About CABBSFounded in 1967, CABBS brings together people who share a passion for building, sailing, paddling, and motoring in boats. Through meetings, outings, and a lending library, members have an opportunity to learn and have fun wtih those who share a similar interest. Visitors are always welcome at CABBS activities.
CABBS is an active chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association TSCA homepage
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April 10, 2005 Meeting PresentationMatt Weisman Presentation
The Black River was first seen by white Europeans, the French voyagers, in 1533. The opening of the Western Reserve following the Revolutionary War brought in a few settlers. The early settlers noted they could hear the guns across the water from the British and American ships engaged in the Battle of Lake Erie in September, 1813. At the time the settlement was known as Black River. It was later called Charleston, then Sheffield, and finally became Lorain in 1873. The first bridge over the Black River was built that same year. The first wooden ship was built in 1818 and they were produced until 1910. The region was a very good source for timber. The river was deep enough for the required draft and labor was plentiful. Most boats were schooners, barks or scows. The Onoko was the first steel hulled boat built and was used to haul iron ore. Superior City was the first boat built by American Shipbuilding in 1898. During World War One a number of liberty ships were built. These were quickly built freighters with their bridge in the central area of the ship. Their names all began with the word, lake. American Shipbuilding always tried to design ships that carried the boast of the biggest or the first. Ship length on the Great Lakes was determined by the Soo Locks on the river connecting Lake Superior to Lake Huron. The locks were enlarged and in 1938 a new class of bulk freighter arose at a length of 594 ft. By the 50's the length grew to 630 ft. The further enlargement of the locks led to the development of the super carriers such as the Roger Blough built in 1972 at a length of 833 ft. The last boat built in Lorain, the William J. Delancy, measured 1, 064 ft. The engineering of these super carriers was copied by other shipyards to produce super tankers for crude oil transport. |
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Cleveland Amateur Boatbuilding and Boating Society
Matt Weisman grew up in Lorain and has very carefully studied the history of shipbuilding on the Black River. He displayed a wonderful, historical postcard collection of harbor scenes as well as other memorabilia from Lorain's shipbuilding days. He passed out copies of a meticulous chronology of every ship built from the first in 1818 to the last in 1981.