Hiram W. Sibley

Written by Anna Mae Maday, Manager, Eddy Historical & Genealogy Collection of Hoyt Public Library in Saginaw, Michigan
September 2000


click for larger view

The communities of Saginaw and Bay City are located on the Saginaw River. This river and its tributaries were important transportation routes for pioneer residents. An abundance of oak timber provided the early settlers with the resource needed to build their own vessels. Shipbuilders came to the area and established numerous shipyards along the river.

The steamer Hiram W. Sibley was launched at Saginaw from the shipyard of Capt. Chesley Wheeler. On August 4, 1890, a crowd gathered at the shipyard to watch the event. When the ropes were cut, the vessel didn't move. After several sledge hammer blows to release the blocking holding the steamer, the crowd shouted, "There she goes. Look out." The steamer plunged into the water, and the resulting waves splashed the awestruck spectators.

The Hiram W. Sibley did not stay afloat for long. During a storm on November 26, 1898, the steamer went aground at South Manitou Island. Efforts to save the vessel were futile. The late November gale hampered efforts to keep the steamer afloat, and the Hiram W. Sibley broke up and sank in deep water near Fox Island on December 7, 1898.

The owners of the Hiram W. Sibley were Isaac Bearinger of Saginaw and Benjamin Boutell of Bay City. The steamer was named for Isaac Bearinger's business partner from the lumbering firm of Sibley & Bearinger. The boiler for the vessel had been built by Wickes Bros.

Shipbuilding continued into the twentieth century. Small boat builders still operate in the Saginaw area, but the end of commercial and military shipbuilding came in 1976 with the closing of Defoe's at Bay City.

Suggested Reading
  • Baker, Cathy. Shipbuilding on the Saginaw.
  • Mills, James Cooke. History Of Saginaw County.
  • Swayze, David et al.Vessels Built On The Saginaw.
  • Saginaw Courier Herald. August 5, 1890 and November 29, 1898.

Click to View These Related Items:

Keywords: Hiram Sibley (Boat)  ; Wickes Boiler Company  ; Saginaw River  ; Industries  ; Shipbuilding industry  ; Transportation  ; Bearinger, Isaac  ; Sibley & Bearinger (Firm)  ; 
Clicking on a term will search for all items that have that keyword

URL: http://www.saginawimages.org/essay.asp?ItemID=HEES0006


Questions or comments? Drop us a line.
© Public Libraries of Saginaw