While one man cranks the spinner, the one holding the "top" walks backwards as the rope is twisted. From Edwin Tunis, The Young , 1783 to 1830 (New Wishing you and your family a very York: World Publishing Co., 1969), 82. Used by permission of the estate of Edwin Tunis Merry Christmas Ropewalk and a The Newsletter for Shipwrights of Central Ohio Happy New Year. December 2019 December Meeting Next Meeting: January 18, 2020 “Research” – Bill Nyberg

Table of Contents December Meeting ...... 1 Business ...... 1 2020 Presentation Planning ...... 1 Membership Dues...... 1 Great turnout for a damp, chilly Saturday Presentation...... 2 morning. Jeff’s presentation was on display cases for Display Case ...... 2 our models. More on that later. Ships on Deck: ...... 2 I am editing this newsletter while in southern America ...... 2 Ohio, surrounded by a white winter wonderland. The Senora de ...... 3 holidays are here, enjoy your family and friends and U.S.S. ...... 3 for those of you with a naval background, check out Armed Virginia Sloop, 1768 ...... 3 “Tradition” on page 4. Odds and Ends ...... 3 Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and “fair Nautical Terms ...... 3 winds and calm seas“ in 2020.

Midwestern Model Ships & Boat Contest ...... 4 Business Other Notes: “Stuff” - Tugs & Things ...... 4 2020 Presentation Planning John W. Brown ...... 4 You will find our monthly presentation schedule Tradition ...... 4 for 2020 on the last page of this newsletter. USS Carter Hall (LSD 3) ...... 4 We still need presenters for the following USS Dahlgren (DLG 12) ...... 5 subjects: Puerto Noevo...... 5 • Bending Wood Charles W. Parker ...... 5 • Rigging: Blocks & tackles Wooden Steamers ...... 5 • Small boat building 1845 ...... 5 • Wood Finishing. Presentation Schedule: ...... 14 Review the list and volunteer to lead a topic(s). Events & Dates to Note: ...... 14 There are copies of some past presentation that you can adapt.

Membership Dues. It is that time of year again - membership dues for 2020 are due by our March meeting. Our club constitution states: “The annual dues for Regular members shall be $20.00, payable ROPEWALK, Newsletter of “The Shipwrights of Central Ohio

by January. Annual dues for Associate members compatible with the outside air. Jeff demonstrated shall be $10.00 payable by January.” how he notches the corner of the base to allow Make your checks out to “Shipwrights of venting and also to hide the vent hole. Central Ohio” and bring to the next meeting or send Additional things to think about are: to: Your base – will the wood used enhance or distract Lee Kimmins from your model; How will you access your model to Shipwrights of Central Ohio do repairs; and how will you mount your model for 5298 Timberlake Circle display: on pedestals, shipyard style or simulated Orient, OH 43146-9249 water. My experience has been that the time to think Presentation about how you will display the model is early in the

Display Case build cycle. This presentation focused on why protect Suppliers for cases are: your models and the how to build them, was • Wood: Keim Lumber, Charm OH & shortened when Jeff’s PowerPoint could not be found WoodCrafters on the “thumb drive”. Technology and old age! • Acrylic cases: American Plastic Dist. 1349 Here is Jeff sharing some of the material that Delashmut Ave (tween 3rd & 5th, west of I- he obtained from Keim Lumber, at Charm, OH. 315. • Built cases: on the internet, search for www.casesforcollectibles.com. • To size your case and see an estimate of cost try: www;casesforcollectibles.com/callbox.html

Jeff offered to repeat this in January with his PowerPoint presentation. This is an important The purpose of casing your models are: - subject, so it will be on the agenda for January. protect it from dust & grime; - protect it from clumsy or inquisitive viewers. Ships on Deck: There are a number of articles and forums of America this subject, that can be found on “Model Ship World” Bob Mains and in past issues of “Nautical Research Journal”, “Ship-in-Scale” and “Model Shipwright”. The size of the case for your model depends upon the scale of the model. It should be large enough for the viewer to clearly see your fine work and at the same time not be over-powering. I use a guideline of adding 2” on all sides and the top (model is 39” x 28” x 14” [length x width x height) which makes the case {OD} 43” x 32” x 16” using a clear acrylic case. If using corner molding, you may need to use 3” per side so that the viewer has a clear view. The other question that needs to be answered is: glass or acrylic? Glass is heavy and breakable, acrylic scratches. You also need to deal with venting the case , to prevent corrosion and maintain temperature December 16, 2019 2

ROPEWALK, Newsletter of “The Shipwrights of Central Ohio

Bob is making progress on his model of the America. He has planked the deck and appears that he has made a decision of how to treat the green wood strips that were used to represent coppering. The previous owner had completed the coppering using the wood strips supplied. Bob plans to paint the bottom of the hull so that it is a tarnished copper look. Good work Bob.

Senora de John Boeck

Beveling and installing Cant Frames. Next steps are fairing the interior, installing battens and then freeing the hull from the jig.

Odds and Ends

John is making progress on his restoration. In his research, he has not been able to find a ship of Nautical Terms this name. His plans date back to Popular Science Quarterdeck: The aftermost deck of a warship. In Magazine days the age of sail, the quarterdeck was the preserve of the ship's officers. U.S.S. Michigan Queen’s (King’s) Regulations: The standing orders Stan Ross governing the British Royal Navy issued in the name of the current Monarch. Quay: 1, A stone or concrete structure on navigable water used for loading and unloading vessels, generally synonymous with a wharf, although the solid foundations of a quay contrast with the closely spaced piles of a wharf. When "quay" and "wharf" are used as synonyms, the term "quay" is more common in everyday speech in the United Kingdom, many Commonwealth countries, and the Republic of Ireland, while "wharf" is more commonly used in the Stan is building a waterline model of the iron United States. 2. To land or tie up at a quay. clad USS Michigan, the second iron ship built on the Quayside: 1. An area alongside a quay. 2. Having . the attribute of being alongside a quay, e.g., "The ship is moored quayside." Armed Virginia Sloop, 1768 Quickwork: The ceiling inside the hull above the turn Bill Nyberg of the bilge, usually being of lighter dimensions than the ceiling lower down (spirketting). Quickwork was alternatively called Lining. Glossary of Nautical Terms Wikipedia;

