HMCo #208p Florence

"[1899-11-10] Fri 10: ... John sold his st[eame]r [#205p Eugenia III] now building to Mr. Alker. [Sic. Alphonse H. Alker would subsequently contract for #208p Florence, a slightly longer sistership.]
[1900-01-18] Thu 18: ... Placed[?] keel for #208 [Florence].
[1900-01-19] Fri 19: ... Began setting up frames on #208 [Florence]. Mrs. DeW[olf] returned from Prov[idence]. Mr. Low here.
[1900-01-25] Thu 25: ... Began planking #208 [Florence].
[1900-02-12] Mon 12: ... Cast lead under st[eame]r #208 [Florence].
[1900-02-17] Sat 17: ... #508 [sic, i.e. #208p Florence] planked & deck frame in, also watertight bulkheads in.
[1900-02-21] Wed 21: ... Began laying deck on #208 [Florence].
[1900-03-15] Thu 15: ... Began moving #208 [Florence] over ways. ...
[1900-03-19] Mon 19: Fresh SSW [wind]. Rain in evening. Launched #208 (Florence). ...
[1900-04-12] Thu 12: ... Mr. Meyer & son here. Also Mr. [Alphonse H.] & Mrs. [Florence] Alker [owners of #208p Florence and future owners of #626s Alera]. ...
[1900-05-01] Tue 1: ... Made operational trial of Florence [#208p]. Mr. [A. H.] Alker & Vanderbilt here. ...
[1900-05-10] Thu 10: Cold [with] strong NW [wind]. Ice 1/8in. thick this a.m. Florence [#208p] left for NY early.
[1900-12-08] Sat 8: Clear & fine [with] fresh] W [wind]. Took out float stages and moved s[team] y[acht] Florence [#208p] at Love Rocks wharf for the winter.
[1901-12-04] Wed 4: Strong NW [wind] & cold. New ways finished at head of cove & got Florence [#208p] to haul out, but tide was too low.
[1901-12-06] Fri 6: ... Hauled out Florence [#208p].
[1905-08-13] Sun 13: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] 4th Cruise, 5th day. From New London towards Norwich & New London. Overcast &[sic; in] a.m. Thunder squall & showers in p.m. Dressed ship at colors. In afternoon, got underway at 2 just as squall struck. Waited until it passed and took onboard the Meyer [owners of #628s Atair and #539s Altair] and Alker [owners of #626s Alera, #446s Alerion II, #581s Alert ex-Bogey, #213p Florence ex-Quickstep and #208p Florette ex-Florence] families for a run up the river to Norwich. Underway at 2-42. Passed bridge at 3. Arrived at Norwich [at] 4-10. Arrived back at squadren at 6 p.m. All had a very pleasant afternoon.
[1906-07-26] Thu 26: [No entry.] [From the #215p Roamer log book:] 4th Cruise, 6th day. From Larchmont towards Great Neck. Fine & partly clear. Easterly wind, fresh to light. In morning, moved anchorage out to end of breakwater to see the races better. With 3 boys, sailed in Irolita [#658s] and were beaten but considering [the] circumstances [found] her performance very satisfactory. Queen [#657s] again easily beat Elmina. About 5-15 [got] underway and ran to Great Neck off the Alker’s [owners of #626s Alera, #446s Alerion II, #581s Alert ex-Bogey, #213p Florence ex-Quickstep and #208p Florette ex-Florence] place & anchored for the night (1/2 speed). 240 [#240p], in meantime, ran over to Glen Cove for the mail." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1899 to 1906. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff [1899-1901]. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection, St.Y. Roamer Logbooks [1905-1906].)

"April 21st, 1900
Preliminary trial of Florence #208.
Wind 8[miles from] SSW. Tide flood.
Equipment not all on board.
On 3 knot course. Bristol Ferry to Sandy Pt.
[Followed by tabulated trial run data with mean speed being 11.35k[n] = 13.07mph]
Running very steadily with about 220[lbs] boiler [pressure], 210 steamchest ... Has new 5 5/8 - 8 & 12 1/2 x 7 enclosed engine and 36in x 42? power[?].
May 1st 1900
Official Trial of Florence (#208)
On 3 knot course, Bristol Ferry to Sandy Pt.
Wind NW, 12 to 20 miles. Tide 2/3 ebb of nearly string tide. Vessel rather light, not all furnishings on board and about 1 ton coal.
[Followed by tabulated trial run data with mean speed being 11.38kn = 13.11mph]
Speed required 13m[ph].
Everything working well ... Mean tide, 1st interval, 1.64k[n] [=] 1.89m[iles] ..." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Handwritten note in Trials Booklet '1898 - 1909' under date of April 21, 1900 and May 1, 1900. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum.)

