HMCo #92p Permelia

"[1892-02-26] Fri 26: ... Aida [#92p ex-Permelia] towed here for new boiler.
[1892-03-27] Sun 27: Hauled Aida [#92p ex-Permelia] at P[oin]t Pl[easant].
[1892-04-09] Sat 9: ... Launched Aida [#92p ex-Permelia] from ways at P[oin]t Pl[easant].
[1892-04-21] Thu 21: ... Made preliminary trial of Aida [ex-Permelia] #92.
[1892-04-30] Sat 30: Trial of Aida [#92p ex-Permelia] & departure. ...
[1894-06-17] Sun 17: ... Aida [#92p] towed here by Viva [#102p ex-Gov. Hamilton]." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1892 to 1894. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection.)

"Permelia, steam yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., 1882.
37.65 gross tons, 18.83 net tons; 89 ft. x 12.9 ft. x 5.8 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, no mast, plain head, round stern.
Surveyed and measured, July, 1882." (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Permelia.)

"Port Huron, July 25 [1882]. --- The steam yacht Rosaline leaves here to-morrow, for New York, where she has been sold by the Herrschoff Manufacturing Company, of Bristol, R. I., the firm having accepted her from Mr. Hopkins in part payment for his new boat, that is now ready to launch at Bristol. ...
Mark Hopkins, of St. Clair, starts today with the steam yacht Rosaline and a party of friends for New York, where he will receive his new iron steam yacht, built at Bristol, R. I., and bring it home. This yacht is 125 feet long, and something great in the way of speed is expected from her." (Source: Anon. "Marine News. The Rosaline." Detroit Free Press, July 26, 1882, p. 7.)

"[Abstract of register or enrollment. Pos. 728:]
Permelia, steam yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1882.
37.65 tons; 89 ft. x 12.9 ft. x 5.2 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, [blank] mast, plain head [bow].
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) Aug. 1, 1882. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: John B. Herreshoff, Bristol.
Surrendered [license] Sept. 12, 1882 at Port Huron. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence])." (Source: Survey of Federal Archives, Work Projects Administration. Ships Documents of Rhode Island. Bristol. Ship Registers and Enrollments of the Port of Bristol - Warren Rhode Island, 1941, s.v. Permelia.)

"The new steam yacht Parmelia, owned by Mark Hopkins, of St. Clair, Mich., arrived here on Wednesday [August 9, 1882] night, via Erie Canal. She was built by J. B. Herreshoff at Bristol, R. I., and cost about $35.000. She is ninety-six foot in length and only twelve and a half feet in beam, and being furnished with a powerful fore-and-aft compound engine she cuts the water like a knife. It is claimed that she can make twenty miles an hour. The build of the Parmelia is of peculiar excellence; her frames are of bent wood, each being a single piece, and her exterior is of choice inch pine, without calking. So exquisite are her lines that it is said no two of her frames are alike. Between the frames and outer pine there is diagonal planking, making her quite stanch. Her inside work is finished in mahogany and rosewood, with handsome upholstery. The Parmelia is a rare beauty, and those who saw her gave free way to admiration. After being touched up at the Mills shipyard she left port at 2:30 p. m. yesterday, with a stiff breeze blowing from the west. --- (Buffalo Express.) Mark Hopkins expected the above yacht here yesterday, and sat on a timberhead all day on Hutchings' wharf shading his eyes with his hand and wistfully gazing at Sandwich Point." (Source: Anon. "Marine News. The New Yacht." Detroit Free Press, August 12, 1882, p. 8.)

"Port Colborne, August 11 [1882]. --- The gale down the lake has continued all the day. ... The following vessels are lying here to-night wind bound: ... steam yacht Parmelia ..." (Source: Anon. "Marine News. The Gale at Port Colborne." Detroit Free Press, August 12, 1882, p. 8.)