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ROPEWALK, Newsletter of “The Shipwrights of Central Ohio

W. Brown conducts 6-hour Living History Cruises Midwestern Model Ships & Boat Contest about four times a year. The 44th Annual Midwestern Model Ships & The SS John W. Brown faces an imminent Boat Contest and Display will be held May 15-17, 2020 deadline due to the expiration of its pier lease. The at the Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, WI. 440-foot gray ship has conducted an unsuccessful Mark your calendars. search over the past several years for an alternate Here is your chance to enter your model into berth. Project Liberty Ship Inc., the organization comprised entirely of volunteers currently operating a premier model competition. Maybe we can get a and maintaining the vessel, are now looking at the group to attend and support this competition. prospect of having to leave the ships present home at Pier C on Canton Street, Baltimore, MD at the end of Other Notes: “Stuff” - Tugs & Things the year. Sea History today, December 4, 2019

John W. Brown Tradition Some of you may be aware that the U.S. Navy has an old tradition, dating way back, that on the mid-watch, News Year Eve, the Officer-of-the- Deck (OOD) writes up the Ships Log in verse. He is also bound by Navy regulations (Art. 1037) to enter in the log information that is customarily required of any watch. From “All Hands – January 1965, I share: One of only two surviving Liberty Ships from more than 2,700 Liberty ships built for WW II, the SS USS Carter Hall (LSD 3) John W. Brown is searching for a new home. 00-04 we’re steaming alone under COMSEVENTHFLT, His third Quarter Op-Sked trying to meet, John W. Brown was built at the Bethlehem- From the old Bay of Subic to the Island of Guam, Fairfield shipyard in Baltimore, MD, on 7 September 1942, one of six Liberty ships built that day. More We’d rather be home but we’re carrying on, than 2,700 Liberty ships were built during World War On course 088 and speed thirteen three, II; today only two remaining ships are in operating We slowly make way through a moderate sea. condition. Her maiden voyage was to the Persian Each Babcock and Wilcox boiler below Gulf, carrying military equipment for Russia. She Is feeding good steam to an old uniflow. sailed a total of 13 voyages during the war, carrying Modified Yoke’s our material condition, supplies, equipment and troops to where they were And readiness five (with the captain’s permission). needed. Following the war, she served the city of New We’re carrying a load that’s rather a feat; York as a floating maritime school, preparing It may be a record not easily beat. students for careers in the merchant marine. The For down in our well deck, this I will confide, school was closed in 1982, and the Brown was About two thousand tons we have for the ride, transferred to the James River Reserve Fleet in July There’s a dredge called the Norfolk (YM22), 1983. During this time, National Maritime Historical And in tonnage she’s listed at one-four-five-two. Society (NMHS) contributed to the formation of A crane barge that’s numbered YD two-one-two; Project Liberty Ship, which hoped to preserve one of She’s two-five-five tons, but that’s nothing new. the Liberty’s as a museum ship to commemorate the There is also an anchor, in tons ten times five, contributions of the Liberty ships to the war effort. And further a landing barge that weighs twenty-five. The organization was given ownership of The other spare gear that we have on board, the Brown, and applied to have her added to the National Register of Historic Places, and after years Weighs one-two-four tons and is safely stored. of searching and planning, secured a berth for the All’s is quiet below, the crew asleep, vessel in Baltimore, where she is located today. John As we sail along o’er this billowy deep. December 16, 2019 4

ROPEWALK, Newsletter of “The Shipwrights of Central Ohio

There’s no liquor, no girls, no dance and no cheer. 1530 horsepower to drive twin screws. She lacks a What a helluva way to start the New Year. towing winch, and her rudder cables are run through

a box pipe welded to her deck rather then below in USS Dahlgren (DLG 12) The New Year’s arrived and the crew’s filled with glee. her hull. . (Original Source: "On the Hawser" by Steven Lang and Peter H. Spectre, 1980) For Dahlgren’s in port, not out to sea. In berth 206 where we usually moor, Charles W. Parker With lines doubled up, we feel safe and secure. Five’s the condition the skipper has set, All requirements of Yoke have been met.

Our nest of three ships is a tight little gang, First Dahlgren, next Mullinnix, then Vogelgesang. Forward’s the finest AD of the era, Dahlgren’s big sister, the tender Sierra, Our squadron’s new member, the Harry Yarnell. And other Fleet units are present as well At 267 feet and 17,500 horsepower, the The old year has succumbed to an unpleasant day, German ocean tug is one of the more powerful ocean It’s cold and it’s windy, the sky gloomy grey. tugs. Built in 1969, she has a cruising range of We’re expecting hard weather, with rain, snow, and sleet, 20,000 miles, a free-running speed of 22 knots. And As predicted by SOPA, COMSECONFFLT. the power to tow a 500,000-deadweight-ton vessel the twin stacks that serve the Oceanic’s twin diesels Electrical power, from 2-B and 2-A, are carried up her twin after masts; the stack on her Provides light for the ship and our Christmas display. boat deck is an imitation. Then there’s boiler 2-A which produces our steam (Original Source: "On the Hawser" by Steven Lang and Peter H. Spectre, 1980

To help make Dahlgren’s crew a most comfortable team. Wooden Steamers “Port Services” aid is a vital resource,

For other things needed by this CRUDESLANT force. 1845

But what of our shipmates whom ’64 found, Alone on high seas, or on some foreign ground, We of the Dahlgren wish them all, A bright Happy New Year, in all ports of call.