"... The steam yacht Florence, building by Herreshoff for Alphonse H. Alker, New York Yacht Club, and named for his wife, was launched at Bristol on Monday [March 19, 1900]. She will be taken to Walker's Cove, where the remaining work will be completed. She will be ready for service about May 1. The lines of the Florence are similar to those of the Eugenia [#205p], formerly owned by John B. Herreshoff. The Florence, however, is much the larger yacht. There are two large mahogany deckhouses, and her engine is designed to drive her at 14 knots per hour. There are four staterooms, a bath room, and a dining room on deck. ..." (Source: Anon. (W. J. H.) "Notes for the Yachtsmen." New York Times, March 21, 1900, p. 5.)

"A large and handsome steam yacht, built for A. H. Alker of New York and named Florence, was successfully launched from the north construction shop of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company last Monday [March 19, 1900].
The yacht in her cradle slid gracefully down the greased ways into the harbor. There was no formality attending the launching which was entirely successful.
The lines of the yacht are very hand some and are very similar to the Eugenia formerly owned by John B. Herreshoff, except that the Florence is considerably larger. The new yacht is painted white with a gold stripe on the topstrake and has two good sized mahogany deck houses.
She will be rigged as a schooner for auxiliary power. The yacht is equipped with one of the new style Herreshoff cased engines, which, although small, are very powerful, and the yacht will make a speed of fourteen miles an hour. The interior of the yacht is finished in butternut and the accommodations are well arranged.
Mr. Alker has a fine residence on Madison avenue, New York. The yacht is named after Mrs. Alker and will be enrolled in the New York Yacht Club. There is considerable work to be done on the yacht yet before it is completed and ready to go away.
The Herreshoff company is rushed with work at present and the shops are very busy places, 250 men being employed on the craft of various kinds in course of construction." (Source: Anon. "Launching of a New Steam Yacht." Bristol Phoenix, March 23, 1900, p. 3.)

"... The new steam yacht which the Herreshoffs have built for Alphonse H. Alker, of the New-York Yacht Club, was launched on Wednesday [March 21, 1900]. She has been named the Florence, after Mrs. Alker. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachting." New York Tribune, March 25, 1900, p. B2.)

"Florence (Florette), steam screw yacht, of [blank].
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.
53.09 gross tons, 36.10 net tons; 87 ft. x 13.8 ft. x 7.6 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, two masts, overhanging head, overhanging stern.
Surveyed and measured, March 29, 1900. [With inlaid letter, dated May 16, 1938, from Joseph J. Cunningham, Collector of Customs, Marine Department to Collector of Customs in New Orleans, La. answering a request for a cpy of Cat. no 1410 of the Steam yacht 'Florette' built in this district in 1900 (121129) and reponding that No. 121129, according to his records was assigned to Steam yacht Florence and these records and data he sends as per request.]" (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Florence.)

"BRISTOL, R. I. April 21 [1900]. --- ... The masts of the steam yacht Florence were stepped a few days ago. They rest in a countersunk plate on the deck and do not extend into the hold. The craft is schooner rigged. Her owner, Mr. Alker of New York, inspected her on Monday. ..." (Source: Anon. "Yachts near Completion." New York Times, April 22, 1900, p. 12.)

"[Abstract of register or enrollment. Pos. 335:]
Florence (Florette), steam screw yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1900.
53.09 gross tons, 36.10 net tons; 87 ft. x 13.8 ft. x 7.6 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, two masts, overhanging head [bow].
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) Apr. 25, 1900. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: N. G. Herreshoff.
Surrendered [license] May 12, 1900 at New York. Name changed to Florette. ([Record at:] N[ational] A[rchives, Washington])." (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. Florence (Florette).)

"BRISTOL, R. I., May 5 [1900]. --- ... A. H. Alker's new steam yacht Florence is about ready to leave Bristol, as the finishing touches were being put on her yesterday by workmen from the shops. Her sails were being fitted, and her crew has arrived and are on board. ..." (Source: Anon. "Mineola Ready for Trial." Boston Globe, May 6, 1900, p. 29.)

