J. M. Jones Shipyard: Detroit, Michigan

Name: J. M. Jones

Location: Detroit, Michigan

Era of Operation: Mid to late 19th century

Specialty: Wooden sailing vessels, including barkentines, schooners, and other Great Lakes cargo vessels

J. M. Jones was a shipbuilder based in Detroit, Michigan, active during the mid-19th century. His shipyard specialized in constructing large wooden vessels designed for cargo and passenger transport across the Great Lakes. Situated on the Detroit River, the J. M. Jones shipyard benefitted from Detroit’s position as a major port city, allowing vessels to serve both regional and cross-lake routes.

• Launched in 1866, the H.P. Baldwin began as a barkentine—a three-masted vessel with square rigging on the foremast and fore-and-aft rigging on the other masts. Over time, she underwent several modifications, including conversions to a schooner and later a barge. These changes highlight the adaptability of Great Lakes vessels as shipping demands shifted.
• One of the more prominent ships built by Jones was the City of the Straits, a 134-foot barkentine constructed in 1866. Named in honor of Detroit, the “City of the Straits,” this vessel exemplified Jones’s craftsmanship, showcasing a robust design well-suited for the demands of Great Lakes transportation. With its barkentine rigging, the City of the Straits could carry substantial cargo across the lakes, making it ideal for the growing industries of the region.
• The Milton D. Ward was a versatile sidewheel steamer, serving passenger and freight routes across Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and the Detroit River. Over her 24-year career, she endured multiple ownership changes, collisions, and modifications. Her final years were marked by service as a floating hospital during the 1892 cholera epidemicbefore she was destroyed by fire in 1894 and abandoned in 1898. By 1900, her hull was scrapped, leaving no remains of this once-prominent Great Lakes steamer
• The Two Charlies was a small wooden schooner, built in 1852 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by James M. Jones. She was used for general cargo transport on the Great Lakes, likely carrying lumber, grain, or other bulk goods between Midwestern ports. She underwent significant repairs in 1857 and was rebuilt during the winter of 1859-60, suggesting she was well-maintained and remained an active part of Great Lakes commerce for over two decades..

As the Great Lakes shipping industry evolved, vessels from the J. M. Jones yard adapted as well, including converting older models to meet the new demands of bulk transport and towing. Jones’s work contributed to the Great Lakes region’s economic growth, facilitating trade routes essential for iron, timber, and grain markets.