From collection Dr. John Richardson Collection
BAY STATE
This is a photograph of the steam packet BAY STATE by N.L. Stebbins circa 1910. A vessel of the Eastern Steamship Corp., she ran from Portland to Boston until September 24, 1916, when she struck McKinney's Point near Portland Head in fog, broke up, and sank. She was a sister ship to the 281 ft. sideweheel steamer PORTLAND, which was lost 0ff Cape Cod in the November gale of 1898. The wooden BAY STATE carried cargo, including sugar, and 150 passengers, who were rescued by the Coast Guard. Both the PORTLAND and BAY STATE were of relatively light construction and shallow draft intended for access to Maine river cities. Later steamships were built sturdier for ocean conditions.
