Ship builder- Lorain – recognized at last!

Photo Lisa Miller

The mast from a minesweeper ( built-in Lorain) used to hold the flags of the United States and American Ship Yards (in front of the American Ship offices on Colorado Avenue) still stands at the Admiral King Tribute Site( 1st and Hamilton) as a testament to Lorain’s ship building past.

Just a very few people knew or know of Lorain’s wonderful early ship building history and the ships that came from her port to ply trade on the Inland Seas. That is about to be changed with a new book on Augustus Jones and his shipbuilding empire . The book written by
James H. Jones, Great, Great Grandson of Augustus and Lorain Historians Paula Shorf and Matthew Weisman sheds new light on Lorain’s maritime history.

James H Jones with the headstone of Augustus Jones.

“Jones was acknowledged to be one of the best, if not the best, shipbuilder of his time. All five of his sons became shipbuilders, and all owned yards. This one family had more influence on the era of wooden ships on the Great Lakes than any other individual or family, and together they built more vessels than any other family on the chain of lakes.” Dr. Richard J. Wright wrote this in his thesis, Adz, Caulk and Rivets.
Augustus Jones settled at the Mouth of the Black River in 1818 with his family from Essex, Connecticut. This new book helps tell the fabulous story of Augustus and his five sons and the vessels they built all over the Great Lakes.

You can meet the authors , see the displays at the ” Inaugural Book Signing and Reception ”
Sunday, June 21st, Noon to 4 PM
at Jackalope Lakeside- light refreshment served by Jim Andrews- the host for the afternoon.
301 Lakeside Ave
Lorain, Ohio 44053
Phone(440) 288-2051

What a delicious place to partake of Lorain’s Maritime History with a view that reminds us of what was and what could be…..

Source – http://www.visitloraincounty.com/directory/jackalope-lakeside/
Matt Weisman co – author stated : This new 360 page book will be a wonderful addition for all Great Lakes fans, Lorain historians and every Boatnerds bookshelf

The place to be seen and to see – the tales of the Inland Seas Sunday – June 21st 12-4 pm.