Puerto Noevo

London: O.T. Macklem and H. Van Allen of Chippewa, Ont., on the Canadian shore of the Niagara River, had Niagara Harbour & Dock Co. of Chippewa build a wooden sidewheel steamer with measures: 160.5’ x 25.2’ x 10.5’ and tonnage (Old Style) of 456. Launched November 14, 1844, she Owned by the Puerto Rico Lighterage was equipped with a vertical bean, 80-horsepower Company of San Juan, she was built in 1964 by engine built by Niagara Harbour & Dock. She was Equitable Equipment Co. Louisiana. A modern built for the passenger, packet freight trade on Lake harbor/costal tug – her wide beam -to-length ratio Erie and her master for the 1845 season was Captain allows greater fuel and engine capacity for her size. Van Allen. August 1845 the sidewheel steamers She is 87 feet long, with twin engines developing London and Kent collided below Point Pelee, Ont., December 16, 2019 5

ROPEWALK, Newsletter of “The Shipwrights of Central Ohio

with the Kent sinking in 60 feet of water. Nine lives In 1856, the London was converted to a were lost. barque and renamed Oliver Lee: 170’ x 26’ x 10'; 434 Foe the 1847 season, her master was tons. Later in 1856, the barque Oliver Lee, laden with Captain Willoughby. June of that year, the steamer corn, was knocked down during a gale on Lake London collided and sank a schooner near Malden, Michigan and her cargo shifted. 900 bushels Ont. on the River. Later that year, in damaged. A year later, November 1857, the barque November, during a gale on Lake Erie, near Oliver Lee, laden with oats, went ashore near Old Amherstburg, NY, the London was driven on a lee Mackinac Point, MI, , during a gale. She shore. Captain Willoughby order her deck cargo, 350 was declared a total loss. No lives lost. barrels of flour, thrown overboard to save the vessel. Oregon: Sanford and Moses, Cleveland, OH, built for Ownership of the steamer London was John M. Woolsey et al, Cleveland, OH, a wooden changed in 1849 to Captain H. Van Allen. Her master propeller with measures: 144’ x 23’ 3” x 9’ 10” with that year was Captain Bawbee. Up bound in May of tonnage (Old Style) of 312 91/95. Her first enrollment 1849, in heavy fog on Lake Erie, the steamer London was recorded at Cleveland, OH, April 21, 1845. Built was struck by a down bound schooner and lost a for the passenger, packet freight trade, she was state room and part of her upper works. In powered by two 16” bore x 28” stroke engine built by September of that year, while lying at the dock at Brayton and Egerton at the Cuyahoga Steam Grand River, Welland Canal, the steamer London Furnace Works. Her locomotive boiler was built by was struck by the barque Eureka (1847), down bound Thomas Whaley, at the Cuyahoga Steam Furnace from Cleveland, Ohio for California. Damage loss Works. was $300. The following month while entering In April 1852, she joined a line of propellers Cleveland, OH harbor during a gale, the London was that ran from Dunkirk, NY, in connection with the New driven hard against the pier tearing away her rudder, York & Erie Railroad, to Cleveland, Sandusky and head-gear and the hull was badly damaged. Toledo. The line was composed of the propellers Early in 1850, the steamer London was Oregon, Paugasset, Genesee Chief, Forest Queen, seized illegally by United States Customs for Republic and California. supposed smuggling and was condemned by the In November of 1852, the propeller Oregon, U.S. Treasury Dept. The charges were false and a laden with flour, sank near Bass Island, OH, Lake corrupt customs officer was disciplined but the vessel Erie. She was raised and repaired with a property was never returned to her Canadian owners. loss of $6,000. March 1850, ownership of the steamer In 1855, ownership of the propeller Oregon was London was sold to Sheldon McKnight, Sault Ste. changed to Captain G. W. Jones, Cleveland, OH. Her Marie, MI. The U.S. enrolled steamer London was master was Captain Stewart with Mr. Chapman as libeled for back wages due to seaman and was sold engineer. Up bound out of Cleveland, OH in April on default judgment in October 1851. 1855, the Oregon, carrying crews for vessels that Eber B. Ward, Detroit, MI purchased the steamer wintered at China, MI, had her boiler explode near London in May 1852 and continued to run her Hog Island on the Detroit River (north end near Lake between Detroit, MI and the Soo. While passing St. Clair) and sank in the channel. Ten to twelve lives through the Neebish Rapids, St. Mary’s River, May lost. In May 1859 the hull was raised, dry docked and 1853, the steamer fouled some obstruction and sank rebuilt as a scow barge. In November 1859, the scow in 12 feet of water. She was raised and the barge Oregon, while in tow of the tug Reindeer, sank dismantled steamer was purchased by Luther Moses in the St. Clair Flats. The barge was raised in 1861. & Co., Cleveland, OH and towed to Cleveland, OH to Her final disposition is unknown. be remodeled for the lumber trade. She ran between

Buffalo, NY and Sandusky, OH in 1854 and later that year from Detroit, MI and the Soo. December 16, 2019 6