"Mark Hopkins' new steam yacht, the Permelia, arrived at this port [Detroit] yesterday morning, having come by way of Long Island Sound, the Hudson River, the Erie Canal and Lake Erie from Bristol, R. I., on her way to St. Clair, the home of the owner. The Permelia was built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company for Mr. Hopkins at a cost of $30,000 and was built with a view to turning out the fastest sailing steam craft on the lakes. She is not a handsome boat in her general architecture, neither is she one calculated to prevent seasickness in rough weather, but she is stanch, roomy and convenient, and is thoroughly supplied with the best of modern improvements in steam navigation. It is not to be inferred that she has not handsome water lines for she has; but her general shape is stiff and ungraceful, and if she does make a record better than any other steam craft on the lakes it will certainly not be because of her good looks.
The dimensions of the Permelia are: Keel, 90 feet; over all, 95 feet; beam, 12 1/2 feet; hold, 6 feet. She measures 37.00 tons, and can carry fuel for 1,000 miles travel by steam. She carries a Herreshoff patent boiler, fore and aft compound engines, one 8x14 and the other 14x14, turning a propeller wheel 45 inches in diameter. The hull is of two courses of white pine, laid together in white lead and screw fastened, the first course being laid diagonally and the second course fore and aft, the entire thickness of the skin being but 1 3/8 inches. There is no calking, the planks being beaded and jointed together. There are five water-tight compartments. The saloon is aft, and is roomy and well lighted and artistically finished in mahogany. Forward of the saloon are two elegant and completely furnished toilet rooms. Amidships are her boiler and engine rooms, and forward of these are the crews quarters and the galley.
The Permelia made the trip west in charge of Capt. John B. Herreshoff, and the passengers were Mrs. Herreshoff and daughter, Messrs. Morgan and Woodruff, of St. Clair, and J. F. Kilton and Miss Gill, of Boston. Mr. Hopkins boarded his new boat at this port and last evening she started for St. Clair." (Source: Anon. "Mark Hopkins New Yacht." Detroit Free Press, August 15, 1882, p. 6.)

"HERRESHOFFS LATEST. --- We have in a previous edition given a description of the new Permalia [sic, i.e. Permelia], one of the Herreshoff high speeds, built for Mr. Mark Hopkins, of Port Huron. The Toronto Globe gives the following concerning a race with a fast lake steamer, Aug. 18 [1882]. 'The much talked of race between the steamer City of Cleveland and the new yacht Permalia took place to-day. The run was made from the Star Island House to St. Clair, a distance of about 27 miles, resulting in the Permalia beating the steamer nearly half a mile. The yacht is a grand success throughout, both in speed and comfort. There are prospects of another race next Thursday, on the down trip of the Cleveland." (Source: Anon. (C. P. Kunhardt?) "Trial of Steam Launches In England." Scientific American Supplement, August 31, 1882, p. 97.)

"... The last work of the season is now being given to the Pamelia [sic, i.e. #92p Permelia]. In a few days she will be seen in the waters of our great lakes, where she is expected to be the fastest steamer yet brought out. The Pamelia is 95 feet long by 12 1/2 wide, her hull is built with special reference to lightness, in order to get the required speed without the expenditure of an inordinate amount of power, the evolution of which renders a yacht always uncomfortable, and objectionable in many other respects. Her interior arrangements are of the same character as the others built by the Herreshoff Co. this year, and are of the most durable and elegant description.
Her machinery consists of an engine, the cylinders of which are 8" and 14" x 14" in stroke, the boiler is of the usual Herreshoff type, having a grate of 58 inches in diameter; her speed is expected to be 17 miles an hour (maximum) and 14 mean. ..." (Source: Anon. "Steam Yacht Building In Rhode Island. The Herreshoff Manufacturing Company And Its Operations." The Mechanical Engineer, September 2, 1882, p. 55.)

