Sturgeon Bay: Shipbuilding (Images of America: Wisconsin) [Paperback]

Joseph W. Zurawski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2001 | Series: Wisconsin

Sturgeon Bay has been home to ship builders, both large and small, since the 1830s. In that decade, Amos Lovejoy built the first documented vessel, but it was not until Freeland B. Gardner arrived from Chicago in 1854, that the enterprise for which the area is well known truly took root. ÝÝSturgeon Bay Shipbuilding includes images from the histories of such major ship builders as Leatham B. Smith, Peterson Builders, Palmer Johnson, Christy Corporation and Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding, all of which played an instrumental role in the development of the industry. Showcased here are images from the earliest years, when ships like the Halsted and Lake Forest, were battered by the elements. World War II era photographs include a subchaser as she passes through the lift bridge, a longtime landmark.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joseph W. Zurawski brings yesteryear shipbuilding to life in this collection of over 200 photographs and other images, from the collection of the Door County Maritime Museum. The author has written three additional titles for Arcadia Publishing, Door County, Kewaunee County, and Sister Bay.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (July 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738518751
• ISBN-13: 978-0738518756
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,440,907 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Proud and Practical History, December 4, 2003

By 

OAKSHAMAN "oakshaman" (Algoma, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sturgeon Bay: Shipbuilding (Images of America: Wisconsin) (Paperback)

This book really filled a need when it came to documenting the long tradition of ship building in Sturgeon Bay. This isn't some dry-as-dust scholarly monograph, but is instead practical, concise, and filled with photographs that are extremely hard to find elsewhere. The photos aren't just of finished ships, either; you have photos of the men actually building the vessels at all stages of construction from keel laying to launching. There is an especially good section on the step-by-step construction of a modern trawler.

The history of the local yards is covered from before the Civil War right up to the present day. The section on the WWII years is especially interesting (hundreds of vessels were built: sub chasers, frigates, rescue boats, landing craft, mine sweepers, cargo ships, work boats, etc.) This tradition of building fighting ships continued through the rest of the century with gunboats, aluminum patrol craft, mine warfare ships, LST's, amphibious landing craft, even exotic assault craft for the Navy Seals.

Of course, it is the working ships that have been the meat and potatoes of the yards and the maritime economy. Everything is covered from schooners and wood burning tugs to the great 1000-foot ore carriers. Over the years the various yards have produced everything from the finest ocean-going luxury yachts, oceanographic research ships, passenger vessels, ore carriers, heavy lift vessels, salvage ships, fire boats, dredges, ferries, tugs, fishing trawlers and tugs, barges, pushers, etc. Anything that could fit through the St. Lawrence Seaway (and some who could not) has been built here in this community- and still are.