ROPEWALK, Newsletter of “The Shipwrights of Central Ohio

April 1853, ownership of the propeller Princeton was divided between Eber Ward, ½, Detroit, MI and J.L. Hurd & Co., ½, Detroit, MI. Her master for the 1853 season was Captain Josiah Woodworth Jr. April 1854, the propeller Princeton were caught in an ice drift that had massed along the Canadian shore, her sides were crushed and she became a total loss at Gravelly Bay, near Port Princeton: Built in Perrysburg, OH by Samuel L. Colborne, ONT, Lake Erie. No lives lost. Hubbell as a propeller, she had measures: 177’ 10” x 24’ 6” x 10’ 10” with tonnage (Old Style) at 455 73/95. John Owen: Eli Bates, Trenton, MI, built for John Her original owners were John Hollister and Amos Owen, et al, of Detroit, MI, a wooden sidewheel Pratt, Buffalo, NY. Her first enrollment was issued at steamer in 1845 and she was enrolled at Detroit, MI, Buffalo Creek, NY, May 16, 1845. Her engines were May 17, 1845, with measures: 139’ x 19’ x 6’ 6” and a two direct acting horizontal, twin screw, 24” bore x recorded tonnage (old style) of 191 36/95. Her engine 24” stroke, built by State Prison, Auburn, NY with was listed as a low pressure, 55-horsepower engine dual boilers: 6’ x 14’. She was built for the passenger, with a 40” bore x 108” stroke, which had been packet freight trade. Her master for the 1845 – 46 originally installed in the Erie in 1836. The John seasons was Captain Amos Pratt. Owen was built for the passenger, package freight May 1846, while moored on the Niagara trade. River, Buffalo, NY, the Princeton was slightly At enrollment, her ownership was listed as Arthur damaged by a freshet. The following month, the Edwards & Captain Ira Davis, Truago, MI. Her master Princeton and the sidewheel steamer Bunker Hill for the 1845-49 season was Captain Ira Davis. June (US-1837) collided near Conneaut, NY, on Lake Erie. 1847, while up bound to Detroit, MI, the John Owen Damage was slight. November 1847, the Princeton broke her walking beam and injured her engine. She lost her smoke stack in a gale on . was repaired at Detroit. Repaired. In November of 1848 the propeller February 1857, her ownership was changed to A. G. Princeton collided and sank the brig Empire (US- Pier, Port Huron, MI. In October 1857 the John Owen 1844) on Lake Huron, about 45 miles north of Saint collided and sank the scow-schooner Enterprise Clair River. (US7330) on St. Clair Flats. July 1858 the up bound In June 1850, her ownership was changed to John Owen collided with the down bound schooner Lucian M Smith. Her master of the propeller Seneca Chief (US22580) near Malden, Ont. on the Princeton was Captain I.T. Pheatt. In November of Detroit River. Property loss $550 was declared. April that year her ownership changed to John Hollister, 1861, the steamer John Owen caught fire at Port Buffalo, NY. Huron, MI and burned to a total loss. There were no March of 1851, her ownership was changed to lives lost. Her engine and machinery were recovered, Eber Ward, ¾, Port Huron, David Lester, ¼. Her repaired and installed in the sidewheel steamer Philo master for that year was Captain David Lester. In Parsons (US19678). June, the Princeton and the schooner Mackinaw (US- Syracuse: A group of Oswego, NY investors, led by 1848) collided off Euclid, OH, Lake Erie, sinking the Moses Merrick had George S. Weeks, Oswego build schooner. a wooden propeller with measures: 120’ 8” x 23’ 9” x Her ownership was transferred to Eber Ward, 11’ 10” and a tonnage (Old Style) of 314 70/95. Her Detroit, MI in April 1852. Her master for the 1852 engine was built by the Ican Works, Utica, NY and season was Captain William H. Barse. In June of that she was enrolled at Oswego, Mat 23, 1845. She was year, the Princeton beached near Grand River, built for the passenger, packet freight trade and could Welland Canal, Lake Erie. Released. December 16, 2019 7

ROPEWALK, Newsletter of “The Shipwrights of Central Ohio

stow 2,000 barrels below deck. Her master was Captain L. Moody was her master for the 1856 Captain William Williams for the 1845 season. July season. In June of 1856, steamer British Empire 1845, while down bound on Lake Michigan, the collided with the steamer Fashion, 1 ½ miles above propeller Syracuse caught fire below her boiler deck. Lachine, Que. on the St. Lawrence River. The British The fire was doused by the crew using buckets. She Empire sank and was declared a total loss. ran between Oswego and , IL in the grain trade, and also carried pork and furs. In 1852, the propeller Syracuse was sold Superior: Captain Samuel Hubbell, master carpenter Canadian to M. W. Browne, Hamilton, Ont. and at Perrysburg, OH, built for Captain D. Wilkinson, et enrolled as the Lord Elgin (C33457); 116 x 21 x 10, al, Maumee River, OH, a wooden sidewheel steamer, 153 tons. Her master was Captain Farlinger. For the with measures: 191’ x 27’ 8” x 11’ 2” and tonnage 1853 season, the Lord Elgin ran daily between (Old Style) of 567 17/95. Her engine was 180- Kingston, Ont. and Montreal, Que. as a mail boat. horsepower, originally installed in the sidewheel November 1853, the Lord Elgin, while racing the steamer Commodore Perry (US-1835). She was built Canadian sidewheel steamer Crescent (C33445) for for the passenger, package freight trade and ran first access to the lock for the Beauharnois Canal, between Buffalo, NY & Chicago, IL. Enrolled at smashed into the gates of the canal causing a Maumee, OH in 1845, her master for the 1845-49 sudden end to navigation for the year. seasons was Captain Wilkinson. July 1847, the Master of the Lord Elgin in 1856 was Captain steamer Superior went ashore on Point Au Pelee, Young. December of that year, bound from Toronto, Ont, Lake Erie. She was released without damage. In Ont. for Montreal, Que., the Lord Elgin, laden with May 1849, while entering Chicago Harbor, Lake 2,000 barrels of flour, was driven ashore in a gale on Michigan steamer Superior and the propeller Long Point, Ont., Lake Ontario and became a total California (US-1846) collided. October of the same loss. year, the steamer Superior and the brig General Worth (US-1848) collided off Fox Island, MI, Lake British Empire: John Oades of Wolfe Island, Port Michigan. Metcalfe built a wooden sidewheel steamer with June 1851, the up bound sidewheel steamer measures: 167.9’ x 22.6’ x 7.5’ at 137.29-unit tons. Alabama collided with the down bound steamer When registered she was owned by the River & Lake Superior, during dense fog off Barcelona, NY, Lake Steamboat, Co., Prescott, Ont., L. Moody president. Erie. The Superior upper deck was stripped clean She was built for the passenger, packet freight trade from the wheelhouse to the stern. Property damage and ran Kingston, Ont and Montreal, Que. She was loss was set at $2,000. April 1852, in dense fog, the built with American capital to get around Canadian steamer Superior went ashore on the west side of navigation laws. Her master for the 1847 season was Put-In-Bay, OH, Lake Erie. Released. In October of Captain Hawkins. In her first few years the British that year, the steamer Superior came in collision with Empire was part of a daily line of steamers running the Canadian schooner Lowland Lass (C-1851). The Montreal to Niagara Falls and Buffalo, NY. In the steamer took the schooner in tow, but she (steamer) 1848-49 seasons she ran Prescott, Ont to was leaking badly and soon sank off Dunkirk, NY, Ogdensburg, NY. Lake Erie. Her masters were Captain L. Moody for the 1849 Refloated, the ownership of the Superior was – 51 seasons and Captain D. S. Allen for the 1854 changed to Captain W. H. Forsyth, Cleveland, OH. In season. July 1855, the British Empire struck a rock 1853. Captain Forsyth hauled the steamer over the three miles below Louisville Landing, NY, St. portage to run on Lake Superior, forming a Lawrence River, breaking a hole in her bottom. She continuous line with other steamers from Chicago, IL filled and sank in six feet of water. When raised and to the head of Lake Superior by July 1854. repaired her property loss was set at $2,700. December 16, 2019 8

