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Redfern Construction, Toronto ON

Most recent update: August 12, 2011.

This shipyard operated under at least nine different names over the course of a 55-year life, in which it built some 160 vessels.  It was started in 1890 by the well known Doty Engine Works and was taken over by Bertram Engineering Works in 1893.  Bertram began numbering their hulls at #10 while there is no evidence that Doty actually assigned hull numbers.  In 1905 the yard was sold to the Canadian Shipbuilding Company, which had just started an "Upper Lakes" shipyard in Bridgeburg, Ontario.  Canadian SB completed the contracts awarded to Bertram and began their own hull numbering sequence starting at 100.  Canadian SB failed in 1908 but was taken over and renamed Toronto Shipyards, carrying on the same hull numbering sequence.   Toronto Shipyards closed in 1910.  The abandoned site was taken over in 1913 by Thor Iron Works, who started a new series of hull numbers.  In 1917, Thor was in turn bought out and the yard was expanded and renamed Dominion Shipbuilding, moving to a new and larger yard nearby.  Dominion completed the vessels being built by Thor at the time of the purchase but then started another new hull number sequence for their own contracts.  This yard failed in July 1920 during a general strike and the ships then under construction (Hulls 10 and 11) were completed by Collingwood Shipyards, in Toronto, being given Collingwood's hull numbers 69 and 70.  The site then lay idle until World War II, when it was reactivated as Dufferin Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., but in October 1941 it was taken over by the Canadian Government and renamed Toronto Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.   It then became Redfern Construction Co., Ltd., in August 1943, but closed for good after the war.  The yard was located at Lake Shore Boulevard and Spadina Avenue.  The site is a bit inland today, but it wasn't back then: much of Toronto's current waterfront has been reclaimed from the lake.

Hull # Original Name O.N. Original Owner Vessel Type GT Built Disposition
Built by John Doty & Sons
  Primrose 94990 The Toronto Ferry Company Paddle Ferry 189 1890 rebuilt as barge 1938
  Mayflower 94987 The Toronto Ferry Company Paddle Ferry 189 1890 rebuilt as barge 1938
  Mistassini 100854 E.F. Wurtele  Frame & engine for paddle Steamer 249 1891 assembled at Roberval PQ, retired 1908
  Garden City 100035 Thomas Nihan Paddle Ferry 637 1892 broken up 1936
  Petrel 96917 Collins Bay Raft Company Frame  for Screw Steamer 346 1892 assembled at Collins Bay Ont, RCN service 1915-1921, retired 1927
  Medora 100754 Muskoka & Georgian Bay Navigation Company Frame & engine for paddle Steamer 299 1893 assembled at Gravenhurst, rebuilt 1902 (377gt), retired 1930, broken up 1941
Built by Bertram Engineering Works Company
10 Pembroke 103434 Upper Ottawa Improvement Co Ltd Paddle Towboat 194 1895 Assembled at Pembroke Ont. Broken up 1950
11 E.H. Bronson 103445 Upper Ottawa Improvement Co Ltd Paddle Towboat 285 1895 Assembled at Pembroke Ont. Converted to screw propulsion 1918, scrapped 1949
  Hiawatha 100768 Royal Canadian Yacht Club Tender 46 1895 Active
13              
14 Hamilton 103842 Upper Ottawa Improvement Co Ltd Paddle Towboat 320 1896 Assembled at Sand Point Ont. Converted to screw propulsion 1921, scrapped 1948
15 G.B. Greene 103882 Upper Ottawa Improvement Co Ltd Paddle Towboat 255 1896 Assembled at Quyon Que. Scrapped 1947
16 Corona 103673 Niagara Nav Co Ltd Passenger Ship 1,274 1896 Scrapped 1937
  Ahmic 103672 Muskoka & Georgian Bay Navigation Company Frame (?& machinery) for Excursion steamer  77 1896 Assembled at Gravenhurst, rebuilt 1903 & 1905, scrapped 1951
  Ethel 96863 The St. Lawence Terminal Company Ltd Barge 349 1897 scrapped 1965
  Edith 96865 The St. Lawence Terminal Company Ltd Barge 353 1897 register closed, believed scrapped
  Madge 96866 The St. Lawence Terminal Company Ltd Barge 335 1897 Scrapped 1951
  Belle 96868 The St. Lawence Terminal Company Ltd Barge 349 1897 later Coteau, scrapped 1957
  Undine 103681 The Rainy River Navigation Co. Ltd. Composite Tug 9 1897  
23 Keenora 103680 The Rainy River Navigation Co. Ltd. Passenger/Cargo 486 1897 Assembled at Kenora, Ont., rebuilt 1917, preserved as Museum ship, Selkirk Man. 1967
  Meteor  107084 A. Lumsden Frame & Engine for Paddle Towboat 299 1897 Assembled at Opemican Que. Burnt 1911
  Hilda 96870 The St. Lawence Terminal Company Ltd Barge 418 1898 Scuttled 1967
  Nadine 107681 The St. Lawence Terminal Company Ltd Barge 484 1898  
  Minto 107453 Canadian Pacific Rly Co. Sternwheeler 829 1898 assembled at Nakusp BC, retired 1955, burnt 1968
  Moyie 107454 Canadian Pacific Rly Co. Sternwheeler 835 1898 assembled at Nelson BC, retired 1957 & preserved as a museum ship
29 Toronto 107412 Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Company Passenger Ship 2,779 1899 Scrapped 1948
   Helen S 107695 The Collins Inlet Lumber Company Tug 86 1899 assembled at Collins Inlet, Ont. Converted to sail 1975
  Empress 107815 Wm. V. Reynolds Frame for excursion steamer 84 1899 assembled at Lakefield Ont. Burnt 1908
  Era 116691 Hislop & Nagle Frame & engine for riverboat 50 1900 asssembled at Resolution NWT, registered 1902.
