HMCo #104p Magnolia

"2 sets [of] engines, one on the port and on on star[board]. Aft of Boiler. 99ft Length. 17ft 2in Beam. 8ft 3in Depth. 4ft Draft. Double I Sq[uare] Boiler. 51in square. 18in center to center of frames." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Handwritten Note in Casting Record Books Vessel Castings Book 4, s.v. Steamer 104. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.120. No date (1878 to 1887).)

"HIGH SPEED. --- The Herreshoff Mfg. Co., of Bristol, R. I., are building a large steamer for Mr. Fairman Rogers, of Philadelphia and Newport. She is of light draft, 100ft. long, 17ft. 6in. beam, 8ft. deep, 8ft. 6in. water; will have twin screws, with machinery and quarters for crew aft, saloon and staterooms forward, English style. She is to cruise in Florida waters, and will cost about $80,000." (Source: Anon. (C. P. Kunhardt?) "Trial of Steam Launches In England." Scientific American Supplement, June 14, 1883, p. 396.)

"The Herreshoff Manufacturing Company is building a handsome steam yacht for Professor Fairman Rogers, of Philadelphia. Her length is one hundred feet, breadth 17 feet, depth eight feet. Her machinery and crew's quarters will be in the stern, and the saloon, state rooms, etc will be located forward. Her owner intends taking his family to Florida in this yacht and live on board, the craft next winter. The vessel is to be completed ready for delivery early the coming month. Prof. Rogers was in town last week." (Source: Anon. "Locals." Bristol Phoenix, July 28, 1883, p. 2.)

"Magnolia, steam yacht, of Philadelphia.
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., 1883.
45.53 net tons; 92.4 ft. x 17.6 ft. x 9.2 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, two masts, plain head, round stern.
Surveyed and measured, August 2, 1883." (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Magnolia.)

"[License on enrollment issued out of the port of Bristol. 32:]
Magnolia, steam yacht, of Philadelphia.
Built at Bristol, 1883.
91.06 gross tons, 45.54 net tons; 92.4 ft. x 17.6 ft. x 9.2 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
No specifications shown.
Lic[ensed] (temporary) [as] (yacht) Aug. 24, 1883. Owner: Fairman Rogers of Pennsylvania. Master:[blank].
License surrendered Nov. 21, 1883 at Philadelphia. ([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. Magnolia.)

"The steam yacht Magnolia, built for Prof. Fairman Rogers, of Philadelphia, by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., of this town, was successfully launched from the ways about 8 o'clock last Saturday [August 18, 1883] morning. The Magnolia is one hundred feet in length, seventeen feet in breadth and eight feet depth of hold; Prof. Rogers and his family were present to witness the launching." (Source: Anon. "Local Affairs." Bristol Phoenix, August 25, 1883, p. 2.)

"The new Steam yacht Magnolia, built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., for Prof. Fairmon Rogers, sailed from this port Monday [August 27, 1883], and after making a short cruise in the vicinity of Point Judith, anchored in Newport harbor, where she attracted much attention. The Newport correspondent of the Providence Press says: 'It is understood that Prof. Rogers is more than satisfied with jher. She will remain in these waters, until cold weather, when she will go to Florida, with the professor's family, for the winter.' " (Source: Anon. "Local Affairs." Bristol Phoenix, September 1, 1883, p. 2.)

"... The steam yacht Magnolia, N.Y.Y.C., Mr. Fairman Rogers, just back from Florida after a cruise of five months, has arrived at Herreshoff's works, and will be refitted there for the season. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachting Notes." New York Herald, May 19, 1884, p. 5.)

"The steam yacht Magnolia, built last season by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., arrived here Saturday for the purpose of having some slight repairs and improvements made, by her builders. The Magnolia is a fine vessel, well built, and a good sailer." (Source: Anon. "Local Affairs." Bristol Phoenix, May 24, 1884, p. 2.)