ROPEWALK, Newsletter of “The Shipwrights of Central Ohio

Master of the steamer Superior for the 1856 $2,000. September 1856, the steamer Niagara, now season was Captain Hiram J. Jones. October of that part of the Chicago and Collingwood line, carrying year, the steamer Superior, in a severe gale on Lake around 140 passengers and crew, caught fire 1.5 Superior, lost her rudder and drifted ashore at miles off Port Washington, WI, Lake Michigan, and Pictured Rocks, MI. The steamer went to pieces and sank in 55 feet of water. The vessel was declared a was declared a total lost. Thirty-five lives were lost. total loss with about 70 lives lost.

Niagara: New York & Erie Railway Co., Erie, PA in Phoenix: George W. Jones, Cleveland, OH, built for partnership with C. N. Reed & Co., Erie, NY had a consortium of owners including Pease & Allen Inc., launched in June 5, 1845 at the cost of $95,000, a Cleveland, OH; E.R. Burkle, Oswego, NY; and wooden sidewheel steamer built by Mason & Bidwell, Captain G. W. Jones, Ohio City, OH a wooden Buffalo, NY; Jacob W. Banta, master carpenter. Her propeller with measures: 140’ 6” x 22’ 7” x 10’ 1” with measures were: 230’ x 33.5’ x 14’ with a tonnage of a tonnage (Old style) of 302 90/95. She was powered 1084 (old style). She was equipped with a vertical by an engine with a cylinder 20” bore x 43 3/8” beam engine, low pressure, 65” bore x 120” stroke, stroke, 100 horsepower, built by Cuyahoga Steam built by Shepard Iron Works, Buffalo, NY. She was Furnace Co., Cleveland, OH. Her boiler was 10’ 6” x built for the passenger, packet freight trade, providing 20’, built by Niagara Dock Co. She was built for the a connecting link from Dunkirk, N.Y. to Detroit, MI. passenger, packet freight trade and had a twin screw. September 1847, the Niagara went aground upon a She was first enrolled at Cleveland, OH June 25, reef of rocks on the north side of Bois Blanc Island, 1845. Her master for the 1845 season was Captain Detroit River. She was released with no damage. G. W. Jones. October of that year, the Phoenix Her master for the 1849-50 season was Captain collided with sidewheel steamer Troy (US-1845) W. T. Pease with John Leonard as engineer from while off Dunkirk, NY, Lake Erie. Repaired. 1849-56. In April 1849, the Niagara collided with the Ownership of the propeller Phoenix was changed grounded schooner Poland (US20154) on the St. to William F. Allen, Cleveland, OH in February 1846. Clair Flats. In November 1851, while down bound, Her master for the 1846-47 season was Captain R. the steamer Niagara collided with, and sank, the G. Sweet. with M. W. House listed as engineer in anchored brigantine L. A. Blossom off Malden, Detroit 1847. May 1846, the Phoenix broke her cylinder head River. bending the piston rod while ten miles off Manitou Her master for the 1854 – 56 seasons was Island, Lake Michigan. She made port at Manitowoc, Captain Fred Miller. In April 1854, the Niagara struck WI for repairs. October 1847, on Lake Erie, the a rock at the head of Lake Erie and was dry docked Phoenix and the sidewheel steamer Oregon (US- for repairs. Property loss was set at $3,000. Bound 1845) collided a few miles west of Cleveland, OH. up to Cleveland and Toledo from Dunkirk, NY, the Damages were slight. The following month, bound up steamer Niagara sprang a leak and had to put about from Buffalo, NY to Lake Michigan ports with 250 to and come into port for repairs. Property loss set at 270 immigrants aboard, the propeller Phoenix, after

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ROPEWALK, Newsletter of “The Shipwrights of Central Ohio

weathering a late fall gale in the lee of Beaver Island, burst her boiler with twelve lives lost in the explosion, Lake Michigan continued on toward Sheboygan, MI. two were drowned and six badly scalded. North of the port, the Phoenix caught fire near her In 1852, ownership of the sidewheel steamer boilers and burned quickly, with a loss of 161 lives.. Troy was changed to William Forsythe et al, Buffalo, The still smoldering hulk was towed to Sheboygan, NY. Two years later at a Marshalls Auction her WI and abandoned. ownership was again changed to Vincent B. Dwell, Buffalo, NY. In 1859 her ownership was changed to the Buffalo and Lake Huron Railway Co., Buffalo, NY and she ran from Goderich, Ont. to Chicago, IL. Her master for the 1859 season was Captain H. Whittaker. March 1860, after wintering at Goderich Harbor, Ont., the steamer Troy broke adrift in Goderich Harbor by a freshet when the ice in the Maitland River broke loose and the Troy was driven out into the lake where she went aground and sank about a half a mile off shore. Her hurricane deck remained above the water. The vessel was declared

