S. Langell – Shipbuilder of St. Clair, Michigan

S. Langell – Shipbuilder of St. Clair, Michigan

Overview

S. Langell was a 19th-century shipbuilder based in St. Clair, Michigan, a significant hub for Great Lakes wooden shipbuilding. The Langell shipyard was active during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, constructing wooden schooners, schooner-barges, and steam-powered vessels for use in Great Lakes cargo transport.

St. Clair, Michigan, located along the St. Clair River, was home to several major shipbuilding firms, producing vessels for timber, grain, coal, and general freight transport. S. Langell contributed to this industry by building durable wooden-hulled cargo vessels, many of which served on Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Superior.

Notable Vessels Built by S. Langell

• Chauncy Hurlbut was a large wooden propeller freighter, built in 1873 by S. Langell in St. Clair, Michigan, a prominent shipbuilding location during the era. Designed for transporting bulk and package freight, the vessel was part of the expanding fleet that catered to the booming industrial and mining sectors around the Great Lakes, particularly for hauling heavy materials like stamp sand, a byproduct of copper ore processing.
• Wayne was built in 1882 by S. Langell of St. Clair, Michigan, a region well known for wooden ship constructionin the late 19th century. She was a schooner-barge, a type of unpowered sailing vessel that was towed behind steamers to increase cargo capacity.

St. Clair, Michigan – A Shipbuilding Hub

During the late 19th century, St. Clair was a major shipbuilding center, competing with yards in Detroit, Bay City, and Marine City. The region’s abundant timber resources and strategic location along the St. Clair River made it ideal for ship construction.

Common Vessel Types Built in St. Clair

• Schooner-barges used in towing fleets across the Great Lakes.
• Wooden steamers for both passenger and cargo service.
• Tugboats and workboats for use in harbors, logging operations, and construction projects.

S. Langell was one of many shipbuilders in St. Clair, helping supply vessels for Michigan’s growing industries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Further Research and Resources

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes  http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca  Contains shipbuilding records, vessel registrations, and historical documents.
• Michigan Shipwreck Research Association  https://www.michiganshipwrecks.org  Investigates and preserves shipwrecks of Michigan-built vessels.
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum (Whitefish Point, MI)  https://www.shipwreckmuseum.com  Documents Great Lakes maritime history and lost ships.
• St. Clair Historical Museum (St. Clair, MI)  May contain local archives on S. Langell’s shipbuilding contributions.

Conclusion

S. Langell of St. Clair, Michigan, was a notable shipbuilder in the late 19th century, producing schooner-barges and cargo vessels for Great Lakes commerce. The Wayne (1882) is one of the few documented ships from his yard, but other wooden freighters and workboats were likely built under his name. His contributions to Michigan’s maritime industry reflect the importance of St. Clair as a shipbuilding hub during the era of wooden Great Lakes commerce.