"Mark Hopkins states that he will bet $5,000 to $3,000 that the Permelia [#92p] will beat the steamer Mary [#91p] three miles in the distance between St. Clair and Detroit. He will also bet any amount that the Permelia will beat any boat on fresh water from St. Clair or Port Huron to Detroit.
Capt. McLachlan, of the Northwest, states that after the Permelia has beaten all the other steamers he would like to give her a brush with the Northwest. Mac is confident that his boat can get away with the Permelia, but says the captaim of the latter must be loaded down with about 250 pounds of pig iron to make the two commanders weighh the same, otherwise the Northwest would be at a disadvantage." (Source: Anon. "Marine News. He Wants to Bet." Detroit Free Press, October 29, 1882, p. 13.)

"The Buffalo Courier of Saturday [August 18, 1883], in an article about Mr. Hopkins' new and old yachts, has the following: [The Herreshoffs] have agreed to take the old Permelia [#92p] in exchange, getting $10,000 to boot. The new boat [#100p] will be christened Permelia; the old one is for sale at $18,000." (Source: Anon. "The Yacht One Hundred." Detroit Free Press, August 20, 1883, p. 7.)

"Mr. John B. Herreshoff and family arrived here on Friday evening [August 24, 1883] of last week in the steam yacht Permelia [#92p Permelia I]. The steam yacht No. 100 [#100p Permelia II] in which they left home met the Permelia at Rochester, New York, where Mr. Herreshoff exchanged steamers, the latter coming this way and the former continuing on her trip to Lake Michigan." (Source: Anon. "Local Affairs." Bristol Phoenix, September 1, 1883, p. 2.)

"The Herreshoff Mfg. Co., Thursday [September 6, 1883], sold the steam yacht Permelia to Wm. P. Douglas, of New York, on private terms." (Source: Anon. "Local Affairs." Bristol Phoenix, September 8, 1883, p. 2.)

"[License issued to vessel under 20 tons. Pos. 213:]
Permelia, steam yacht, of Bristol.
Built at [blank].
18.83 tons; no dimensions nor specifications shown.
Previous documentation not shown.
Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) Sept. 7, 1883. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: [blank].
Surrendered [license] Sept. 27, 1883 at New York. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence])." (Source: Survey of Federal Archives, Work Projects Administration. Ships Documents of Rhode Island. Bristol. Ship Registers and Enrollments of the Port of Bristol - Warren Rhode Island, 1941, s.v. Permelia.)

"PERMELIA. --- The first Permelia, built by Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, of Bristol, in 1882, has been bought, by Mr. W. P. Douglas for Southern cruising this winter. She is 95ft. over all, 90ft. load-line, 12 1/2ft. beam and 4 1/2ft. draft. Compound engines, 8 and 14in. diameter, by 14in. stroke. Coil boiler, 5ft. 7in. diameter, and 5ft. 4in. high." (Source: Anon. (C. P. Kunhardt?) "Yacht Building at Bristol." Forest and Stream, September 20, 1883, p. 157.)

"... Aida, steam yacht, Vice-Com. Douglas, N. Y. Y. C., has received her new boiler at Bristol and has left there. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachting Notes." Forest & Stream, May 14, 1885, p. 319.)

"The following changes in ownership have occurred during the month: --- ... Steamer Aida W. P. Douglas to Allen T. Rice, New York, 1882, Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, 90 feet water-line. ..." (Source: Anon. "A Winter Cruise." Outing, October 1885, p. 115.)

"The following is a list of the steam yachts built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol, R.I: ... Aida, built 1882, for Mr. Mark Hopkins, St. Clair, Mich. Length, 95 feet; breadth, 12 feet 6 inches; depth, 6 feet 3 inches; draught, 4 feet 6 inches; speed, 16 miles per hour. ..." (Source: Jaffray, Edward S. "American Steam Yachting." Outing, April 1886, p. 23-25.)

