John Bartlum

John Bartlum began his career as a wrecker in the Bahamas at New Plymouth, Green Turtle Cay. By 1835, he was in Key West working as a shipwright. Bartlum was a mechanical genius who never served a day as an apprentice. He acquired his shipbuilding skills by reading and practical application. The first ship he built in Key West was the 10-ton sloop Mary McIntosh. The Key West Enquirer of March 28, 1835, reported it was the first boat of that size built in Key West, In 1845, Bartlum began his association with the firm of Browne and Curry (later William Curry and Sons). He built a number of large schooners of more than 100 tons. The largest of these was the 150-foot, 171 ton wrecker, The Florida. In 1847, John Bartlum dismantled his house on Green Turtle Cay and transported it to Key West and reassembled it at 730 Eaton Street. The great achievement of his shipbuilding career was the clipper ship Stephen R. Mallory launched in 1856. The Mallory was the only clipper ship built in the south by native craftsmen. The ship was built of native mahogany known as Madeira. The Mallory was 959-tons, 164 feet with a 35-foot beam. She carried a life size figurehead of Senator Stephen R. Mallory. The Mallory was rated "A-1” and Bartlum’s fame spread throughout the country. Some of the large ship building firms of the north tried to hire him but he chose to remain in Key West. A newspaper report of his death stated "The drooping flags at half-mast from each cupola and place of business in our city, and the shipping in our harbor, testify to the appreciation in which he was held by our citizens.” , Donated by , The Key West Historic Maritime Society .