Maritime History of the Great Lakes

Adz, Caulk, and Rivets: A History of Ship Building along Ohio's Northern Shore, 1963, 2017, p. 55

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sell his half of the firm to the Globe Iron Works. The sale price was $36,000.62 The firm name was changed to the Cleveland Dry Dock Company. That story will be continued in the next chapter, Ira and Lewis Lafrinnier built the schooner Gipsy in 1847. In 1853-54, they built the schooners William Sturgis, Carrington, Fulton, Twin Sisters, the barks Illinois and B. A. Stannard, and propeller Plymouth. In 1854 William Stevenson joined the firm. Their yard was located on Whiskey Island, on the north side of the Old River bed, Just east of the Willow Street bridge. They later moved to the head of the Old River Bed. Cleveland in 1854 saw much activity in shipbuilding: The benefits arising from this business can be estimated only by those who are aware of its extent and importance. The number of workmen employed in all the yards is not less than 300, and the number of persons depending upon this business for subsistence is about 100. The workmen are temperate and healthy and there is an air of cheerfulness and honesty in their features.63 The propeller City of Superior, the first vessel owned by Hanna, Garretson & Company, the forerunners of the M. A. Hanna Company, was launched by Lafrinnier & Stevenson on July 18, 1857. She made her "…trial trip on Aug. 15, and her action realized all the wishes of those interested, having accomplished about 15 miles an hour with a steam pressure of about 35 pounds."64 She led a very short life of three months as she was wrecked at Eagle Harbor on Lake Superior in November, 1857, a total loss of $50,000. She was replaced the following year by the propeller Northern Light which was launched on March 25, 1858 by Lafrinnier & Stevenson at a cost of $54,000. In 1860 Lafrinnier & Stevenson built two schooners for parties in Boston, Massachusetts. The first of these, the Forest City, was launched on June 5, 1860. The second was launched on July 21, 1860: The second schooner built for the Boston trade and for Boston parties, the Lewis Spannier, will be launched this afternoon from the yard of Messrs. Lafrinner and Stevenson. (sic) It is without exception the most beautifu1ly modeled vessel that has ever left our harbor; it has a 95 foot keel, 26 foot beam, and 8- 1/2 foot hold, it registers about 200 tons, and cost $10,000.65 The builder's fame must have spread, for in 1863 Owen Bearse & Company of Boston contracted with Lafrinnier & Stevenson for two 42

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