HMCo #212p Dawn [II]

"[1901-07-08] Mon 8: Fine [with] light N & SW [wind]. ... Launched Tramp #210 [sic, i.e. #211p] and have order for sister steamer (#212) [Dawn]." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1901. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"Sept[ember] 12, 1901
Speed trial of Dawn #212
on 3 knot course, vessel rather light not all furnishings being on board. 6 on board.
Wind SSW 14[mph], tide 2/3 ebb.
Had to change course twice for vessels. Cross Creek Lehigh coal, draft bu blower.
Everything working well except thrust and guide rods running hot & lost 5in of vacuum in last run.
[Followed by tabulated trial run data with mean speed being 17.98 = 20.7mph]." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Handwritten note in Trials Booklet '1898 - 1909' under date of September 12, 1901. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum.)

"This same year Captain Nat designed a quite remarkable small steam yacht for August Belmont to act as a tender to the 'Mineola.' She was named 'Scout,' and eventually the Herreshoff Company built seven [sic, i.e. 9] of these fast steamers which were generally referred to as the Scout Class. They were all built on the same molds and had the same power plants but varied in length some fourteen feet, and, as I recall it, varied in speed from about twenty to twenty-one and a half miles per hour.
These were extremely smooth running yachts that were fine sea boats and economical in fuel consumption. Some of them lasted quite a long time and they were the forerunners in construction and general arrangement of many gasoline launches built by several builders." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. The Wizard of Bristol. The Life and Achievements of Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, together with An Account of Some of the Yachts he Designed. New York, 1953, p. 218, 220.)

"The 80-foot steamer, built for Howard Gould of New York, was launched Tuesday [July 9, 1901] afternoon from Herreshoffs' north shop. The name of the new steamer is Niagara II [#210p], and she is similar to the Tramp [#211p] launched the previous day from the same shop for W O. Gay of Boston. Tuesday the workmen began to set up the frames for another 80-footer steamer [#212p Dawn II] in the north shop, ordered by a New York yachtsman this week. [Note that NGH in his diary reports the launch to have been on July 8, 1901.]" (Source: Anon. "News and Notes of Local Interest." Bristol Phoenix, July 12, 1901, p. 2.)

"Dawn, steam yacht, of [blank].
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.
18.75 tons; 75.7 ft. x 10.7 ft. x 5.3 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, no mast, plain head, overhanging stern.
Surveyed and measured, September 4, 1901." (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Dawn.)

"The 80 footer steam launch, Dawn, built by the Herreshoff's for J. S. Newberry of Detroit, Mich., was launched from the north shop Tuesday [September 10, 1901] afternoon. The Dawn is very similar to several of the 80 footers built at Herreshoffs the last two seasons as tenders for larger yachts and was built for greater speed than any of its predecessors. A trial trip was given the yacht Thursday." (Source: Anon. "Yachting." Bristol Phoenix, September 13, 1901, p. 3.)

"[License issued to vessel under 20 tons. Pos. 63:]
Dawn, steam yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1901.
18.75 tons; 75.7 ft. x 10.7 ft. x 5.3 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
No specifications shown.
Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) Sept. 11, 1901. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: N. G. Herreshoff.
Surrendered [license] Oct. 8, 1901 at Detroit. ([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. Dawn.)

"... The desire among wealthy yachtsmen for high-speed steam craft developed about 1900. The Vamoose [#168p] was the pioneer in 1891, and held sway for several years, till the Yankee Doodle appeared in the field. The Javelin [#164p] followed and then the Now Then [#142p]. Each exceeded the speed of its predecessor slightly, the Now Then achieving the unheard-of record of twenty-one miles an hour.
How the mighty fall in yachting can be illustrated no better than by the fate of this quartet. The Javelin and Yankee Doodle have disappeared. Where the Javelin is none but the most dyed-in-the wool enthusiast can say. The Yankee Doodle blew up in the Raritan Canal. The Now Then is still in commission, owned by E. F. Luckenbach of this city, while the Vamoose is in the service of W. Lewisohn. Neither, if they were to be seen making twenty-odd miles on the Hudson, would attract more than a passing glance from the men among whom they once were the observed of all observers.
With the appearance of three Hereshoff flyers in 1900 they were all lost sight of. The first of the trio was the Niagara III, [#210p], built for Howard Gould. It achieved twenty-two miles in trials during its first year. The Scout [#203p], owned by August Belmont, followed, and finally the Mirage [#207p], built for Cornelius Vanderbilt. The three never met in an actual scheduled race, and their relative merit was a much-mooted question among yachtsmen. Many an impromptu brush they had, however, first one and then the other showing ahead. It was generally accepted, finally, that the Niagara III was the fastest of the lot, though followers of the other two would likely dispute it to-day.
The Vixen followed and achieved twenty-three miles in 1902, after several attempts to produce a boat that could excel the Niagara III's record had failed the previous year. There was the Sovereign II., built for M. C. D. Borden, which made twenty miles at best; T. H. Newberry's Dawn [#212p], which made about the same speed, and E. D. Randolph's Scud, which exceeded twenty-one. ... [Note, that the article confuses the sequence in which these high-speed yachts were built.]" (Source: Anon. "Gen. Ives Owns the World's Fastest Steam Yacht." New York Times, June 18, 1905, p. SM6.)

"... John S. Newberry has sold his speedy steam yacht Dawn to a New York man, and the boat will be taken to the coast at once. Dawn is a Herreshoff boat, 81 feet over all, 10 feet in beam, and draws 3 feet 6 inches. She is equipped with a triple expansion engine of Herreshoff manufacture which drives her at high speed. She was built in 1901. ..." (Source: Anon. "Busy Week for the Yachtsmen." Detroit Free Press, July 18, 1909, p. 18.)

