The Cape Arundel crowd raised money to have the Kennebunk River Club built to support their growing enthusiasm for boating. Joseph Ranco could hardly keep up with canoe orders after the Boathouse Opening Ceremonies on August 2, 1890. Dr. Molten H. Forrest of Philadelphia, the Vice Commadore of the River Club, finished building his impressive Cro-nest Cottage at the corner of Summit Ave and Atlantic shortly thereafter. By then, Molten was already contemplating a glorious new vessel to bring to the Kennebunk River the following season.

Dr. Forrest used some of his vast Railroad and Bank inheritance to have the Steamer Yacht Silva designed and built. The Editor of the Kennebunkport summer paper wrote with anticipation, “What is described as the largest and handsomest steam yacht ever built along the Hudson River was launched July 24, 1891 from the yards of C. L. Seabury & Co., at Nyack, NY. The boat is 80 feet long and 13 feet wide. Her hull is bright white with a gold stripe around it. Her main saloon is finished in highly polished quartered oak and is attended by a Chinese cook. She is the largest yacht that can be used on lakes and rivers and still be capable of making ocean voyages. Her 200-horsepower engine will carry her at 14 miles per hour.”

Dr. Forrest made an even bigger splash with his floating mansion than he had with Cro-nest. “The magnificent steam yacht. “Silva” built and owned by Dr. Forrest of Philadelphia arrived in port on Thursday,” wrote the Wave Editor in July 1891. The pictures of The Silva I shared today were taken during a Cape Arundel Reception for Dr. Forrest’s elegant steam yacht.

The Forrest family’s next excursion was cruising to Newport, R.I. and then in the waters of Lake Champlain for 10 days aboard the Silva. They sold the yacht in 1893 and purchased a pair of fine Kentucky thoroughbred racehorses. It’s a good thing Dr. Molten H. Forrest lived so exuberantly while he had the chance. He died suddenly on March 27, 1894, at his home in Philadelphia.