Louis Shickluna (1808–1880) was a prominent and respected shipbuilder in St. Catharines, Ontario, whose work significantly shaped the maritime history of the Great Lakes. Born in Malta, Shickluna immigrated to North America in the early 19th century, eventually settling in St. Catharines, where he established one of the most successful shipyards on the Great Lakes. His shipyard, located on the Welland Canal, was strategically positioned to serve the burgeoning trade routes that connected Lake Ontario with the rest of the Great Lakes.
Founded in 1838, Shickluna’s shipyard became renowned for building durable and efficient wooden vessels, including schooners, steamships, and barges, designed to withstand the often harsh conditions of lake navigation. Shickluna’s ships were widely admired for their craftsmanship, design, and attention to detail, making them favorites among traders, captains, and shipowners. Over his career, Shickluna built or repaired hundreds of vessels, many of which were used to transport goods and raw materials vital to the Canadian and American economies.
Shickluna’s contributions extended beyond shipbuilding; he also fostered a thriving community around his shipyard. His yard was a major employer in St. Catharines, drawing workers from diverse backgrounds and contributing to the local economy. Known for his hands-on involvement and meticulous oversight, Shickluna left a legacy of innovation, quality, and dedication that helped cement St. Catharines as a key shipbuilding hub on the Great Lakes. After his death in 1880, the shipyard continued under the management of his son, prospering well into the late 19th century.
- Advance was a versatile composite steam barge initially constructed with an iron frame and wooden hull. Designed as a package freighter, it underwent multiple transformations to adapt to changing needs in maritime trade. By 1904, it became a bulk carrier with a capacity for carrying significant loads, including wheat and pig iron. These changes highlight the adaptability of Great Lakes vessels to evolving transportation demands.
- Elign – Launched in 1874 at St. Catharines under Canadian registry. Sometime after sale in August 1885, she was re‑registered under U.S. registry when salvaged near Racine, Wisconsin (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files). Owned at time of loss by Captain John Shea, Duluth (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files). Primarily served Lake Superior cargo runs in tow.
- J.G. McGrath represents a critical era of maritime commerce on the Great Lakes, where schooners like it transported essential goods between ports. Its builder, Louis Shickluna, was known for producing durable and reliable vessels. The sinking of the schooner, carrying stone blocks, highlights the challenges faced by sailors navigating unpredictable weather conditions.
- J.L. Ranney was a two-masted wooden schooner, specifically rigged fore-and-aft, a design commonly used on the Great Lakes in the mid-19th century. This rigging style allowed for better maneuverability, especially in the variable wind conditions of the Great Lakes, and required smaller crews compared to square-rigged vessels. Schooners like the J.L. Ranney were versatile workhorses used primarily for transporting bulk cargoes such as grain, lumber, coal, and other commodities essential to the rapidly industrializing economies surrounding the Great Lakes.
- Lady franklin Built in 1842 at St. Catharines, Ontario by L. Shickluna, the schooner Lady Franklin served in regional trade for 53 years—remarkable longevity.
(University of Calgary Journal Hosting, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files Specifications Approximately 87 × 18 × 8 ft, around 111 gross tons, under Canadian registration. - Perseverance was commissioned by the Welland Railway Line to serve the grain trade between Saint Catherines and Oswego, New York. Her maiden voyage commenced on September 27, 1864, from Kingston, Ontario, to Port Dalhousie, Ontario. Over the next four years, she operated primarily on Lakes Erie and Ontario, transporting grain and other bulk commodities
- Skylark was a scow schooner, a type of sailing vessel common in the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Scow schooners had flat-bottomed hulls, making them suitable for transporting bulk cargoes like iron ore, lumber, and grain in shallow waters. The Skylark was built by the renowned shipbuilder Lewis Shickluna in St. Catharines, Ontario, a key shipbuilding location on the Welland Canal.
- St. Andrew was a wooden-hulled propeller-driven bulk freight steamer, designed for transporting bulk commodities such as grain, coal, and lumber across the Great Lakes. Originally built as the steamer W.B. HALL, she was renamed following a significant rebuild after being wrecked in Georgian Bay in 1896.
- Thomas C. Street was initially built as a three-masted square-rigged vessel by Louis Shickluna at St. Catharines, Ontario. Designed for the Great Lakes, she was later modified to a barquentine rig, carrying a square fore-sail along with fore-and-aft sails. She was known for her strength and ability to handle various conditions, including multiple transatlantic voyages. However, her design also included a deep monkey-rail, which often left her decks awash in heavy seas.
- Jane C. Woodruff was a three-masted schooner, with some sources referring to her as a barkentine due to her rigging style. Barkentines typically have square sails on the foremast and fore-and-aft sails on the remaining masts, combining the cargo capacity of a square-rigged ship with the maneuverability of a schooner. This versatile rig made her suitable for Great Lakes commerce, particularly in handling bulk cargo like lumber and grain.
- Zimmerman was a sidewheel steamer, a popular design for passenger and cargo transport on the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century. Built in 1854 by renowned shipbuilder Louis Shickluna at Niagara, Ontario, the steamer was named after Samuel Zimmerman, a prominent financier from Thorold. The Zimmerman operated primarily on the Niagara-to-Toronto route, providing transportation between these important centers on Lake Ontario.