"United States Customs Service
New York, N. Y.
February 20, 1936.
Collector of Customs, Providence, R.I.
Sir:
Please furnish this office at your earliest convenience with a copy of Cat. 1410, original figures of the gas screw CLOVER (157623) ex DAWN, built at Bristol, R.I. in 1901.
Any plans of vessel that you may obtain for us will be appreciated, it being understood that, they will be returned when purpose has been served.
Respectfully,
Assistant Surveyor." (Source: Collector of Customs, New York. Letter to Collector of Customs, Providence, R.I. February 20, 1936. 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. Dawn, September 4, 1901.)

"March 3, 1936.
Collector of Customs, New York, N.Y.
Sir;
In compliance with the request in your letter of the 20th. instant, we are sending you on Commerce Cat.1410 a copy of the record of admeasurement on Commerce Cat. 954e, (old form), of the St. s. DAWN, built by the Herreshoff Mfg. Co. at Bristol, Rhode Island, in 1901. There is in the possession of the builders the working plans from which several vessels of this class were built. But the builders are not willing that these plans should go out of their possession, except that they are willing that photostatic copies should be made of them. The only Government activity in this port with a photostatic machine is the U.S. Army Engineers and this machine cannot handle plans of this size, which we are told is about 23 in. by 52 in. We would be glad to have this photostatic work done by a commercial concern if in your opinion the advantages gained would justify the expense.
Respectfully, ..." (Source: Collector of Customs, Providence, R.I. Letter to Collector of Customs, New York. March 3, 1936. 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. Dawn, September 4, 1901.)

"Clover
(formerly Dawn)
The Steam Yacht Clover was very similar in design and specifications to the Stroller [#209p]. In fact, these Herreshoff boats were constructed the same year, 1901. Correspondingly, her original engine, steam, was of nearly the same dimensions as that of the Stroller. However, she had a full height deckhouse, longer trunk cabin, and her accommodations for cruising were, no doubt, more extensive. Then, too, there was no aft cockpit; the flush deck extended to the stern. The awning, full width, extended from the smokestack to the stern, covering the trunk cabin as well as the aft deck. The Clover did not seem to acquire the notoriety of the Stroller and her other contemporaries --- Jean [#194p], Lotus Seeker [#171p] and Now Then [#142p], yet she must have attained about their average speed of 20 M.P.H.
In 1907, as the Dawn, the yacht was owned by Mr. J. S. Newberry of Detroit, Michigan. Her Home Port and Port of Registry were Detroit. By 1910, she had been purchased by Mr. George C. Boldt of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City and Alexandria Bay, New York. The enormously wealthy Mr. Boldt built the magnificent but unfinished Castle on Heart Island near Alexandria Bay and was also owner of the above mentioned Hotel. We have the Home Port, only, at that time as New York City. By 1913 the Home Port had been changed to Alexandria Bay. The Port of Registry was Cape Vincent, New York. In 1920, the Clover was owned by the estate of Mr. Boldt, who had passed away. Her Home Port and Port of Registry remained as in 1913.
In 1923, she was owned by the Purdy Boat Company of Trenton, Michigan. We have her Home Port, only, then --- that city. Mr. A.C. Webb of Montauk, New York had purchased the yacht in 1929. Her Home Port became Miami, Florida. The Port of Registry is not in our records. The yacht's Registration Number was always 157623.
The Clover was designed by Mr. Nathaniel G. Herreshoff and built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company at Bristol, Rhode Island in 1901. Construction was of wood. Her specifications were as follow: Net Tons, 18; Gross Tons, 27; Overall Length, 81'; Waterline Length, 72'; Beam, 10' 9"; Depth, 5' 4"; Draft, 3' 6". Her original powerplant was a Herreshoff Triple Expansion Steam Engine, 6 1/4", 10", and 16" of bore and 9" of stroke. We have been unable to find a description of the original boiler, which was probably a Herreshoff Water Tube. It was replaced with a Seabury Water Tube Boiler in 1910. The steam powerplant was removed in 1922, we think, by the Purdy Boat Company. In 1924, a Speedway Gasoline Engine was installed, 4-stroke, 8-cylinder --- 5 3/4" of bore and 7" of stroke. Although it was powerful, we doubt that it could have produced as much speed as the steam engine.
Apparently, the Clover left the St. Lawrence sometime between 1920 and 1923. What a shame --- that such a picturesque craft departed from our beautiful River!
References:
Lloyd's Register of American Yachts, 1907, 1910, 1913, 1920, 1923 and 1929." (Source: Mercier, Gilbart B. Pleasure Yachts of the Thousand Islands. Clayton, New York, 1981, s.v. "Clover".)

"[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).)
① ② ③ ④

Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #212p Dawn [II] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Dawn (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Dawn (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: Dawn
Type: Steam
Length: 81'
Owner: Newbury, J. S.

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

• Dawn or Dawn
• Clover Dawn
• Dawn
• 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: Dawn
Type: 81' steamer
Owner: J. S. Newberry
Year: 1901
Row No.: 151

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: 1901
E/P/S: P
No.: 212
Name: Dawn
OA: 81"
LW: 72"

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.

"Steam engine rating 285hp 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 Open Type. 6 1/4 & 10 & 16 x 9, 610[rpm], 285[hp]. [Note:] 2100lbs [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.)

"In August 1903 NGH drew for John S. Newberry a preliminary plan for a 94ft steam launch. See plan HH.5.00290 (005-059) Preliminary drawing of high speed Launch 94' o.a. (1903-08-24)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. November 1, 2019.)



"Built in 64 days (contract to launch; equivalent to 844 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 (27) from the 1903 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (Net Register Tons were reported as 18) 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.