Lewis Lafrinier – Shipbuilder of Cleveland, Ohio

Lewis Lafrinier – Shipbuilder of Cleveland, Ohio

Overview

Lewis Lafrinier was a shipbuilder based in Cleveland, Ohio, active during the late 19th century. He is known for constructing the three-masted wooden schooner Samuel H. Foster (1873) for Foster & Arnold, a shipping firm in Cleveland.

Cleveland was a major shipbuilding center during the 19th century, producing wooden schooners, steamships, and bulk freighters for use across the Great Lakes. Lafrinier was involved in the construction of other vessels, although historical records primarily document his work on the Samuel H. Foster.

Notable Vessels associated with Lewis Lafrinier

• Bob Anderson was a wooden-hulled steam-powered tug, primarily designed for towing large rafts of saw logs across the Great Lakes, a common practice during the logging boom of the 19th century. Her robust construction made her suitable for navigating the often treacherous waters of Lake Superior, while her size and power enabled her to manage substantial loads.
• Samuel H. Foster was a large wooden schooner designed for bulk freight transport on the Great Lakes. Enrolled in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 19, 1873
• H.B. Tuttle was a wooden-hulled, steam-powered bulk freighter, built in 1871 in Cleveland, Ohio, by LaFrinier & Quelos. Designed for Great Lakes bulk cargo transport, she primarily carried coal, iron ore, grain, and other heavy freight between Lake Erie ports.  She was paired with the schooner George H. Ely, operating as a steamer/consort system, where steamers towed non-powered schooner-barges to increase cargo capacity efficiently. By the early 20th century, she was still active but part of an aging fleet of wooden bulk freighters, which were being gradually replaced by steel-hulled vessels.
• Twilight was a three-masted wooden bark, built in 1862 in Cleveland, Ohio, by I. Lafrinier. Originally designed for bulk cargo transport, she carried lumber, coal, grain, or general merchandise between Great Lakes ports.
  She operated for over 25 years, surviving several major incidents, including:  1872: She sank off Sand Beach, Michigan, in the fall and overwintered on the bottom.  June 1873: Recovered and returned to service, showing the resilience of 19th-century salvage operations.
• Unadilla was originally built as a three-masted wooden schooner but was later converted into a schooner-barge, meaning it was towed by a steam-powered vessel rather than sailing independently. These converted barges were commonly used to carry bulk cargo as lumber, coal, or stone.

Lafrinier’s work contributed to the Great Lakes shipping industry, supporting cargo transport between major portslike Chicago, Buffalo, and Duluth.

Further Research and Resources

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca Archives historical ship lists, ownership transfers, and shipping companies.
• Great Lakes Historical Society – National Museum of the Great Lakes https://nmgl.org Documents Cleveland’s maritime history and shipbuilding legacy.
• Cleveland Public Library – Local History & Shipbuilding Archives May contain business records from Foster & Arnold and shipbuilding documents from Lewis Lafrinier.
• Cleveland-Cliffs and the Iron Ore Trade Provides historical context on the Great Lakes iron ore and grain shipping industry.

Conclusion

Lewis Lafrinier was a Cleveland-based shipbuilder who constructed the Samuel H. Foster (1873) for Foster & Arnold, a Cleveland shipping firm involved in Great Lakes bulk cargo transport. Cleveland was a major maritime hub, supporting shipbuilding, shipping, and trade across the region. While records on Lafrinier and Foster & Arnold remain limited, further research may reveal additional vessels built or operated under their names.