"The 110-foot steam yacht Florence lately built at Herreshoffs, was given a trial Saturday [May 5, 1900], and exceeded her contract speed. She will leave for New York this week. The Florence is owned by A H Alker, and is commanded by Capt. M. Pratt." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, May 8, 1900, p. 2.)

"Steam yacht Florence, owned by A. H. Alker of New York, having been fitted out for the season, left this week for New York to go into commission." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, May 31, 1901, p. 2.)

"The steam yacht Florence, owned by A. H. Alker of New York, was launched from the Walker's Cove yard Thursday morning and is now being fitted out for the season at the Herreshoff shops. John Campbell is chief engineer of the craft." (Source: Anon. "Busy at Herreshoff's." Bristol Phoenix, May 3, 1904, p. 3.)

"The steam yachts Augusta [#146p] and Florence [#208p] are at the Herreshoff shops. The ... Florence, which belongs to A.H. Alker of New York, is having a new electric apparatus installed." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, August 26, 1904, p. 2.)

"The steam yacht Florence, owned by A. H. Alker of New York, was launched from the Walker's Cove yard Thursday morning and is now being fitted out for the season at the Herreshoff shops. John Campbell is chief engineer of the craft." (Source: Anon. "Busy at Herreshoffs." Bristol Phoenix, May 3, 1904, p. 3.)

"Mrs. Farley's 52-rater racing sloop yacht, Sonya [#624s], recently built by the Herreshoffs, arrived in New York Wednesday [March 22, 1905] morning, having been towed to that city by the steam yacht Florence [#208p]. ...
James W. Alker and Henry H. Maxwell, prominent yachting men of New York, and H. E. Converse of Boston were in town this week. The fast steam yacht Quickstep [#213p to be renamed Florence II], recently purchased by Mr Alker, and the Parthenia [#222p], purchased by Mr. Converse, are being overhauled preparatory for cruising the coming season. All three men registered at the Belvedere Hotel." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, March 28, 1905, p. 2.)

"The boat yards of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. at Walker's Cove, Bristol, R. I., which ordinarily about this time of the year present a very busy appearance, seem to be in line with the general trend of boating at the present time and there is but very little doing. The same condition exists in the three shops of the company, nearly all of the employees of which have been laid off until further orders are received.
Herreshoff was fortunate in having his yards selected as the winter resting place of numerous craft, of all sizes, and kinds, and last fall it was expected that the following spring would be one of the busiest seasons which the company had had for some time past. It is believed by the Bristol yachtsmen, however, that the recent panic affected to a greater or less degree the sport, which is a very costly one. Indeed, and not until the effects of the panic have worn off will there be as great interest and activity manifested as there was last year.
There are now at Walker's cove the steam yacht Florence [#213p ex-Quickstep], owned by A. H. Alker of New York, and the Florette [#208p ex-Florence], a smaller craft, which is also owned by Mr. Alker; ...
Both of Mr. Alker's yachts are being fitted out, and will be put overboard within a short time. ..." (Source: Anon. "Little Business At Boat Yards. Herreshoff's Yard Very Dull For This Timee Of The Year." New London, April 21, 1908, p. 8.)

"... A. H. Alker's steam yacht Floretta [sic, i.e. #208p Florette ex-Florence] is being overhauled at Walker's cove and the sloop Duchess [#566s ex-Arria], owned by Joseph E. Fletcher Jr., was launched from there recently and is now ready to go into commission for the season." (Source: Anon. [No Title.] Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 21, 1910, p. 4).

"John Campbell, engineer on the steam yacht Florette, owned by A. H Alker, has returned home. The boat will be stored for the winter at the Walker Cove yards of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, September 23, 1910, p. 2.)

"... The steam yacht Florette has been chartered for Commodore A. H. Alker of the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club to W. W. Frazier, who will use the boat at Bar Harbor. ..." (Source: Anon. "Many Yachts Change Hands." New York Sun, July 30, 1911, p. C11.)

