In 1878, Joseph Jackson, a Northern Ontario logging businessman and resident of Simcoe, approached the Simcoe firm of John C. West and James Peachey -- the West and Peachey foundry -- to help solve this problem.

Mr. West travelled north to see the rafts at work and began to sketch and formulate a plan.  West & Peachey presented their idea to Jackson who immediately commissioned the building of a prototype. Thus began the greatest local invention in the annals of logging history.

When their new creation was ready to be unveiled, crowds of people gathered to witness the momentous occasion. What an incredible impression it left on those who saw it.

West & Peachey's solution was a steam-powered amphibious warping tug.  Fitted with side-mounted paddle wheels, driven by a 20 horsepower steam engine, it was capable of traveling on water at five to six miles per hour.

But the most amazing thing about this tug, was its huge drum-and-cable winch, with which it could portage (pull) itself over land, up as much as 20 degree inclines at up to 2.5-miles per day. This tug was able to haul a boom of some 60,000 logs against all but the strongest winds.

Because of its amphibious ability, West & Peachey decided to call their tug The Alligator. Joseph Jackson was anxious to receive his, the first of some 230 built in Simcoe between 1889 and 1932.

Alligators were eventually used all over Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, and the northern United States. One was even shipped in pieces to Columbia, South America and assembled there by West and Peachey employees.

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