Troy: John Hollister, Buffalo, NY purchased the a loss and valued at $5,000. wooden sidewheel steamer built by David Stebbins, Maumee City, OH with F. N. Jones, master carpenter. She was intended for the passenger, package freight trade and to run Buffalo, NY to Toledo, OH in connection with railroads. At her enrollment at Buffalo, NY her measures were recorded as: 182’ 7” x 27’ 7” x 11’ 5” and a tonnage (old style) of 546 45/95. She was equipped with a crosshead engine. October 1845, the Troy and the Niagara: A consortium of investors consisting of: propeller Phoenix (US-1845) came in collision off Elijah B. Allen & George N, Seymour, Ogdensburg, Dunkirk, NY, Lake Erie. The Troy was dry docked for NY; Henry Van Rensselaer, Oswegatchie, NY; repair. Augustus Chapman, George A. Chapman, Richard B. Ownership of the sidewheel steamer Troy was Chapman & Moses Birdsall, Morristown, NY; changed in 1846 to Richard Sears et al, Buffalo, NY. Eldredge G. Merrick, Clayton, NY; Samuel Hooker & her master for 1847 to 52 was Captain Thomas Edward W. Hopkins, Sackets Harbor, NY; Henry Wilkins. In April 1849, the Troy struck a hard Fitzhugh, Dewitt Clinton Littlejohn & Captain Robert substance coming out of Sandusky Harbor and had F. Child, Oswego, NY; Robert F. Van Dewater, David to be dry docked for repairs after unloading her S. Miller & Oliver Corwin, New York, NY; William H. cargo. The following month, bound down, the Van Dewater, Albany, NY; James Van Cleve, steamer Troy broke her shaft near Erie, PA, Lake Lewiston, NY; and James Peck, Chicago, IL Erie. In July 1849, the Troy collided with and sank the contracted with John Oades, French Creek (Clayton), schooner Acorn (US-1842) near the West Sister NY to build a wooden sidewheel steamer with Island, OH, Lake Erie. In September of that year, measures: 192’ 4” x 27’ 5’ x 9’ 4” and an old style during a gale on Lake Erie, the steamer Troy stove in tonnage of 474 33/95. She was equipped with a her bulwarks outside the breakwater at Cleveland, vertical beam, 40” bore x 132” stroke engine built by OH. In March 1850, while entering Niagara, the Troy R. H. Dunham & Co., NY. She was enrolled at the Port of Ogdensburg, NY, July 12, 1845. She was built December 16, 2019 10

ROPEWALK, Newsletter of “The Shipwrights of Central Ohio

for the passenger, packet freight trade on Lake Shipping on the Great Lakes was prostrated in Ontario. The steamer Niagara was the first the panic of 1857 and the sidewheel steamer Niagara passenger steamer on Lake Ontario with a second was laid up during the depression. The Ontario & St. deck cabin for passengers. She ran a regular route Lawrence Steam Boat Co was unable to weather the from Lewiston, NY, at the mouth of the Niagara River, depression and went into liquidation in 1859. to Ogdensburg, NY, on the St. Lawrence River. Her Ownership of the steamer Niagara was changed to master for the 1845 – 49 seasons was Captain the Ontario Steamboat Co. (Samuel Farewell, Pres.) Robert F. Child, partial owner. Utica, NY in June 1859. Master of the Niagara for the Ownership shares for the steamer Niagara were 1859 – 60 seasons was Captain John S. Warner. transferred, April 04, 1846, to Leonard Shepard, August 1860, the steamer Niagara bound for Oswego Lewiston, NY (all others listed in 1845 still owners). and Ogdensburg, NY collided with the Canadian April 14, 1847, ownership shares for the Niagara schooner Mail (C46234), owned by E. Blanchard & were transferred to Elijah B. Allen & George N, Co., Sodus, NY, in the dark, off Oswego, NY, Lake Seymour, Edwin Clark, Daniel Vail, & James G. Ontario. The schooner was running without lights. Averell, Ogdensburg, NY; Henry Van Rensselaer, The Niagara went into Oswego, NY for repairs. Oswegatchie, NY; Augustus Chapman, George A. In 1861, the sidewheel steamer Niagara was sent Chapman, Richard B. Chapman & Moses Birdsall, down the St. Lawrence River to New York for use in Morristown, NY; Eldredge G. Merrick, Clayton, NY; U.S. Army transport service. The steamer Niagara Samuel Hooker, John C. Darm, & Edward W. was sold to Andrew J. Robertson, New York, NY, Hopkins, Sackets Harbor, NY; Samuel Buckley, June 04, 1862. From August 17 through September George C. Sherman, & I. V. Brainard, Waterford, NY; 29, 1862 she was chartered at $400 per day, to be Willard Dodge, Smithville, NY; Henry Fitzhugh, Dewitt used by Quartermaster General's Department as a Clinton Littlejohn, Moses Merrick, & Captain Robert troop and supply vessel. July 13, 1863, she was F. Child, Oswego, NY; Robert F. Van Dewater, David purchased by U.S. War Department for $30,000. She S. Miller & Oliver Corwin, New York, NY; William H. was renamed USST Suffolk, (USST: United States Van Dewater, Albany, NY; James Van Cleve & heirs Ship Transport) she was put into service on the of Leonard Shephard, Lewiston, NY; James Peck, Mississippi River and in the Gulf of Mexico. Chicago, IL. November 1863, while bound for Pensacola, FL, with April 1848, the steamer Niagara lost her rudder troops and supplies in moderate seas, the waves and was driven aground at the mouth of the Genesee slapped the guards lifting them and wrenching them River, NY, during a gale. She was released after six inches from the hull proper. The senior troop seven weeks and two days effort by almost two commander on board, under General Order 276, hundred men. Repaired at Oswego, NY, she had a called for a vessel survey. A survey court declared damage loss $15,000. No lives lost. the USST Suffolk un-seaworthy. The vessel returned April 10, 1849, enrollment noted that the to New Orleans, LA where she remained. The ownership of the sidewheel steamer Niagara was sidewheel steamer USST Suffolk was reported as transferred to Ontario & St. Lawrence Steam Boat having sunk on or before October 15, 1864. A margin Co. (Elijah B. Allen, President), Ogdensburg, NY. The note, undated, states vessel was run ashore and Niagara ran on the U.S. Mail line with calls at abandoned. Hamilton, ONT; Lewiston, NY; Rochester, NY; Helen Strong: Captain George W. Strong at his Oswego, NY; Sackets Harbor, NY; Kingston, ONT.; & Strong Shipyard in Munroe, MI, built for himself a Ogdensburg, NY during the 1850 season. wooden sidewheel steamer with F. N. Strong as Master of the steamer Niagara was Captain Austin D. master carpenter. At her enrolment in Detroit, MI, Kirby in the 1851 season, Captain James B. Estes for July 27, 1845 her measurements were listed as: 142’ the 1852-53 season. x 19’ 10” x 8’ with tonnage (Old Style) of 207 39/95. December 16, 2019 11

