daily expenses from 1912 to
1925.
1997.33.30 BOUND JOURNAL 6" BY 14"
Bound Journal 6" by 14" approximately with
expense entries at front under heading "Stage" from
1918-1930; under heading "Household" from 1932-1943. At rear
entries are from back to front and at back are identified as "Bus
and Stage Operating Expenses" with entries from 1918 - 1925.
1997.33.31 NOTEBOOK , STAPLED BLACK COVER 8" BY
10"***MOULD***
Black covered notebook, lined sheets, approx.
8" by 10". Entries appear to be delivery records and fees
from May 29, 1922 to May 17, 1924. Cover seriously deteriorated.
1997.33.32 NOTEBOOK, BLACK COVER STAPLE BOUND 8"
BY 10"
Black covered notebook, lined sheets, approximately
8" by 10", being Bus entries by run of expenses and revenues
etc. from 1923-1926.
1997.33.33 BLACK COVERED LEGAL LENGTH NOTEBOOK,
LINED.
At front, revenue entries 1927 and 1928; middle
entries, expenses from 1927 to Jan 1928; at rear, notes of Sedan and
Bus expenses for 1928.
1997.33.34 BLACK BOUND HARDCOVER JOURNAL
Black bound hardcover journal. Pages cut out to page
9 with last entries pages 9 and 10 being entries by dock for 1910.
From Page 11 are Bus company revenues and expenses from 1933-37. Pages
147 to 154 for Steamer "Varuna" daily expenses and revenue
1910. Near back cover interleaf a batch of Imperial Oil invoices and
statements of 1937.
Updated July 2007 MDS