John Oades Shipyard – Marine City, Michigan

John Oades Shipyard – Marine City, Michigan

Overview

The John Oades Shipyard was a prominent wooden shipbuilding operation in Marine City, Michigan, during the 19th century. Marine City (formerly known as Newport, Michigan) was one of the leading shipbuilding centers on the Great Lakes, producing wooden schooners, steamers, tugboats, and barges for commercial trade and industry.

John Oades was a well-known shipbuilder, constructing vessels primarily for:

• Lumber transport (hauling logs and sawn timber from Michigan forests).

• Freight and bulk cargo shipping (coal, grain, iron ore, general goods).

• Tugboats and support vessels for harbor and logging operations.

Shipbuilding Contributions

The John Oades Shipyard operated alongside other notable Marine City shipbuilders, including:

• Cornwall & Lester
• J.B. Butler
• A.J. Miller Shipyard

Possible Vessel Types Built by John Oades

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While specific records of individual vessels built by John Oades remain unclear, shipyards in Marine City during this period were responsible for many vessels that shaped trade and industry on the Great Lakes.

Marine City, Michigan: A Key Shipbuilding Hub

During the mid-to-late 19th century, Marine City was one of Michigan’s most productive shipbuilding towns, supplying vessels for:

• Logging and timber industries (vital to Michigan’s economy).
• Great Lakes bulk cargo shipping (carrying goods between Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, and beyond).
• Passenger transport across Michigan’s waterways.

The Oades Shipyard was part of this rich shipbuilding tradition, helping to produce wooden vessels that fueled Michigan’s economic growth.

Further Research and Resources

• Marine City Museum (Marine City, MI) https://marinecitymuseum.org Holds records on John Oades and other Marine City shipbuilders.
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca Lists historical shipbuilding records, vessel registrations, and ownership transfers.
• Michigan Shipwreck Research Association https://www.michiganshipwrecks.org May have documentation on vessels built by John Oades that were later lost in the Great Lakes.
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Library of Congress – Historic American Engineering Record May contain shipyard details and contracts from Marine City’s shipbuilding era.

Conclusion

The John Oades Shipyard in Marine City, Michigan, was part of a thriving 19th-century wooden shipbuilding industry. While specific vessels linked to Oades remain undocumented, his shipyard was instrumental in producing schooners, steamers, and workboats for the Great Lakes lumber and shipping trades. Further research in archival records and historical ship registries may reveal more details about his contributions to Michigan’s maritime heritage.