W.W. Loomis, Erie, Pennsylvania

Overview: W.W. Loomis was a shipbuilder or shipyard operator based in Erie, Pennsylvania, during the 19th century, contributing to the construction and maintenance of vessels operating on the Great Lakes. While specific details about W.W. Loomis’s full body of work are scarce, Erie was a prominent shipbuilding hub during this period, and Loomis would have been part of the region’s vibrant maritime industry.

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Erie, Pennsylvania as a Shipbuilding Center:

• Erie’s strategic location on Lake Erie made it a natural hub for the shipbuilding and maritime industries. During the 19th century, the city was home to multiple shipyards that produced vessels for both commercial and military purposes.
• Shipbuilders like W.W. Loomis specialized in wooden schooners, steamers, and barges that served the burgeoning freight and passenger trade on the Great Lakes.

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Vessels owned operated or built by/for

• Allegheny was a three-masted wooden schooner-barge, a vessel type commonly used in the 19th and early 20th centuries for transporting bulk cargoes like lumber. Designed to work under tow by steamers, schooner-barges were economical and robust, capable of carrying heavy loads across the Great Lakes. The Allegheny’s three masts allowed for auxiliary sail power, providing added stability and propulsion in emergencies.

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Further Research: To uncover more specific information about W.W. Loomis and his contributions to Great Lakes maritime history, it would be helpful to consult the listed resources:

• Erie Maritime Museum: Dedicated to preserving the maritime history of Erie and the surrounding Great Lakes region.
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes Archive: Offers detailed records of shipbuilders, vessels, and maritime events in the Great Lakes area.
• Great Lakes Vessels Database – BGSU: Provides comprehensive information on ships and builders working within the Great Lakes.

Resources & Links:

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Vessels Database – BGSU
• Erie Maritime Museum
• Edward J. Dowling Collection, University of Detroit – Mercy

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Conclusion:
While specific information on W.W. Loomis is limited, his presence in Erie, Pennsylvania during the height of Great Lakes maritime commerce suggests he played a role in the region’s thriving shipbuilding industry. Further archival research can reveal more about his contributions to the construction and maintenance of vessels that navigated the Great Lakes in the 19th century.

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Keywords: W.W. Loomis, Erie Shipbuilding, Great Lakes Maritime History, 19th Century Shipbuilders
Categories: Great Lakes Shipbuilders, Erie Pennsylvania Maritime History, Wooden Ship Construction
Glossary Terms: Shipbuilder, Propeller Steamer, Schooner, Bulk Freight Vessel