Louis Shickluna – St. Catharines, Ontario

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.