Joel R. Norton – Shipbuilder of Fairport, Ohio

Joel R. Norton was an accomplished shipbuilder from Fairport, Ohio, active in the mid-19th century, a time when shipbuilding along Lake Erie was experiencing significant growth. Fairport, located near modern-day Fairport Harbor, was a prominent location for shipbuilding due to its access to Lake Erie and the burgeoning trade networks of the Great Lakes. Norton’s work contributed to the development of vessels that supported regional transportation and commerce, particularly on the Great Lakes.

• Columbia, a wooden sidewheel propeller built in 1848. The Columbia, which measured 117 feet in length and had a tonnage of approximately 169 tons, was constructed to handle both passenger and freight service on the lakes. The vessel’s sidewheel propulsion design was well-suited for the varied routes it served, but its history became marked by numerous incidents and repairs.