"Yachts Reported. ... NEWPORT, R. I., June 15 [1894]. ... Herreshoff's steam yacht Viva [#102p Viva ex-Gov. Hamilton] left Bristol today for Shelter Island with a new twenty-one-footer [Larchmont One-Design Fin Keel] for Mr. Dwyer aboard. She will return with W. P. Douglas's steam yacht Aida [#92p Aida ex-Permelia] to have new boilers." (Source: Anon. "Yachts Reported." New York Times, June 16, 1894, p. 3.)

"Steam Yacht Aida, of New York, is being repaired at Herreshoff's and will have a new and complete outfit. Wm. P. Douglas of New York is her owner." (Source: Anon. "Home News." Bristol Phoenix, June 23, 1894, p. 6.)

"Aida
(formerly Permelia)
The Aida was one of the older Steam Yachts of the St. Lawrence River. She was of the trunk cabin type, as evidenced by her low freeboard. The 1907 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts has information relative to her as follows: Net Tons, 18; Gross Tons, 37; Overall Length, 95'; Waterline Length, 90'; Beam, 12' 11"; Depth, 5' 10"; Draft, 5'. She was designed by Mr. Nathaniel G. Herreshoff and built, in 1882, by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company at Bristol, Rhode Island. Her hull construction was of wood. Her powerplant was a 3-Cylinder Triple Expansion Steam Engine built by the Herreshoff concern. However, specifications of the engine and a description of the boiler are not given in Lloyd's. The Aida was owned by Mr. Lewis Derian. Her Home Port was Alexandria Bay, New York and her Port of Registry, Cape Vincent, New York. Her Registration Number was 150262.
In the beginning, the only steering station was in the deckhouse. The bridge and the auxiliary steerer, illustrated in this picture, were added. We believe this was done in the early 1900's.
We first remember the Aida in about 1917 when she had been purchased by Mr. 'Mose' Rothenberg of Clayton, New York. Mr. Rothenberg soon sold the boat to Mr. George C. Sherman of Watertown, New York, whose larger yacht, the Wana, had been temporarily retired in consideration of World War I. Soon after Mr. Sherman's purchase of the Aida, her boiler failed. It was then decided to use her as a Houseboat, and she was towed, on occasion, by Mr. Sherman's Gasoline Runabout, Wana II. Much of the time, she was either at Clayton or at the dock of the Wana yachthouse near Alexandria Bay. In 1919, we believe, because of plans to again fit out the Wana, the Aida was hauled at Slate's Shipyard on the North side of Grindstone Island. There, on the ways, over a period of some 20 years, she deteriorated to a wreck." (Source: Mercier, Gilbart B. Pleasure Yachts of the Thousand Islands. Clayton, New York, 1981, s.v. "Aida".)

"Registry and Rig Information
Vessel Name: PERMELIA
Nationality: U.S.
Official Number: 150262
Rig: Steam Yacht
Dimensions and Tonnage
Length: 89.00
Width: 12.75
Depth: 5.66
Masts: 0
Gross Tonnage: 37.65
Net Tonnage: 18.83
Hull Material: Wood
Vessel History
Disposition: Abandoned in 1925.
Build Information
Builder: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.
Place Built: Bristol, RI
Year Built: 1882
Name Changes
Name; Date; Registry; Official Number
AIDA; 1884 - 1925; U.S.; 150262" (Source: Bowling Green State University (publisher). Great Lakes Vessels Online Index, s.v. "Permelia." http://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessel/view/005435, retrieved June 2, 2015.)

