Stevens & Presley – Cleveland, Ohio

Stevens & Presley was a prominent shipbuilding firm based in Cleveland, Ohio, during the mid-19th century. The company specialized in constructing wooden vessels and operated a dry dock facility on the south bank of the Old River. In 1871, the Globe Iron Works acquired a 50% interest in Stevens & Presley, marking a significant expansion into shipbuilding.  

By 1876, Globe Iron Works purchased the remaining interest in Stevens & Presley’s Dry Dock, leading to the establishment of the Globe Ship Building Company. Henry Coffinberry, a Civil War naval veteran, was appointed as its president. This acquisition facilitated the transition from wooden to iron ship construction, culminating in the launch of the iron-hulled steamer Onoko in 1882, recognized as the first large commercial iron ship on the Great Lakes.  

In 1886, Globe Iron Works and Globe Ship Building Company merged under the Globe Iron Works name. The following year, Globe Iron Works acquired Presley’s remaining interests, renaming the facility the Cleveland Dry Dock Company.  

The evolution of Stevens & Presley into Globe Iron Works and subsequently the Cleveland Dry Dock Company reflects the dynamic growth of Cleveland’s shipbuilding industry during the late 19th century.