ROPEWALK, Newsletter of “The Shipwrights of Central Ohio

She was equipped with a high pressure, crosshead Oregon was repaired at Thunder Bay Island. In engine, builder unknown. She was intended for the October of that same year, the Oregon and the passenger; packet freight trade and her building cost propeller Phoenix (US – 1845) came in collision on was $20,000. Her master in 1845 was Captain F. N. Lake Eire, near Cleveland, OH. Damages slight. Jones. In December 1845, the Helen Strong, while Ownership of the steamer Oregon was changed attempting to get off from the dock at Erie, PA in the to Captain George L. Chapman in February 1848. He height of a gale, broke her shaft. It was repaired. also served as master of the vessel for the 1848 Twelve days later, she became ice bound and was season. April of that year, during a heavy gale on disabled 12 miles from the mouth of the Detroit River Lake Erie, the steamer Oregon lost her smoke stacks on Lake Erie. and her rudder off Fairport, OH. In September, the Master of the steamer Helen Strong was Captain Oregon broke her rudder on Lake Michigan and Edwards for the 1846 season. November 19, 1846, anchored at Sheboygan, WI for repairs. During winter while bound up from Buffalo, NY for Erie, PA, the layup of 1849-50, the steamer Oregon caught fire steamer Helen Strong, in a tremendous gale from the while laid up and burned to a total loss. Her hull was northwest, broke her wheel chains and burst a steam raised to be rebuilt in the spring of 1850. Final pipe, becoming unmanageable and was compelled to disposition unknown. come to anchor - the gale increased and she parted Romeo: A wooden sidewheel steamer, for the her chains, and was driven ashore four miles above passenger and packet freight trade on Lake St. Clair Barcelona, NY, Lake Erie, where she became a total was built by Lawson, Howard & Co., Detroit, MI with wreck. Two passenger lives were lost. D. M. Goodsell, master carpenter, for Charles Bissell & B. B. Kercheval et al, Detroit, MI. (The Detroit & Mt. Clemens Steamboat Co.) She was a small vessel with measures of” 100’ x 22’ x 8’ with a tonnage (old style) of 160 68/95. She was enrolled at Detroit MI, September 10, 1845. No power information was listed. Her owners planned to run her between Detroit and Mt. Clemens a distance of about 20 miles. Master of the steamer from 1845 to 1852 was

Oregon: On the western shore of Lake Erie, north of Captain William Wylde. June 1847, the steamer Monroe, Michigan, John L. Wolverton, Newport, MI; Romeo and the sidewheel steamer Louisiana (US- with Zadic Panghorn as master carpenter, built a 1846) collided on the St. Clair Flats, with slight wooden sidewheel steamer for John P. Phillips of damage incurred by either vessel. November 1849, Buffalo, NY. Her measures at enrolment were: 203’ the Romeo broke her machinery and was towed to 6” x 30’ x 13’ 4” with a tonnage (old style) of 781 Detroit for repairs. 5/95. She was powered by a double cylinder Leech The steamer for the next few years Clipper engine, 24”, 48” bore x 108” stroke, 650 experienced frequent ownership transfers. March horsepower, built by Litch & Co., Pittsburg, PA. The 1851 her investors were: Joseph Raymond, Captain Oregon was enrolled at Detroit, MI, August 31, 1846 William Wylde & Asa Ranson, Detroit, MI; November and designated for the passenger, packet freight 1851 they changed to: Captain William Wylde & trade. Her master for the 1845 season was Captain Lorenzo M. Mason, Detroit, MI; January 1853, they Randall. changed to: Lorenzo M. Mason & Jacob B. Baker, Master of the steamer Oregon for the 1847 Detroit, MI; April 1853 it was Jacob B. Baker, Detroit, season was Captain Kelsey. Down bound, June MI. and Thomas E. Poole, Algonac, MI; and in 1847, the steamer Oregon was struck by the brig August 1853 her owners were Gilbert Knapp, Racine, Empire (US–1844) twice in Saginaw Bay, MI. The WI. & Angus McDonald, Detroit, MI. Her new owners December 16, 2019 12