"[Item Description:] Casting Book # 4, steamers #40p, #54p, #57p, #63p, #67p, #70p, #79p, #89p, #92p, #99p, #100p, #101p, #102p, #103p, #104p, #105p, #106p, #107p, #108p, #109p, #110p, #111p, #112p, #113p, #114p, #115p, #116p, #117p, #118p, #119p, #120p, #121p, #122p, #123p, #124p, #125p, #126p, #127p, #128p, #129p, #130p, #131p, #132p, #133p, #134p, #135p, #136p, #137p, #138p, #139p, #140p, #141p, #142p, #143p, #144p, #145p, #146p, #147p [castings by hull number; front page shows summary size and engine and boiler data for steamers 99 thru 146 as well as repair data for steamers #40p, #54p, #57p, #63p, #67p, #70p, #79p, #89p, #92p, #118p, and #128p]. Undated, vessels mentioned were built between 1878 and 1887. Dates mentioned for repairs range from 1885 to 1887. Note considerable informational overlap with Casting Book # 1, which as in this book also contains data for #99p through #116p, although it appears (!) that Book # 4 lists more patterns per boat than Book # 1. Likewise, considerable overlap with Casting Books # 2 and # 3 which also contain data for boats that are also listed in book # 4. It may well be that information in Book # 4 was copied from books # 1, # 2 and 3." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.120-07. Castings Book 4. Box HAFH.6.4B, Folder Casting Record Books Vessel Castings Book 4. No date (1878 to 1887).)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕ ㉖ ㉗ ㉘ ㉙ ㉚ ㉛ ㉜ ㉝ ㉞ ㉟ ㊱ ㊲ ㊳ ㊴ ㊵ ㊶ ㊷ ㊸ ㊹ ㊺ ㊻ ㊼ ㊽ ㊾ ㊿
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"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Casting sketch notebook (carbon copy) [Titled Herreshoff Mfg Co, -Office-, Bristol, R.I.; 1882, mostly signed by C.H.K., steamers #88p, #89p, #91p, #92p, #98p]." (Source: Anon (C.H.K.) (and Herreshoff, N.G.?) (creator). Notebook. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.120-06. Box HAFH.6.4B, Folder Casting Record Books Sketch and Order Book 1882 CHK. 1882.)
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"[Item Description:] Casting sketch notebook (original copy) [Titled Nathl G. Herreshoffp, Bristol R.I.; 1882, mostly signed by N.G.H.; material and item orders relating to steamers #81p, #82p, #83p, #88p, #89p, #90p, #91p, #92p, #95p, #98p, stock for new boat shop]." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Notebook. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.120-10. Box HAFH.6.4B, Folder Casting Record Books Sketch and Order Book 1882 NGH. 1882.)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕ ㉖ ㉗ ㉘ ㉙ ㉚ ㉛ ㉜ ㉝ ㉞ ㉟ ㊱ ㊲ ㊳ ㊴ ㊵ ㊶ ㊷ ㊸ ㊹ ㊺ ㊻ ㊼ ㊽ ㊾ ㊿
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"N/A"

