Kirby, Furlong & Co. – Grand Haven, Michigan

Kirby, Furlong & Co. – Grand Haven, Michigan

Kirby, Furlong & Co. was a notable shipbuilding firm based in Grand Haven, Michigan, during the mid-to-late 19th century. The company was part of the burgeoning maritime industry along the eastern shores of Lake Michigan, contributing significantly to the construction of wooden vessels that serviced the Great Lakes shipping network.

Company Background

• Founded: Mid-19th century (exact founding date unclear)
• Location: Grand Haven, Michigan, a prominent shipbuilding hub during the era
• Primary Focus: Construction of wooden schooners, schooner-barges, and other freight vessels designed for bulk cargo transport on the Great Lakes

Grand Haven’s access to abundant timber resources and proximity to major shipping routes made it an ideal location for shipbuilding enterprises like Kirby, Furlong & Co. The firm specialized in the production of robust wooden hulls capable of withstanding the harsh conditions of Great Lakes navigation, particularly during the notorious storm seasons.

Notable Vessels Built Owned or Operated by Kirby, Furlong & Co.:

• H.C. Akeley Was a wooden-hulled bulk freighter, built in 1881 at Grand Haven, Michigan, by Thomas W. Kirby of the Mechanics Dry Dock Company. Designed for the Great Lakes grain, coal, and ore trade, she featured three masts, one smokestack, and two decks.
• Transfer (1874)  Type: Wooden schooner-barge (originally a 3-mast schooner) Specifications: 143 ft long, 28 ft beam, 361 GT. Fate: Lost in 1896 near Big Summer Island, Lake Michigan

Shipbuilding Techniques and Legacy

• Construction Methods: Traditional wooden hull construction using oak frames and pine planking, common in 19th-century Great Lakes shipbuilding.

• Adaptability: Kirby, Furlong & Co. demonstrated flexibility by constructing vessels that could be easily convertedfrom sail-powered schooners to schooner-barges as the maritime industry shifted toward steam power.

• Impact: The company played a role in supporting the economic growth of Michigan’s maritime industry, contributing to the transport of bulk goods essential to the region’s development.

Decline and Transition

By the late 19th century, as the Great Lakes shipping industry rapidly transitioned to iron and steel hulls and fully steam-powered vessels, wooden shipbuilders like Kirby, Furlong & Co. faced declining demand.

• Grand Haven’s shipbuilding industry eventually shifted focus to smaller vessels, tugs, and pleasure craft, reflecting broader trends across the Great Lakes.

• The legacy of firms like Kirby, Furlong & Co. remains part of Michigan’s rich maritime history, with their vessels having contributed to commerce across the region.

Related Resources:

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
• Great Lakes Vessel Database (BGSU): https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessels
• Michigan Maritime Museum: https://www.michiganmaritimemuseum.org
• Wisconsin Shipwrecks: https://wisconsinshipwrecks.org

Conclusion

Kirby, Furlong & Co. was emblematic of the wooden shipbuilding era on the Great Lakes, crafting vessels that served the region’s growing demand for bulk freight transport. While the company’s prominence waned with the advent of steel-hulled ships, its contributions remain an integral part of the Great Lakes’ maritime heritage.