"THE HERRESHOFF WORKS AT BRISTOL. ... Of late years [the Herreshoffs] have turned their attention to steam and have given to the engineering world the Herreshoff engine and coil boiler. The list of steam yachts is a long one, including some of the fastest afloat, Leila [#40p], Aida [#92p ex-Permelia], Permelia [sic, double-counted, #92p], Ossabaw [#101p], (No. 100) [#100p Permelia], Gleam [#65p], Marina [#105p], Orienta [#89p], Nereid [#83p], Magnolia [#104p], Camilla [#72p], Dolphin [#54p], Xantho [#99p], Juliet [#78p], Sinbad [#49p]. ..." (Source: Anon. (W. P. Stephens). "The Herreshoff Works at Bristol." Forest and Stream, April 16, 1885, p. 236, 237.)

"Mr. Fairman Rogers's steam yacht Magnolia has lately been completely overhauled by Herreshoff and will leave shortly on another cruise to Florida... " (Source: Anon. "Yachting Notes." Forest and Stream, October 29, 1885, p. 275.)

"Regular Meeting [of the Engineer's Club of Philadelphia, Pa.], November 15th, 1884. Mr. Fairman Rogers described his Steam Yacht 'Magnolia,' built in 1882, by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, Rhode Island. The following conditions were required to be fulfilled in her design: Light draft, not more than 4 ft., length and breadth such as to enable her to pass through the Erie Canal locks, which are 100 x 18 ft., flat floor, large accommodations for cruising and for a long residence of the owner's family on board, flush deck, no projection of steam drums, etc., above deck, except the smoke-sfack. Low speed, not less than 8 miles per hour. Minimum head room below, 6 ft. 6 ins. Adapted specially for inland cruising along the Atlantic coast. She turned out to be entirely satisfactory. Her ordinary speed is 10 miles, maximum 11 1/2 miles. She has twin screws 36 ins. diameter, 50 ins. pitch, two compound condensing engines, 6 ins. and 10 1/2 ins. x 10 ins. --- 45 lbs. steam, 270 turns per minute. Two flat coil square boilers. Entire motive power weighs five tons. Consumption of coal (anthracite) 165 to 200 lbs. per hour. Carries 15 tons. She is schooner rigged and sails six knots dragging her screws. Bent oak frames, 3 ins. x 3 ins.; yellow pine planking, 2 3/8 ins., white pine deck, 2 ins.; mahogany rail and deck fittings." (Source: Anon. "The Steam Yacht Magnolia." Engineers and Engineering, vol. 5, 1885, p. 71.)

"The following is a list of the steam yachts built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol, R.I: ... Magnolia, built 1883, for Fairman Rogers, Philadelphia Length, 99 feet; breadth, 17 feet 6 inches; depth, 8 feet 6 inches; draught, 4 feet; speed, 11 1/2 miles per hour. This vessel has twin screws, and is the only yacht of this kind in the United States. ..." (Source: Jaffray, Edward S. "American Steam Yachting." Outing, April 1886, p. 23-25.)

"FOR SALE --- The Steam Yacht Magnolia, flush deck, length 99 feet , beam 17 feet 6 inches, draught of water 5 feet has saloon 17 feet square, five staterooms and bathroom in owner's quarters, which are forward of machinery; yacht is thoroughly furnished in every particular and is in perfect order; has a new boiler. For further particulars inquire of JOHN B HERRESHOFF, Bristol, R. I., where the yacht can be seen." (Source: Anon. [Classified Ad.] New York Herald, September 10, 1893, p. 12.)

"[Magnolia (Steamyacht) owned by Henry Belknap, Port: Greenport, L. I.; LOA 99ft; LWL 93ft; Beam 17.6ft; Draft 4.10ft; designed by Herreshoff Mfg. Co and built by Herreshoff Mfg. Co in 1883.]" (Source: Stebbins 1896 Yachtsmen's Album, p. 11.)