"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten (in ink) letter on 'The Herreshoff Manufacturing Co, Established in 1861, Incorporated in 1879, Sole Manufacturers Of The Herreshoff Patent Safety Coil Boiler, Builders of Steam Vessels and Engines' stationery:] Bristol, R.I., June 27th 1885
Dear Daughter Kate,
I rec[eive]d your nice letter last eve, was very glad to hear from you. Mr. Mrs Douglas were here a day or two ago and left the AIDA [#92p ex-PERMELIA] here for some repairs. We expect the ORIENTA [#89p] today. Everything is getting on as usual with me.
I have not been off on the water since our morning row in the STILETTO's [#118p] boat.
From your loving Papa, J.B.H.
S [Sadie Herreshoff, for JBH]" (Source: Herreshoff, J.B. Letter to Herreshoff, Katherine Kilton. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Item LIB_6140. HMM Library Rare Books Room (Various), Folder [no #]. 1885-06-27.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten (in ink) letter on 'The Herreshoff Manufacturing Co, Established in 1861, Incorporated in 1879, Sole Manufacturers Of The Herreshoff Patent Safety Coil Boiler, Builders of Steam Vessels and Engines' stationery:] Bristol, R.I., June 27th 1885
Dear Daughter Kate,
I rec[eive]d your nice letter last eve. Glad you are having so pleasant a time. This cool weather will be nice for you. I passed a quiet Sunday, did not g out. Took a drive last eve. Today expect to go to Newport in the LUCILE [#122p]. ORIENTA [#89p] and AIDA [#92p ex-PERMELIA] still here.
Uncle Cha[rle]s commenced with a few boarders today, his house is completed & furnished. Bro. Francis & family are expected here on Fridays. I am as well as usual. Mrs. Smith will leave 'Prince'[?] with Mrs. Fish, if you do not return before she leaves. Strawberries nearly gone.
Hope to hear from you again soon.
Much love from your Papa, J.B.H.
S [Sadie Herreshoff, for JBH]" (Source: Herreshoff, J.B. Letter to Herreshoff, Katherine Kilton. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Item LIB_6150. HMM Library Rare Books Room (Various), Folder [no #]. 1885-06-30.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten (in ink) letter on 'The Herreshoff Manufacturing Co, Established in 1861, Incorporated in 1879, Sole Manufacturers Of The Herreshoff Patent Safety Coil Boiler, Builders of Steam Vessels and Engines' stationery:] Bristol, R.I., July 2nd 1885
Dear Daughter Kate,
Just rec[eive]d your welcome letter and write you now so that it will go by the morning mail.
Glad you are taking riding lessons. You must try and have confidence in yourself and not feel nervous if you can, much danger ill be avoided.
I think you will have a pleasanter time in Boston on the '4th' that you would ere, as I believe very little is to be done ere,
The ORIENTA [#89p] left here this a.m. and the AIDA [#92p ex-PERMELIA will] do so this eve[ning]. We are to go to Newport tomorrow in the STILETTO [#118p] and the LADOGA [#123p] to take off the 'naval clap' at the Torpedo Station. I am as well as usual. Strawberries about finished. I had over 40 quarts from the new bed. With love from your Papa, J.B.H.
S [Sadie Herreshoff, for JBH]" (Source: Herreshoff, J.B. Letter to Herreshoff, Katherine Kilton. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Item LIB_6160. HMM Library Rare Books Room (Various), Folder [no #]. 1885-07-02.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten (in ink) letter on 'The Herreshoff Manufacturing Co, Established in 1861, Incorporated in 1879, Sole Manufacturers Of The Herreshoff Patent Safety Coil Boiler, Builders of Steam Vessels and Engines' stationery:] Bristol, R.I., Aug[ust] 18th 1885
Dear Kate,
Rec[eive]d yours last evening, am glad you find it so pleasant at the Hotel and that you find amusement.
We have had very pleasant welcome letter and write you now so that it will go by the morning mail.
Glad you are taking riding lessons. You must try and have confidence in yourself and not feel nervous if you can, much danger ill be avoided.
I think you will have a pleasanter time in Boston on the '4th' that you would ere, as I believe very little is to be done ere,
The ORIENTA [#89p] left here this a.m. and the AIDA [#92p ex-PERMELIA will] do so this eve[ning]. We are to go to Newport tomorrow in the STILETTO [#118p] and the LADOGA [#123p] to take off the 'naval clap' at the Torpedo Station. I am as well as usual. Strawberries about finished. I had over 40 quarts from the new bed. With love from your Papa, J.B.H.
S [Sadie Herreshoff, for JBH]" (Source: Herreshoff, J.B. Letter to Herreshoff, Katherine Kilton. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Item LIB_6180. HMM Library Rare Books Room (Various), Folder [no #]. 1885-08-18.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.03486 (044-030). Blueprint with steam engine detail titled 'Detail [manifolds] of 5ft 6in Boiler for St[eame]r 92 [#92p PERMELIA]'. (The original plan in Hart Nautical Collections carries a penciled note '& 179 [#179p NECKAN]')." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0079. WRDT08, Folder 8, formerly MRDE11. 1892-02-04.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (in ink and pencil) trials booklet 'Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Experiments & Trial Trips. 1890. N.G. Herreshoff'. Relevant contents:
§26: #92p AIDA ex-PERMELIA Trial Run (1892-04-21 & 1892-04-30)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_02260. Folder [no #]. 1890-01 to 1898-08.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #92p Permelia even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Permelia (HMCo-made index card)
• Aida ex-Permelia (HMCo-made index card)
• Aida ex-Permelia (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Note: The vessel index cards comprise two sets of a total of some 3200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and information regarding drawings, later or former vessel names, and owners. They were compiled from HMCo's early days until 1920 and added to in later decades, apparently by Hart Nautical curator William A. Baker and his successors. While HMCo seems to have used only one set of index cards, all sorted by name and, where no name was available, by number, later users at MIT apparently divided them into two sets of cards, one sorted by vessel name, the other by vessel number and greatly expanded the number of cards. Original HMCo cards are usually lined and almost always punched with a hole at bottom center while later cards usually have no hole, are unlined, and often carry substantially less information. All cards are held by the Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections of the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Mass.

