British Colonial Shipbuilding Yard, 1761 – 1781

British Colonial Shipbuilding Yard, 1761 – 1781. Mackinaw City Historical Pathway. , Boats delivered products from all over the world to Michilimackinac during the 1700s. After long, arduous journeys the boats often needed to be repaired here., Based on artifacts found at this site, such as 1770s sailmakers' needles, and the fact that it is close to the most sheltered bay at Mackinaw, archaeologists believe that a shipbuilding and repair yard existed on this spot., Fate of the Welcome , Urgencies of the American Revolution induced the British military to buy the Welcome from Askin. She was refitted and armed with cannon, and manned with a crew of 12 sailors and 12 soldiers. One story says ultimately she was destroyed at a dock on Mackinac Island during a storm., [Captions:] , John Askin, owner , The British merchant sloop Welcome was built in 1775 for John Askin to facilitate his vast trade network. It may have been built on this site., In 1760, Askin moved to Michilimackinac where his aggressive trading made him the leading merchant of the Upper Great Lakes. He negotiated military contracts to supply goods for the fort and he operated a retail store for soldiers and their families. This ship brought the supplies he resold., Re-birth , Re-built, then restored, a replica also succumbed to rot., A replica was built at Michilimackinac between 1972, when her keel was laid, and 1980, when the hull was launched. She then sailed these waters for several years. Rot became a problem, emphasizing the temporary nature of wooden vessels., The ship was sold to a non-profit group that spent a large amount of money on her restoration. They, too, sailed her for a few years before rot again made her unseaworthy. She can now be viewed on the waterside of the Hook restaurant.