Globe Shipbuilding in Cleveland

Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Era of Operation: Primarily active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Founding and Early Development

Globe Shipbuilding Company was founded during a period of rapid industrial and maritime growth in Cleveland, Ohio, a city strategically located along Lake Erie and close to major trade routes. The rise of Great Lakes commerce and the booming steel industry in Cleveland made it an ideal location for shipbuilding.

Established in the late 1800s, Globe Shipbuilding was part of a burgeoning Cleveland shipbuilding industry that included other notable companies like the American Shipbuilding Company.

Key Contributions and Ship Types

• Ship Types: Globe Shipbuilding specialized in wooden vessels initially, building various types of ships, including sidewheelers, schooners, and barges, primarily for cargo, passenger, and excursion purposes. Many of these ships were used to navigate the Great Lakes, which were essential routes for transporting goods like coal, iron, and wheat between the Midwest and Eastern Seaboard.
• Technical Innovation: The company transitioned to building steel vessels in the late 19th century as the shipbuilding industry adapted to steel’s superior durability and load-bearing qualities. This transition marked Globe Shipbuilding as an early adopter of new materials and shipbuilding techniques.

Notable Ships and Contracts

• Cayuga was a steel-hulled package freighter, designed to transport bulk goods and general merchandise efficiently across the Great Lakes. As one of the most advanced vessels of her time, she showcased the transition from wooden hulls to steel construction, with enhanced durability and cargo capacity. Constructed in 1889 by the renowned Globe Iron Works of Cleveland, Ohio, the CAYUGA represented the pinnacle of late 19th-century Great Lakes shipbuilding. Designed as a package freighter, she was intended for carrying a mix of general cargo, grains, and packaged goods along major routes between Buffalo, Chicago, and Gladstone, Michigan.
• Darius Cole (Later Colonial): One of Globe Shipbuilding’s notable vessels, the DARIUS COLE was a wooden sidewheeler built in 1885 for passenger excursions. It was later converted into a propeller-driven vessel named COLONIAL.
• Grecian was a steel-hulled bulk freighter, part of the transition from wooden Great Lakes cargo vessels to modern steel freighters. Designed with a double-bottom ballast system and three watertight bulkheads, the ship was engineered for durability in the often-hazardous conditions of the Great Lakes.
• Onoko holds a significant place in maritime history as the first iron-hulled bulk freighter in the world. Launched in 1882 from Globe Iron Works in Cleveland, Ohio, the Onoko represented a revolution in shipbuilding, transitioning from traditional wooden hulls to iron construction, which offered greater durability and cargo capacity.
• Siberia was a steel-hulled propeller steamer equipped with two masts. Designed for cargo transport across the Great Lakes, the steamer’s primary function was to haul goods like barley, coal, and other bulk materials. Its robust construction and large capacity made it a vital vessel for commerce during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Decline and Legacy

Challenges: The company, like many other regional shipbuilders, faced challenges as the Great Lakes shipping industry evolved. By the early 20th century, advancements in shipbuilding technology, increasing competition, and economic shifts led to a decline in smaller, regional shipbuilding firms.

Transition and Closure: Globe Shipbuilding ultimately could not sustain its operations amid these industry changes. As larger, consolidated shipbuilding firms began to dominate the industry, Globe Shipbuilding ceased operations.

Significance of Globe Shipbuilding in Cleveland

Impact on Regional Economy: Globe Shipbuilding contributed to Cleveland’s economy by supporting regional industries and providing employment opportunities within the shipbuilding and maritime sectors.

Maritime Heritage: The ships built by Globe Shipbuilding, such as the COLONIAL, are reminders of Cleveland’s role in the development of Great Lakes trade and transportation.

Legacy and Historical Resources

Today, Globe Shipbuilding’s legacy is part of Cleveland’s maritime history. The vessels it produced reflect the early days of Great Lakes industrial transport and the city’s evolution as a manufacturing and shipping hub.

For further research:

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Maritime History of the Great Lakes Archives
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Cleveland Public Library – Shipbuilding Collections: Houses historical archives on Cleveland’s shipbuilding companies.