West Bay City Shipbuilding Company

Organization

Staff Only

Dates

Existence: 1876 - 1908
Usage: 1899 - 1908
Usage: 1889 - 1899
Usage: 1880 - 1889
Usage: 1876 - 1880

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

American Ship Building Company and Predecessors records

Collection

Identifier: GLMS-0075

Abstract The primary component of this collection is naval architectural drawings produced by the company, its predecessors, and subsidiaries. Post-1900 sets tend to be more complete than earlier sets of drawings. Nearly all types of wooden and steel vessels built on the Great Lakes between 1870 and 1981 are represented. The Center for Archival Collections holds many of the original drawings extending up to 1981. Other corporate records such as minutes, correspondence, specifications, reports, and...

Dates: Creation: 1867-1989

Found in: Center for Archival Collections

More about 'West Bay City Shipbuilding Company'

Name Forms

Also known by the following names:

Frank. W. Wheeler & Company
F. W. Wheeler Company
Wheeler & Crane

Related Names

American Ship Building Company (Is Subordinate to Related)

Description

The West Bay City Shipbuilding Company was founded in 1876 at West Bay City, Michigan (now part of Bay City) by Frank W. Wheeler who was a ship captain on the Great Lakes, a shipbuilder and a politician. The yard started life as Wheeler & Crane. In 1880 it was renamed to F. W. Wheeler Company, and in 1889 it was renamed again Frank W. Wheeler & Company. It was based on the Saginaw River close to Third Street. In 1899 Captain Frank W. Wheeler sold his yard to the American Ship Building Company who renamed the yard West Bay City Shipbuilding Company. The yard closed in 1908 after building the steamer W.R. WOODFORD.

Dates

1899 - 1908