Name: Permelia
Type: Steam
Length: 95'
Owner: Hopkins, Mark

Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. "A Partial List of Herreshoff Clients." In: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Herreshoff Yachts. Bristol, Rhode Island, ca. 1931.

• Permelia
• Aida ex-Permelia
• Note: The L. Francis Herreshoff index cards comprise a set of some 1200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and / or ownership information. Apparently compiled in the early 1930s, for later HMCo-built boats like the Fishers Island 23s or the Northeast Harbor 30s are not included. Added to in later decades, apparently by L. F. Herreshoff as well as his long-time secretary Muriel Vaughn and others. Also 46 cards of L. F. Herreshoff-designed vessels. The original set of index cards is held by the Herreshoff Marine Museum and permission to display is gratefully acknowledged.

Name: Permelia
Type: 95' steam
Owner: Mark Hopkins
Year: 1883
Row No.: 517

Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. "Partial List of Herreshoff-Built Boats." In: Herreshoff, L. Francis. Capt. Nat Herreshoff. The Wizard of Bristol. New York, 1953, p. 325-343.

Year: 1882
E/P/S: P
No.: 092
Name: Permelia
OA: 95'

Source: Vermilya, Peter and Maynard Bray. "Transcription of the HMCo. Construction Record." Unpublished database, ca. 2000.

Note: The transcription of the HMCo Construction Record by Peter Vermilya and Maynard Bray was performed independently (and earlier) than that by Claas van der Linde. A comparison of the two transcriptions can be particularly useful in those many cases where the handwriting in the Construction Record is difficult to decipher.

"... Str. #92 - Repair Job. ..." (Source: Anon. [Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. (N. G. Herreshoff?)] No Title. [Handwritten Notes on Outer Cover of Notebook.] No date [ca. late 1880s.] Notebook in the Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, The Francis Russel Hart Nautical Collections, M.I.T. Museum, Cambridge, Mass., obj. no. HH.6.120.)

"Permelia was delivered by J. B. Herreshoff and family to Michigan via New York, the Hudson and Detroit." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. May 2, 2008.)

"Date this vessel was finished was estimated as July 28, 1882, the date this boat was measured by the U.S. Custom House inspector as per the U.S. Custom House Record Book in the collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum. Five days later Permelia left the boat yard as per a ote on Plan HH.5.04015 (056-002): Condenser for Steamer # 92, Permelia (1882-08-02): 'Boat sailed Aug 2/82. C.H.K.'." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. February 9, 2020.)

"Built in 158 days (setup to finished; equivalent to 477 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"In the absence of better available data displacement was estimated by using the figure for Gross Register Tons (37.65) from the 1890-91 Manning's American Yacht List (New Measurement Tons were reported as 18.83 by the 1885 Olsen's American Yacht List) and converting to lbs by dividing through 2000 (short tons). Note that this figure can only be a rough estimate because register tons as reported in Yacht Registers correlate only loosely with actual displacement figures." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 17, 2015.)

Note: Research notes contain information about a vessel that is often random and unedited but has been deemed useful for future research.