  York 111979 Canadian Pacific Rly Co. Freight & passenger Steamer 134 1901 assembled at Okanogan Landing BC abandoned 1932
35 Ottawa (L 23/05/00) 111443 Canada Atlantic Transit Co. Cargo Ship 2,431 1900 Foundered off Passage Is, Lake Superior 1909
36 Tadenac (L 04/10/02) 111855 St.Lawrence & Chicago Steam Navigation Company Cargo Ship 2,359 1902 Later The Iroquis 1903, Colorado 1920, Dornoch 1922, Brookton 1922, George Hindman 1940, Brookdale 1952, scrapped 1966
37 Kingston (L 19/01/01) 111654 Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Company Passenger Ship 2,925 1901 Scrapped 1950
38 Montreal (L03/02/02) 116600 Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Company Passenger Ship 4,282 1904 Launched Feb. 1902, Completed at Sorel by owner, delivery delayed by fire. Burned near Sorel 1926
39 Gypsy 112180 Collins Inlet Lumber Company Tug 11 1902 sold USA
40 Tadousac (L 12/08/03) 116263 J. Waldie & Co Cargo Ship 2,359 1903 Later Doric 1906, Buffalo 1917, torpedoed 2nm E St Agnes Head 1918
41 Alexandra 116340 Upper Ottawa Improvement Co Ltd Paddle Towboat 417 1903 Assembled at Temiscamingue Que. Converted to screw 1922, scrapped 1951
42 Lady Minto 116641 Upper Ottawa Improvement Co Ltd Paddle Towboat 403 1903 Assembled at Temiscamingue Que. Converetd to screw 1929, burnt 1968
43 Haddington (L 23/07/04) 116764 Bertram Engine Works Co Ltd Cargo Ship 1,749 1904 Later Maplehill 1921, tanker Oakbranch 1938, Empire Lizard 1945, Basingbrook 1947, scrapped 1949
  G.B. Pattee II 116647 Upper Ottawa Improvement Co Ltd Tug 51 1904 Assembled at Quyon Que. Later Black Jack, active as yacht
  Tom Fawcett 116673 Township of Wolfe Island Composite Ferry 224 1904 Later Wolfe Islander, condemned & beached 1946
  Stoney Lake 111831 Patrick C Young Passenger 156 1904 Assembled at Young's Point Ont. Later Island Queen, broken up 1954
  Kingfisher 116985 Rat Portage Lumber Company Tug 77 1904 Assembled at Kenora Ont.
  Ludlow 121831 City of Saint John Ferry 534 1905 Assembled at Saint John NB, broken up 1935
49 Archibald 117196 Mike Noonan Tug 20 1904 Assembled at Gold Rock Ont.
  Geneva 117071 W. Thompson Frame & engine for steamer 92 1905 Assembled at Orillia by Davis Dry Dock, abandoned 1925
  Scow No. 36 121710 Great Lakes Dredging Company Dump scow 421 1905  
  Scow No. 37 121841 Great Lakes Dredging Company Dump scow 421 1905  
53 James Whalen 121709 Canadian Towing & Wrecking Co Ltd Tug 313 1905 Later Denise V 1977, exploded and burnt 40nm E Matane 1987
54 Mather 117193 Keewatin Lumber Company Tug 145 1905 Asssembled at Lake of the Woods Ont. Broken up 1965
  P.W.D. No. 9 130346 Dept. of Public Works Dredge 368 4.1906 comp. by Canadian Sbdg. Co.