"J. W. Alker's Steam Yacht Florette Consumes One-Half Ton Of Coal A Day at Ten Knots with Small Supply of Fuel.
At this, time, when so many of the world's cleverest engineers and chemists are considering mechanical devices and fuels to be used in internal combustion motors to lower the cost of operation, that old, reliable power, steam, appears to be forgotten, or, if not forgotten, at least relegated to the background.
However, there are some remarkable examples of inexpensive operation of steam plants, and one in particular, the steam yacht Florette, shows up so well as to cause one to believe that engineering has not progressed so rapidly as we are prone to believe.
The Florette belongs to James W. Alker, of the New York and Manhasset Bay Yacht clubs, and was designed and built by the Herreshoffs at Bristol in 1900. She is 98 feet long, with a beam of 13 feet. 10 inches and a good, wholesome draught of 6 feet, her net tonnage being 36 and gross 53. She has a triple expansion engine, 5 5/8, 8 and 12 1/2 by 7 inches, made by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, and a boiler of the same make.
This sturdy little steam yacht is operated on a fuel consumption of half a ton of coal a day for a ten hour day, and jogs along at ten knots. Except when cruising or on some special long run one man serves as engineer and fireman, and the power plant has never caused trouble.
The cost of operating, as regards fuel, would be $3 a day, with coal at $6 a ton, whereas, to drive the same hull at the same speed at least a 150-horse power gasolene motor would be necessary, and the cost of operating on gasolene at what would be decidedly economical internal combustion marine practice of four-fifths of a pint per H. P. H., would represent fifteen gallons an hour, which, multiplied by the present price of gasolene of twenty-five cents a gallon, would equal $3.75 an hour, against $3 a day for the old fashioned coal burning steam plant.
Objections to Steam.
The chief objections to steam plants as usually cited are the necessity and expense of having a licensed steam engineer and the heat generated, but, as regards the latter, the boilers of the Florette do not in any way make things uncomfortable on board, while as regards the first objection a really worth while internal combustion mechanic is paid as much as if not more than a licensed engineer, and from the experience of many owners with mechanicians who have been unable to operate their motors satisfactorily, it seems as though the man who had passed some official examination and was duly licensed was far preferable.
The amount of space occupied by the Florette's steam plant is little if any larger than that required or at any rate allotted to internal combustion plants, and that includes bunker room, too, though fuel oil might be used to even greater advantage as regards space occupied and at practically the same operating cost.
To be sure, steam plants are not suited for small cruisers, express craft, &c., but for the vessel of more than seventy-five feet in length, where a fair speed and operation at lowest cost are desired, it appears to be a most satisfactory medium. [Article is accompanied by a photo of Florette.]" (Source: Anon. "Steam Power Possesses Advantage of Economy." New York Herald, August 14, 1916, p. 13.)

"BARGAIN. --- Steam yacht FLORETTE. 98x13.10x5 ft.; triple expansion Herreshoff keel condensing engine; 1916 Roberts boiler; two deck houses; ideal for the fishing banks; consumption 1.300 lbs. coal per day; price until June 13. $2.500. FORD. 30 East 42d St., New York." (Source: Anon. [Classified Ad.] New York Evening Telegram, June 5, 1920, p. 10.)

"BIGGEST BARGAIN around New York, the 98 ft. steam yacht FLORETTE, $2,500; triple expansion condensing engine. 1916 Roberts boiler, copper tanks: somebody's opportunity to make money. See FORD. 30 East 42d St., New York." (Source: Anon. [Classified Ad.] New York Evening Telegram, June 25, 1920, p. 16.)

"Providence, R.I. May 16, 1938.
Collector Of Customs, New Orleans, La.
Sir:-
Your request of the 13th Inst, is at hand asking for a copy of Cat. No. 1410 of the Steam yacht 'Florette' built in this district in 1900 (121129).
No 121129, according to our records was assigned to 'Steam yacht Florence', and these records and data, we send you as per your request.
Respectfully, Joseph J Cunningham, Collector of Customs.
Deputy Collector of Customs Marine Department." (Source: Collector of Customs.
Deputy Collector of Customs Marine Department, Providence, R.I. Letter to Collector of Customs, New Orleans. May 16, 1938. Inlaid in: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum). s.v. st. y. Florence, March 29, 1900.)

"Treasury Department, United States Customs Service, Office Of The Deputy Collector
Gulfport, Miss., Nov. 7th, 1938.
Collector of Customs, Providence;, R. I.
Sir: Due to readmeasurement by reason of Tonnage Changed, this office is anxious to secure a copy of Cat. 1410, original admeasurement of the Am. Ga.s. Yacht 'Florette' (181129), built in Bristol, R. I. in 1900.
The present document, P.Y.E. No. 11, issued at New Orleans, La., May 28th, 1938, does not show the place of original measurement, but it is assumed that this was done in your district.
Respectfully, Deputy Collector, Palmer R. Wise." (Source: Office Of The Deputy Collector, Gulfport, Miss. Letter to Collector of Customs, Providence, R. I. November 7th, 1938. Inlaid in: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum). s.v. st. y. Florence, March 29, 1900.)

