Foundation Construction Co. – Shipbuilder, Erie, Pennsylvania

Overview

Foundation Construction Co. was a shipbuilding firm based in Erie, Pennsylvania, active during the early 20th century. The company was known for constructing steel-hulled vessels, particularly barges and bulk freighters for the Great Lakes and coastal trade.

Notable Vessel Built by Foundation Construction Co.

One documented vessel built by Foundation Construction Co. is:

• • U.S. 240 (1919) – A steel-hulled bulk freight barge, built for the United States Shipping Board in the aftermath of World War I. It sank in a storm off Port Colborne, Ontario, on September 13, 1923, while carrying sulphur from Cleveland to New York City, with three lives lost.

Shipbuilding in Erie, Pennsylvania

Erie, Pennsylvania, had a strong shipbuilding industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly due to its strategic location on Lake Erie. The region’s shipyards contributed to:

• World War I and World War II naval and commercial vessel production

• The Great Lakes shipping industry, specializing in barges, freighters, and tugboats

• Government contracts, including work for the U.S. Shipping Board and War Department

While Foundation Construction Co. is not as well-documented as some larger shipyards, it was likely one of several regional builders supporting the U.S. maritime industry during this period.

Legacy & Impact

• The company’s construction of steel-hulled barges like the U.S. 240 reflects the shift from wooden to steel vessels on the Great Lakes.

• Its involvement in government shipbuilding efforts highlights its role in supporting wartime and postwar shipping demands.

• The U.S. 240’s loss in 1923 serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by early steel-hulled lake freighters, particularly storm risks and structural vulnerabilities.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes

• Great Lakes Ships Database

• David Swayze Shipwreck File

• NOAA Great Lakes Shipwrecks

Conclusion

While little information is available on Foundation Construction Co., its steel-hulled barges and freighterscontributed to the post-WWI industrial expansion of Great Lakes shipping. More research into Erie’s shipbuilding archives may reveal additional vessels built by this firm.

Would you like me to investigate further for more records on Foundation Construction Co. and its shipbuilding history?

Keywords & Categories

Keywords: Erie shipbuilding, Great Lakes shipbuilders, steel-hulled barges, U.S. Shipping Board vessels, bulk freight carriers

Categories: Great Lakes shipbuilders, early 20th-century shipbuilding, steel ship construction

Glossary Terms: Steel-Hulled Vessel, Bulk Barge, U.S. Shipping Board, Erie Maritime Industry