Rivertown in Trenton in Wayne County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Historical Shipyard Site

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, April 7, 2021

1. Historical Shipyard Site Marker

Inscription. With the launching of A.D. Patchin and Alvin Clark, shipbuilding began here in 1846. Early builders were: John Keating, Evaline Bates, Burton Goodsill, James Abbott and Hiram Baker. Trenton became a ship center when Arthur Edwards established the D. & C. Steamboat Co. and Alvin Turner arrived from Ohio City. During this period, the finest and largest schooners and steamboats were sent forth to sail the Great Lakes Railroads and iron-hulled ship technology brought about the demise of the Turner Shipyard. This site operated for a time as the River Bark Stave Co. and later by the D.H. Burell Co. The original buildings burned in the early 1900's. Boat building activities resumed in 1919 when the Purdy Boat Co. located here. The tradition was carried on by the Davis Boat Co. and finally by the Liggett Boat Works. These building were demolished in 1968 bringing to a close a rich and forgotten chapter in Trenton history.

Erected by Donations to Historical Marker Fund. (Marker Number 99-3.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1846.

Location. 42° 8.284′ N, 83° 10.655′ W. Marker is in Trenton, Michigan, in Wayne County. It

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is in Rivertown. It is at the intersection of Walnut and Elizabeth Drive, on the right when traveling east on Walnut. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Trenton MI 48183, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Michigan

and in Greater Detroit.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Old Burial Ground (approx. ¼ mile away); First Trenton High School (approx. 0.3 miles away); Wagstaff-Duddleston Home (approx. 0.4 miles away); Michigan Wyandot and Monguagon / Battle of Monguagon (approx. 0.6 miles away); Times of Change (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Rucker-Stanton House (approx. one mile away); The Detroit River / Detroit River Recovery (approx. 1.6 miles away); Angus Keith House (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Trenton.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Battle of Monguagon (was approx. 0.6 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Off The Deep End His 'Dream' Ship Turns Into a Nightmare. Excerpt:

Hoffmann's "dream" centered on the "Mystery Ship" -- in reality, the Alvin Clark, a 218-ton, two-masted schooner that sank in an unexpected summer squall on June 29, 1864. Three of the five crew members died when it sank.

(Submitted on April 12, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)

Historical Shipyard Site Marker - looking east toward the Detroit River. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, April 7, 2021

2. Historical Shipyard Site Marker - looking east toward the Detroit River.

<i>Alvin Clark</i> image. Click for full size.

Public domain, circa 1978

3. Alvin Clark

Though sunk in 1864, she was recovered in 1969 and became a Michigan State Historic Site in 1972 and was designated a member of the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 1,754 times since then and 90 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 12, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.