Kingston's Laker Lay-Up Fleet

Kingston was a winter lay-up port for lakeboat fleets. Keystone, Canada Steamship Lines (CSL) and Hall Corporation (HALCO) not only moored their canallers here, but also provided work for local shipyards such as re-bricking boiler furnaces.  CSL ships were moored near their terminal near the foot of Queen Street. LaVerendrye/Keystone ships were laid-up on either side of the lift bridge. HALCO ships were moored at the end of the causeway closest to RMC. A December 22, 1927 article notes that 60 ships would be laid up, though producing a large boost to local employment and commerce. 

This October 3,1929 Whig article mentioned the CSL fleet at the start of the Great Depression:

Keystone Transports Ltd. was taken over by the Quebec Natural Gas Corporation's LaVerendrye Line Ltd., of Ville la Salle. In February 1962, a further change took place. LaVerendrye Line Ltd. was acquired by the Hall Corporation of Canada Ltd. 

Undated photo, pre-1941 due to presence of Richardson No.1 elevator at right (top) and Keystone ships laid-up at the LaSalle Causeway in 1961 (Don McQueen photo - below):

The CSL grain elevator, Portsmouth Harbour, Kingston Shipyards, the CSL terminal near Tete du Pont Barracks, LaSalle Causeway and Inner Harbour were all lay-up sites. George Lilley photographed HALCO ships at the LaSalle Causeway in 1951 (Queen's University Archives):

The range tower at right gives away this five-canaller location as Kingston's CSL grain elevator on Front Road, captioned 1959. Two more photos, posted to a lost lakers album online:

Moored at the CSL terminal at Queen and Ontario Streets, captioned August, 1959: City of Montreal, City of Kingston, City of Toronto (above) and 1958 City of Toronto, City of Kingston, City of Hamilton, City of Montreal, Canadian, Calgarian and Collier:

After the opening of the Seaway, it's more likely that these canallers were moored here for eventual disposition more than their usual winter lay-up.