Whitney & Sims – Lakeport, Michigan

Whitney & Sims – Shipbuilders of Lakeport, Michigan

Whitney & Sims was a shipbuilding firm based in Lakeport, Michigan, active in the mid-to-late 19th century. The company specialized in wooden sailing vessels, including schooners, barks, and possibly steam-powered vessels used for cargo transport on the Great Lakes.

Lakeport, located north of Port Huron on Lake Huron, was home to several small but productive shipyards in the 19th century, serving lumber, grain, and bulk cargo shipping industries.

Notable Vessels Built by Whitney & Sims

•  By 1863, the Barclay was under the ownership of Whitney & Sims, a partnership in Lakeport, Michigan, likely involved in the shipping or timber industries. Lakeport was a strategic location for shipping goods to and from the Saginaw River area and Lake Huron ports. Whitney & Sims may have used the Barclay to transport timber or other raw materials, which were in high demand during the Civil War era.

While no specific ship names are well-documented, Whitney & Sims likely built several wooden schooners and barges, serving in the grain, lumber, and coal trade. Their vessels would have operated primarily between Michigan, Ohio, and Canadian ports on Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Michigan.

Lakeport, Michigan’s Role in Shipbuilding

 Lakeport was a significant but smaller shipbuilding hub in the mid-1800s, supporting Great Lakes trade and transportation.

 Shipbuilders like Whitney & Sims contributed to the economic growth of the area, constructing vessels essential for commerce, fishing, and transport. By the late 19th century, the rise of larger steel-hulled freighters and industrial shipyards in Detroit, Cleveland, and Chicago led to the decline of smaller wooden shipbuilders like Whitney & Sims.

Conclusion

Whitney & Sims was a lesser-known but important shipbuilding company in Lakeport, Michigan, producing wooden sailing vessels for Great Lakes trade. Though specific vessels are not well-documented, the company played a role in the expansion of shipping and commerce on Lake Huron and beyond. Their legacy is part of the rich maritime history of Michigan’s Great Lakes shipbuilding industry.