"Sapphire (SP 710)
Patrol Yacht: Built in 1900 by the Herreshoff Mfg. Co., Bristol, RI; Acquired by the Navy, 8 June 1917; Commissioned, 14 September 1917; Decommissioned, 16 December 1918 and returned to her owner. Fate unknown.
Specifications: Displacement 53 t.; Length 98'; Beam 14'; Draft 5' 9"; Speed 10 kts.; Complement 19; Armament one 6-pounder and one .30 cal. machine gun.
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships:
Sapphire
A precious stone of transparent rich blue corundum.
On 8 June 1917, after the United States entered World War I, Sapphire (SP-710), a single-screw, wooden yacht built in 1900 by Herreshoff Mfg. Co., Bristol, R.I., was enrolled in the Naval Coast Defense Reserve by her owner, Jeremiah Milbank of New York City; and commissioned on 14 September 1917 at Brooklyn, N.Y., Ensign John J. Montgomery, USNRF, in command.
After fitting out for naval service at Tebo's Yacht Basin, Sapphire joined the Section Patrol of the 3d Naval District on 14 July 1918. Sapphire patrolled the waters off Execution Light, alternating with or joining Sturdy (SP-82), Jimetta (SP-878), and Josephine (SP-913). Inactive from 20 November 1918, she was transferred from Section Base No. 7 to New York harbor on 10 December 1918.
Sapphire was towed by Minerva (SP-425) to Robert Jacob's shipyard on 16 December 1918, decommissioned, and returned to her owner the same day." (Source: http://navsource.org/archives/12/170710.htm, retrieved March 17, 2007.)

"N/A"

