URGER (canal tugboat)
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Why it's listed
Urger is a steel canal tugboat based at the Barge Canal maintenance facility in Waterford, New York. Built in 1901 at Ferrysburg, Michigan, as the fish tug H. J. Dornbos, she was renamed Urger in 1920 and bought by the New York State Department of Public Works in 1922. For decades she moved dredges, derrick boats, barges and scows along the Champlain Canal and the eastern Erie Canal, and she also broke ice at the start and end of each navigation season. Her hull was doubled with welded plates and her wooden deckhouse replaced with steel in 1938-39. In 1948-49 a surplus Navy Atlas diesel replaced her steam plant, and she received the blue and gold canal livery. She is still a "bell boat," with the engine controlled by signals from the pilot. Now the canal system's ceremonial flagship, she was listed for her link to the Barge Canal and for what her alterations show about marine technology.
Significance in brief: Built as a Great Lakes fish tug and bought by New York State in 1922, she worked for decades moving dredges, derrick boats and scows on the Champlain and eastern Erie canals. The nomination argues she is tied to the development of the state's twentieth-century Barge Canal system (Criterion A). Her alterations from 1922 to 1949, including a diesel conversion, are cited as evidence of changing marine technology (Criterion C).
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 01001320, listed November 29, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | near eastern terminus of the Erie Division of the New York State Barge Canal., Waterford |
|---|---|
| County | Saratoga County |
| Listed | November 29, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01001320 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1901-1949 |
| Architect / builder | Johnson Bros. Shipyard, Ferrysburg, Michigan |
| Architectural style | OTHER: canal tugboat |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still operating as the canal system's ceremonial flagship and as a historic "bell boat"; retired from heavy service in 1986. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | New York State Barge Canal |
| Coordinates | 42.79639, -73.68710 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 01001320.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7900486
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.