J H Crawford by LJP (Lawrence Paplham) - Scale 1:64 - an 1894 to 1898 Wisconsin sternwheeler

[LJP]

After three years since the start of my MSW build of the Thistle, I have decided to build the J. H. Crawford (JHC).  As with my Thistle build, this will not be a fast process.   I learned a lot from the Thistle build, and will need to be creative in making new mistakes on building JHC.  I have also stolen ideas presented by others (Hi Cathead!) which will improve the quality of JHC.

 

The J. H. Crawford was built in 1894 by Ryan Brothers of Oshkosh, Wisconsin for the Wolf River Transportation and Merchandising Company.  

 

George Ryan and his brother were Canadians who learned shipbuilding at Short Brothers in Maine.  They later built Great Lake boats in Sheboygan and Manitowoc, Wisconsin before they finally began ship building in Oshkosh.  Their Eastern and Great Lakes background had a profound effect upon the vessels they built.  They modeled and lofted their boats which was unusual for these design-build boats.  And George never referred to their creations as boats, they were always “ships”. Their long-lived boats were strongly constructed to weather the shallow but tempestuous Lake Winnebago but showed their earlier career influences.

 

 JHC was described as a “working boat” although it carried passengers.  It had a 10 by 15 forward men’s “smoker” along with a same size women’s saloon aft. Initially it was designed for the circuitous Lower Wolf River at an overall nominal length of 130 feet by 25-foot beam.  JHC’s entire life was spent on a section of the Fox-Wisconsin Waterway.  This included the Lower Wolf up to New London, the Lower Fox up to Green Bay, the Upper Fox to Berlin, and Lakes Winnebago, Winneconne, Poygan and Butte des Morts.

 

The new owners immediately had a falling out over the proposed Wolf River route for the JHC. Eight months later JHC was sold to the company of McKenzie & [ Captain John H.] Crawford.  In May 1898 they in turn sold the JHC to Clark and LeFevre. Clark & LeFevre lengthened the boat by 14 feet and renamed it Thistle. At an overall 144 feet length, the now Thistle just fit into the 145 by 36-foot Fox River locks.  Clark & LeFevre combined interests with the Oshkosh Steamboat Company in 1906.   Thistle was finally dismantled at Green Bay in 1915 after a long 21-year life. 

 

There are only two known photos of JHC.  One was a photo bomb at distance that was not useful. The other, presented below, is a wonderful quartering stern view that truly shows the difference between much simpler JHC and the latter Thistle.  I first obtained this photo while building Thistle, or I probably would have built JHC first.

Photo published courtesy of Dave Thompson Collection at Steamboats.com.

 

Below is the bow view of Thistle but what the J. H. Crawford probably looked like, albeit 14 feet shorter and without the bow bulwarks.  Note the double stairs to the saloon deck and main deck with bull rails.

Thistle at Berlin, Wisconsin in 1901. Reprinted with permission from the Berlin (Wisconsin) Area Historical Society

 

My next posting will show the profile drawings of JHC and Thistle, which really shows the differences between the two boats.  I will again build in 1:64 scale. 

[KeithAug]

Wonderful subject. I do like paddle driven riverboats. I will follow with interest.

[LJP]

These are comparative 1:64 profiles of J. H. Crawford (upper) versus Thistle (lower).   

The obvious differences in the much simpler JHC is the 14-foot shorter length, but also an old type double stairs compared to a grand stairway.  Most main deck windows are omitted as are the fancier bulwarks - including the bow bulwark.  No electric in the early years, so a “railroad type” light was installed on the hurricane deck by 1895.  Note the reduction or absence of lifesaving equipment: no rafts or life planks, only 2 yawls, and no boiler deck ladder.  There are numerous subtle differences which will be evident later.  

 

Now I need to get started on cutting out the frames for my plank-on-bulkhead model.  One of the things I did learn is that I really do not need as many frames as I used in Thistle.  If I wanted to build a true framed model that would be different, but I do not want that much detail. I hope to build a stronger but more cohesive p-o-f model.  What most are unaware of, is that the Thistle had an early launch that resulted in sprung planks, a destroyed stem post and a broken keel.  Those type redo repairs I hope to avoid.

 

[LJP]

I cut out the frames and began to build the hull structure. Nothing below has been glued in place yet.  The cylinder timbers are at the stern and additional longitudinal supports inserted.  The supports will outline the boiler pit.  JHC had a single Scotch Marine boiler below the main deck.  It was noted that the engineer’s ladder slipped when he was going to inspect the boiler during construction.  The engineer ended up with a broken arm and his left ear nearly torn off. 

Next steps will be cutting out the boiler pit and actually gluing things together.  Things are going slower due to summer months and life's little adventures.

 

[KeithAug]

On 9/5/2024 at 5:12 PM, LJP said:

The engineer ended up with a broken arm and his left ear nearly torn off. 

Ouch! - Lets hope the current builder has better luck.

[LJP]

I have gotten things glued in and starting the planking   It will take some time for the full planked hull due to other duties as assigned.

I temporarily put the boiler in the pit. Again, it will be a while before I get to the boiler. The gauges for the boiler will have a bit different layout than what is normally seen on the boiler itself. I have a Marine Iron Works of Chicago USA brochure (one of several that I have) that shows a lithograph from a boiler that was reproduced from a photograph – so that layout actually existed.  Stay tuned.

 

JHC will have eleven wider bottom planks just like its younger sister boat, the 1907 Paul L had.  The Oshkosh Public Museum has numerous online photos of the capsized Paul L in May 1910. The Paul L capsized when the coal cargo was unloaded from the starboard side but not the port.  Predictable result.  Over Paul L went, throwing crew into the cold Fox River. The Museum photos show not only the normal bow shots but there are two of the upturned stern views which prove invaluable.  I obtained several of these Museum photos of excellent clarity, but I am not permitted to publish them here.  I also own some postcard photos of the capsizing but not the stern shots.

The actual JHC bottom planks were of locally sourced oak, while the Paul L were southern cyprus.  The narrower JHC side planks were locally sourced Eastern white pine while the Paul L were Washington or Oregon Douglas fir.  The change in material speaks to the rapid deforestation of Wisconsin in a less than fifteen-year period of time due to intensive and destructive logging.  I used basswood throughout my model. 

[LJP]

Well, its been a few months but my “other duties as assigned” are winding down.  This has allowed me time to finally get the planking done.  This has not been with out a few re-do’s on some of the individual planks but the product is now acceptable.

I now need to paint the hull.  If you recall, Thistle was historically accurate with a green upper and “two coats of boiled linseed oil” below the waterline, circa 1908.  I do not know what JHC’s colours were.  For below the waterline, I have seen discussions for white, black and oxide red. Above the waterline, later Thistle photos seem to be white, black and grey.  Or so it seems, given these were black and white photos or colourized.  The JHC photo at the beginning of this article seems to be grey.  I would appreciate if anyone has insight into hull colour schemes.  Otherwise I will pick period appropriate colours. 

 

Hopefully, my next entry will not take so much time as we head toward the holidays.