"[Item Transcription:] Typewritten (carbon copy) table with penciled additions listing boats built 1899/1900 with columns labeled 'Design [in pencil]', 'Shop. No.', 'Length', 'Planking', 'Delivery', 'Owner' followed by penciled data for Boat Name and Actual Delivery Date. Relevant contents:
#208p [Length:] 98ft [Planking:] Y[ellow] P[ine] [Delivery:] May 1 [1900] [Owner:] A.H. Alker [Act. Delivery:] May 10 [1900] (FLORENCE)." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.. (creator) and Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_01290. Folder [no #]. No date (1900-02).)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten (in ink) letter:]
My dear Mr. Herreshoff,
I referred your letter to Mr Mac Lelland, the Alkers not having yet returned. Will enclose what he sends in reply. Will you kindly do to the ALERION [#446s] [p. 2] what else[?] you think will increase her speed.
Yours very sincerely,
Florence A. Alker
Great Neck, L.I.
Oct. 9th 1900 [Florence Alker was the namesake of #208p FLORENCE]." (Source: Alker, Florence A. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_04180. Folder [no #]. 1900-10-09.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled table with steam engine data ('Boiler [pressure], 'SS', '1st Int', '2 Int', 'Vac[uum]', 'R[evolutions]') for FLORENCE [#208p], EUGENIA [#205p] (in 1902 and 1904), ROAMER [#215p] (in 1902, 1904 and 1905), SUNBEAM [#229p], MIST [#235p], and PARTHENIA [#222p]." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_01400. Folder [no #]. No date (1905 or later).)
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"[Item Description:] Handwritten notebook. This booklet had two lives: In 1907-1908, 1908-1909 and 1909-1910 it was used for winter storage records, listing name of boat, owner, storage location, billed amount, and dates of storage. Listed were for the winter of 1907/1908: #235p MIST, ORIANA, #571s LARIKIN, EAGLET, #453s VAQUERO II, #580s TRIVIA, #663s ISTALENA, COSSACK, #666s AVENGER, #220p ATALA (for sale), #207p MIRAGE, #224p EUGENIA, #146p AUGUSTA, #247p SEA URCHIN, #105p COSETTE, ARLINE, #213p FLORENCE, #208p FLORETTE, #249p SISILINA, #591s IROLITA, #481s SPALPEEN, DUCHESS, #669s ELEANOR, #460s KILDEE, #647s CAPRICE, #408s PELICAN, #243p SWIFTSURE, #617s COCK ROBIN, #177p VANISH, #446s ALERION, and #591s IROLITA I, for the winter of 1908/1909: #666s AVENGER, #663s ISTALENA, #481s SPALPEEN, #580s TRIVIA, #617s COCK ROBIN, COSSACK, #177p VANISH, #242p #242, #243p SWIFTSURE, SKIP, #446s ALERION, CHEWINK II, DUCHESS, #571s LARIKIN, #460s KILDEE, #679s PEPITA, EAGLET, #408s PELICAN, #453s VAQUERO, #146p AUGUSTA, #224p EUGENIA, COYOTE, #264p SARAH WEBB, #207p MIRAGE, ARLINE, #213p FLORENCE, #208p FLORETTE, #249p SISILINA, #591s IROLITA I, CASSANDRA 27ft Launch, and #263p CASSANDRA 34ft Launch, and for the winter of 1909/1910: #252p WANECHE (no further boats were listed). At some later time, the same book was turned upside down and inscribed with a new title in ink '200Ft Submarine Destroyer [#191802ep Unbuilt 200ft Submarine Chaser]. Data + Calculation Book. Herreshoff Mfg Co.' on its now-new front cover (formerly its back cover), followed by weight data estimates and calculations for this submarine destroyer." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Notebook. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.087. Box HAFH.6.2B, Folder Submarine Destroyer 200-Footer. 1907-1908, 1908-1909, 1909-1910, 1918-06.)
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"[Item Description:] Four handwritten (in ink) pages with tabulated data listing 'Shop No', 'Name', '[Tons] Gross' and '[Tons] Net' for a total of 100 HMCo-built boats and classes. Tonnage data is usually precise to two digits behind the decimal. Random comparisons suggest source of tonnage data to be official Custom House data. Boats mentioned are: #664s, #663s, #625s, #665s, #634s, #658s, #657s, #646s, #641s, #617s, #626s Class, #624s, #621s, #616s, #619s, #590s, #591s, #586s, #592 Class, #618s, #605s, #578s, #560s Class, #580s, #553s, #551s, #552s, #546s, #541s, #545s, #538s, #534s, #533s, #532s, #529s, #534s, #530s, #531s, #435s, #437s, #452s, #499s, #429s, #426s, #424s, #481s, #422s, #417s, #414s, #451s, #215p, #213p, #222p, #235p, #230p, #229p, #236p, #224p, #244p, #247p, #249p, #231p, #232p, #228p, #252p, #250p, #251p, #248p, #168p, #164p, #118p, #142p, #174p, #173p, #194p, #189p, #193p, #183p, #178p, #179p, #181p, #182p, #175p, #163p, #148p, #149p, #172p, #155p, #170p, #186p, #188p, #206p, #207p, #205p, #208p, #209p, #210p, #211p, #212p, #216p. Undated (the latest boat listed, WINSOME, was launched in 1907)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Handwritten List. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00220. Folder [no #]. No date (1907 or later).)
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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (mostly in pencil but also in ink) trials booklet titled '1898 - 1909'. Relevant contents:
§9: #208p FLORENCE Trial Run mean speed 11.38kn = 13.11mph (1900-04-21 & 1900-05-01)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE09_00060. Folder [no #]. 1898-09 to 1911-04.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #208p Florence even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Florence (HMCo-made index card)
• Florette ex-Florence (HMCo-made index card)
• Florette ex-Florence (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: Florence
Type: Steam
Length: 98'
Owner: Alker, A. H.

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

• Florence
• Florette ex-Florence
• Florette ex-Florence
• Sapphire ex-Florence
• 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: Florence
Type: 98' steamer
Owner: A. H. Alker
Year: 1900
Row No.: 231

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: 1899
E/P/S: P
No.: 208
Name: Florence
OA: 98'

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.

"Named after Alphonse H. Alker's wife Florence." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 3, 2010.)

"In the spring of 1905 Florence was taken over by A. H. Alker's son James W. Alker and renamed Florette. For the next decade she became tender to J. W. Alker's newly acquired New York 30 #626s Alera, as well as later #647s Alerion II ex Anemone II (acquired after the sale of Alera) and #446s Alerion II." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. April 5, 2012.)

"Steam engine rating 140hp from undated (1903 or later) diagram by N. G. Herreshoff titled 'Marine Engine. Weights and Prices' in the Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 24, 2019.)

"Marine Engine of Inclosed Type. 5 5/8 & 8 & 12 1/2 x 7, 615[rpm], 140[hp]. [Note:] 142 [hp in pencil]." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Handwritten List of HMCo-Made Steam Engines. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, MRDED1_00220. Undated, between 1903 and 1918.)

"Built in 59 days (setup to launch; equivalent to 1797 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"Displacement 53 [long or short?] t." (Source: http://navsource.org/archives/12/170710.htm, last visit March 17, 2007.)

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