"No. 2311 --- For Sale --- Attractive power houseboat, owned by an estate which is most anxious to dispose of her. 99 ft. o. a., 93 ft. w.L, 17 ft. 6 in. beam, 4 ft. 8 in. draught. Best possible construction. Built by Herreshoff. Awnings and sails in good condition. Has five large staterooms, bathroom and saloon below. 7 ft. 6 in. headroom. Dining saloon on deck. Carries four boats, including a launch. Equipped with two 25-h.p. Globe motors; complete acetylene gas plant; speed 9 miles an hour. Rails, skylights, all deck joinerwork and pilothouse of mahogany. Can be inspected in New York. Owner will sell at an unusually attractive price. For further particulars apply to Tams, Lemoine & Crane, 52 Pine Street, New York City. [The accompanying photo and described dimensions clearly identify the vessel as #104p Magnolia.]" (Source: Anon. "For Sale." Rudder, March 1910, p. 262.)

"American Merchant Vessels Sold to Aliens and Reported During the Year Ended June 30, 1919. ... 91592 [Official No.], Ga.s. [gas engine, screw], Magnolia [name], 88 [Gross tons], Mexican [Flag], Aug. 1, 1918 [Date of sale]. ...[Note: The date of sale, 1918, implies that the report was published before the sale took place.]" (Source: Annual Report of the Commissioner of Navigation to the Secretary of Commerce, Washington 1917, p. 159.)

"Rather than having the usual long deckhouse, NGH raised Magnolia's sheer for headroom under the deck itself --- an unusual and rather good-looking configuration for a Herreshoff steam yacht, and a natural outcome of the vessel's very shallow draft. An exquisite Whitehall-type owner's gig is hanging from davits, where it can be easily lowered for use at the boarding platform.
Magnolia was built for comfort rather than speed, her twin screws giving her a speed of only 11 1/2 m.p.h. Nevertheless, with this, the first of the powered houseboats, owner Fairman Rogers of Philadelphia enjoyed a number of winter trips to southern waters. " (Source: Bray, Maynard and Carlton Pinheiro. Herreshoff of Bristol. Brooklin, Maine, 1989, p. 22.)