ROPEWALK, Newsletter of “The Shipwrights of Central Ohio

put her to work as a towboat in March 1854 on the St. Final enrollment for the barge Romeo was Clair Flats hauling schooners over the Flats between surrendered at Port Huron, MI, December 17, 1878 the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair. and endorsed “total loss”. Again, the steamer Romeo would experience Some Notes: frequent ownership changes, starting in the month Black River, Ohio: Drains Medina County, emptying into Lake Erie she was assigned to towboat operations: March 1854 at Lorain, OH. her owners were William Caverly & Oliver M. Hyde, Cargo-carrying capacity in cubic feet, another method of volumetric Detroit, MI; April 1855 L. C. Rose, Detroit, MI is the measurement. The capacity in cubic feet is then divided by 100 listed owner; October 1855 it was James S. Clark & cubic feet of capacity per gross ton, resulting in a tonnage expressed in tons. George Klispe (?), St. Clair County, MI; August 1856 Mail Steamer: Chartered by the Canadian government to carry the George Hickman, John Hill, Martin Mintin & Paul mail between ports. Warner, St. Clair County, MI; May 1857 ownership Navigation: The reader may wonder what, with so few vessels on the lakes, why steamers could not avoid each other. Two main was changed to Joseph Graveline, Detroit, MI; reasons, the visibility during storms and the vessels did not carry September 1857 to John Pratt, Detroit, MI; and in any lights so you came upon a vessel you could not determine if the July 1857 ownership transferred to John Stapinsky, vessel was approaching or departing from you. Old Style Tonnage: The formula is: Tonnage= ((length - (beam x Detroit, MI. 3/5)) x Beam x Beam/2)/94 August 1858, the steamer Romeo hit a snag in where: Length is the length, in feet, from the stem to the sternpost; Bear Creek, Ont., St. Clair River, and sank. She was Beam is the maximum beam, in feet. The Builder's Old Measurement formula remained in raised without sustaining any serious damage and effect until the advent of steam propulsion. Steamships required a repaired. September 1858 her ownership is listed as different method of estimating tonnage, because the ratio of length Francoise Lappen, Detroit, MI. he ran her between to beam was larger and a significant volume of internal space was Detroit and Bear Creek, Ont. used for boilers and machinery. In 1849, the Moorsom System was created in Great Captain I. T. Pheatt acquired the steamer Romeo Britain. The Moorsom system calculates the tonnage or cargo in 1859 and with a few slight alterations, she ran as a capacity of sailing ships as a basis for assessing harbour and other ferry on the Maumee River, Toledo, OH. She may vessel fees have been renamed I.T. Pheatt. She operated there P.Q.: Province of Quebec Packet Freight: almost every imaginable item of merchandise – until 1866. bags of onions, grain, etc., processed foods, bags of coal, stoves, In 1866 her ownership was purchased by a group furniture, that can be packed and moved by manpower from dock to from Saginaw, MI for $3,000. Her enrollment lists her hold and reverse. as Romeo and that her machinery was removed and Patriot War: A conflict along the Canada – U.S. border where bands of raiders attacked the British colony of Upper Canada more than a she was converted to a schooner barge/lighter, dozen times between December 1837 and December 1838. This so- assigned an official number US56314 and had her called war was not a conflict between nations; it was a war of ideas measures updated in 1867 to: 100 x 22 x 5.9; 81.91 fought by like-minded people against British forces grt. As a schooner barge/lighter she entered into a Ship Inventory: Will include the names of wooden steamers that will not be identified in the manuscript. The research project that the lumber business, transporting lumber from the forests information was gathered for included all wooden steamers built on of northern Michigan to market. She would be towed the Great Lakes or St. Lawrence River and operated on the Great by a larger sidewheel steamer but had a limited crew, Lakes with a gross tonnage at or over 100 tons. if need be, could cut the tow and try to sail the barge Up-bound: Going against the current – St. Lawrence River to Lake Superior. (Lake Michigan – steaming north) to port. June 1868 her ownership was changed to Down-bound: Going with the current – Lake Superior to the Saint Hiram Sherwood, East Saginaw, MI; July 1869 to E. Lawrence River. (Lake Michigan – steaming south) H. Miller, Bay City, MI; and in August 1869 to Calvin (Original Source: "Wooden Steamers on the Great Lakes” – Great Lakes Historical Society; Bowling Green State University – Historical Collection; Thunder Bay Currie, Bay City, MI. National Marine Sanctuary Collection; Maritime History of the Great Lakes; and the scanned newspaper collection of the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes, September 10 or 11, 1869 during a storm on Kingston, Ont. and 746 additional documented sources.) Lake Huron, the down bound barge Romeo, laden with lumber, broke her tow and became a total loss at Point au Barque, MI. Her crew had abandoned her. December 16, 2019 13

ROPEWALK, Newsletter of “The Shipwrights of Central Ohio

Presentation Schedule: Lakeside Antique & Classic Wooden Boat Lakeside Hotel, Lakeside, OH 2020 July 19, 2020 Jan 18 - Research Feb 15 – Scratch Building Toledo Antique & Classic Boat Show Mar 21 – Lofting/Reading Plans Promenade Dock, Maumee River, Toledo, OH Apr 18 – Raw Material & Parts Aug 22-23, 2020 May 16 – Bending Wood Jun 20 – Road Trip NRG Conference Jul 18 – Fairing a Hull/Cooper Plating Oct. 24 - 26, 2020? Aug 15 – Rigging: Blocks & Tackles Sep 19 – Rope Walk Oct 17 – Small Boat Making Nov 21 - Soldering Editor: Bill Nyberg Dec 19 – Wood Finishing President and editor Shipwrights of Central Ohio Events & Dates to Note: [email protected]

2020 Columbus Woodworking Show Ohio Expo Center Celeste Center, 717 East 17th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43211 March 13 - 15, 2020

IPMS Columbus 46th Anniversary BLIZZCON Arts Impact Middle School 680 Jack Gibbs Blvd. Columbus 43215 Saturday, February 15, 2020

Miami Valley Woodcarving Show Christ United Methodist Church 700 Marshall Rd., Middletown, Ohio 45044 March 7 & 8, 2020

64th "Weak Signals" R/C Model Show Seagate Convention Ctr. 401 Jefferson Ave. Toledo, OH April 03 - 05, 2020

North American Model Engineering Expo. Yack Arena Wyandotte, MI April 18 - 19, 2020

Midwestern Model & Boat Show, Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, WI May 15 – 17, 2020

Constant Scale R/C Run – Carmel, Ind. Indianapolis Admirals reflecting pond Carmel, IN May 16 & 17, 2020

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