George J. Baudhuin
1909 - 1969
George J. "Butch" Baudhuin was a primary force in the pleasure boat industry in Door County. Recognizing Sturgeon Bay's unique location connecting Lake Michigan and Green Bay, he began Baudhuin Yacht Harbor (now Sturgeon Bay Yacht Harbor) in 1944, a marina highly respected for sales, service and hospitality. In 1954, Baudhuin pioneered Travelift, the straddle-type mobile boat hoist that dramatically changed the handling of pleasure boats. Started as Marine Travelift and Engineering, Inc., the company manufactured truck-drawn and self-propelled hoists. Travelift adaptations are used for pre-stressed concrete and missile industries. Through the use of the Travelift, railroad "piggybacking" was improved to allow for the side-loading of shipments from trucks to railroad flat cars. Today, Marine Travelift, Inc. is a worldwide leader in marine lift systems. In 1952, Baudhuin donated land for the site of the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1944.
Location. 44° 49.827′ N, 87° 22.963′ W. Marker is in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, in Door County. It can be reached from North Madison Avenue.
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Regionally, this marker is on Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula. It is also in the American Midwest, on the Great Lakes, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Captain John Roen (here, next to this marker); Propellers from the tug John Purves (here, next to this marker); Historic Museum Tug John Purves (here, next to this marker); Howard A & Lou E Olson (here, next to this marker); Lost Great Lakes Mariners (here, next to this marker); Robert E. Peterson (here, next to this marker); Robert Laurie and Alexander Laurie (a few steps from this marker); Fred J. Peterson (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sturgeon Bay.
Also see . . .
1. Baudhuin's Self-propelled Mobile Lift Patent Info. (Submitted on October 22, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Marine Travelift History. Company website entry (Submitted on October 22, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
3. George J. Baudhuin. Find A Grave website entry (Submitted on October 22, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 18, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,010 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 22, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