"[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).)
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"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Work order notebook [Titled Nathl G. Herreshoff, Esq., Bristol R.I.; 1882-1887, mostly signed by N.G.H., later ones by C.H.K.; material and item orders relating to #400s CONSUELO, #401s ROMP and steamers #89p, #99p, #100p, #101p, #102p, #104p, #105p, #106p, #110p, #111p, #113p, #118p, #119p, #120p, #122p, #123p, #140p, #146p; many orders from the marine store of A. B. Babbitt at Tiverton]." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Work Order Notebook. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.120-04. Box HAFH.6.4B, Folder Casting Record Books Sketch and Order Book 1882-1887 NGH CHK. 1882 to 1887.)
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"[Item Description:] Casting Book # 1, steamers #99p, #100p, #101p, #102p, #103p, #104p, #105p, #106p, #107p, #108p, #109p, #110p, #111p, #112p, #113p, #114p, #115p, #116p [castings by hull number]. Undated, vessels mentioned were built between 1883 and 1884. Note considerable informational overlap with Casting Book # 4, which also contains data for all of the boats mentioned in this book, although it appears (!) that Book # 4 lists more patterns per boat than Book # 1. Likewise, considerable overlap with sometimes identical information with Casting Book # 2." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.120-09. Castings Book 1. Box HAFH.6.4B, Folder Casting Record Books Vessel Castings Book 1. No date (1883 to 1884).)
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"[Item Description:] Mounted albumen photograph of #104p MAGNOLIA." (Source: Child, Frank H. (creator). Photograph. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.155. Box HAFH.6.7B, Folder Photographs. No date (1883 or later).)
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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (in ink and pencil) experiments and trials booklet titled 'Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Experiments 1883 to 1884'. Relevant contents:
§17: #104p MAGNOLIA Trial Run [best speed 11.28mph =9.8kn] (1883-10-11&12 & 1883-08)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_03950. Folder [no #]. 1883-03 to 1884-04.)
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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., Sept[ember] 3rd 1885
Dear Daughter Kate,
Your P[ost] / C[ard] rec'd. Hope you will find Princeton as pleasant as Uxbridge. I have been busy at the office this week. We have had the MAGNOLIA [#104p], MARINA [#105p] & LADOGA [#123p] here to paint, varnish preparatory to the GENESTA [America's Cup] races. I do not expect to go, as duties here will not permit.
I miss you very much and hope we shall meet soon. All are well as usual.
Aunt Carrie is out today.
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_6080. HMM Library Rare Books Room (Various), Folder [no #]. 1885-09-03.)
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"[Item Description:] Casting Book # 2 [B (there is another Casting Book # 2)] showing hull castings as per title only for steamers #148p Our Mary and #149p Jersey Lily. Contents, however, also include castings for other boats including #188903es Yawl Boat for #157p Aquila, #405s Alice, #406s Iris, #54p Dolphin, #65p Gleam, #104p Magnolia, #104p Magnolia, #133p Henrietta, #151p Ballymena, #152p Cushing, #155p Augusta [III], #156p Antoinette, #157p Aquila, #158p Launch for Seal Fishing, and #162p Judy. Also listed are many parts for a quadruple engine (probably for #152p Cushing or for #150p Say When or #151p Ballymena). While other casting lists record both castings made at home and at outside foundries, this book appears to list only castings made at outside foundries and none at home. A first part of the booklet from front to about the middle shows casting numbers, descriptions, numbers of castings and foundry where made with dates ranging from Sept 10, [1887] to Dec 14 [1889]. A second, upside down, part of the booklet begins at the end and then goes back to the middle showing for the same date range 'Patterns sent away' with pattern numbers and names of foundries these were sent to. A further section then shows castings required for #152p Cushing and as well as castings required for Lagging, Pumping Engines, Feed Pump and Air Pump, all these possibly also for #152p Cusing. A final section shows 'Patterns ordered home' with pattern numbers, foundry names these were received from and dates ranging from Sept 12 [1887] to Dec 16 [1889]." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.120-03. Castings Book 2B. Box HAFH.6.4B, Folder Casting Record Books Hull Castings Order Book 2. 1888-09-10 to 1889-12-14.)
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"[Item Description:] Printed club circular titled 'The Philadelphia Yacht Club. February 15, 1892' with list of members and officers and short general description. (The only owner of a Herreshoff-built boat is Fairman Rogers of Philadelphia, #104p MAGNOLIA)." (Source: Philadelphia Yacht Club (creator). Printed Yacht Club Circular. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE15_03130. Folder [no #]. 1892-02-15.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #104p Magnolia even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Magnolia (HMCo-made index card)
• Magnolia (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: Magnolia
Type: Steam
Length: 99'
Owner: Rogers, Fairman

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

• Magnolia
• 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: Magnolia
Type: 99' steam
Owner: Fairman Rogers
Year: 1883
Row No.: 398

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: 1883
E/P/S: P
No.: 104
Name: Magnolia
OA: 99'

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. #104 - 88Ft. long. 6 1/2+10 1/2x10 Eng[ine]. L Sq[uare] Double [Boiler]. ... " (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.)

"Magnolia was a very unusual steam yacht which had two steam engines, the first of her kind built by the HMCo and apparently the first of her kind in the U.S." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. February 15, 2009.)

"Magnolia initially had an unprotected forward steering station. By 1893 it had been protected with a forward wheelhouse." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 6, 2009.)

"In the absence of better available data displacement was estimated by using the figure for Old Measurement Tons (132) from the 1885 Olsen's American Yacht List (New Measurement Tons were reported as 45.53) 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.