  P.W.D. Stonelifter No. 1 156708 Dept. of Public Works Stonelifter   1906 comp. by John Inglis Co., registered 1930
  Alice 122260 Govt of Canada Passenger/Cargo 402 1906 Completed by Canadian Sbdg. Co. Later Hibou 1928, foundered 1953 Chile
Built by Canadian Shipbuilding Company
100 Cayuga 122219 Niagara Navigation Co Ltd Passenger Ship 2,196 1907 Scrapped 1961
101 E.B. Osler 125977 St. Lawrence & Chicago  Steam Navigation Company Laker 6,787 1908 Blt at Bridgeburg Ont. Later Osler, R.O. Petman, scrapped Italy 1968
  Cherokee 125973 Muskoka Lakes Navigation & Hotel Co Ltd Passenger Ship 328 1907 Assembled at Gravenhurst, rebuilt as barge 1961 scrapped 1962
103 Sagamo 122218 Muskoka Lakes Navigation & Hotel Co Ltd Passenger Ship 744 1906 Assembled at Gravenhurst, floating restaurant 1958, burnt 1969
  Ontario No. 1 125983 Ontario Car Ferry Co Ltd Ferry 5,146 1907 Scrapped 1950
105 ??? Possible CPR Steamer?? Cancelled            
106 Rapids King 122407 Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Company Passenger Ship 1,801 1907 Scrapped 1951
  Pollux 122475 Upper Ottawa Improvement Company Ltd   88 1907  
  Castor 122476 Upper Ottawa Improvement Company Ltd   88 1907  
  C.J. Booth 122646 John R. Booth   86 1907 rebuilt as scow 1940
  J.F. Booth  122647 John R. Booth   90 1907 register closed 1999
Built by Toronto Shipyards Ltd (? Part of or related to Doty Engine Company of Goderich?)
  Silverland 126410 The Haileybury Navigation Company Ltd. Frame & Machinery for steamer 92 1909 assembled at Haileybury Ont, burnt 1927
  Queen of Temagami 126415 Temagami Steamboat & Hotel Company Frame & Machinery for steamer 36 1909 assembled at Temagami, Ont. Broken up 1948
113 Rapids Prince 130418 Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Company Passenger Ship 1384 1910 rebuilt 1929, broken up 1951
   P.W.D. No. 38 176161 Dept. of Public Works Dump Scow 215 1909 later McLean No. 38,  McNco No. 11
  P.W.D. No. 39 171020 Dept. of Public Works Dump Scow 215 1909 later McLean No. 39  McNco No. 12
  Amelia Mac 130271 Arctic Ice Company Frame for tug 64 1909 assembled at Winnipeg
  Newminko 126413 Wm. Hannah & Co. Frame for supply vessel 121 1910 assembled at Gravenhurst Ont. Retired 1941, burnt 1954
  Rosamond Billett 130272 Hugh Sutherland Sand dredge 679 1910 1911 assembled at Winnipeg, dismantled 1917 & 1918 rebuilt by Tidewater Shipyard, Trois Rivieres as T.P. Phelan ON 140953), later US Howard S. Gerken (ON 254429), lost in storm August 25th, 1926 off Buffalo
Built by Thor Iron Works Ltd.
1 La Salle 134450 John E. Russell Yacht 85 1914 later Strathbell, sold USA 1954
2 Donald Mac 134452 Andrew Quinn  Fishing Vessel 69 1914 rebult 1921 & 1961
3 Emily Stewart 134458 Canadian Stewart Co Tug 104 1914 later T.H.C.Tug No. 1, A.M.Macaulay
4 Angoulème 138211 Donald Steamship Co. Cargo Ship 2,716 Feb-18  
5 Troja 138215 Troja Steamship Co Ltd Cargo Ship 2,716 Jun-18 Later Tello 1924, Erol 1935, wrecked off Cape Yasun, Samsun 1944
6 T.R. 13   Royal Navy Minesweeper 288 Jun-18  
7 T.R. 14   Royal Navy  Minesweeper 288 Jun-18  
8 St.Mihiel 137909 Maple Leaf Steamship Co Cargo Ship 2,742 Dec-18 Later St.Priest 1924, Marionga II 1928, wrecked off Arzew 1929
9 Le Quesnoy 137910 Nova Scotia Transportation Co Cargo Ship 2,716 May-19 Later Tencho Maru 1922, torpedoed off Djakarta 1945
Built by Dominion Shipbuilding & Repair Co., Ltd.
1 General Currie 140993 Nova Scotia Steamships Ltd. Cargo Ship 2,490 May-19 Later Braaland 1927, Choyo Maru 1927, mined off Rashin 1945
2 General Morrison 140995 Dominion Shipbuilding Co Ltd. Cargo Ship 2,490 Jun-19 Later Bygdones 1920, Nordhav 1922, Noshiro Maru 1924, torpedoed 1944
3 General Turner 140996 Dominion Shipbuilding Co Ltd. Cargo Ship 2,490 Aug-19 Scuttled 45nm off Cape Kalyakriya 1921 (fraud)
4 General Williams 140997 Dominion Shipbuilding Co Ltd. Cargo Ship 2,489 Sep-19 Later Saga 1919, Certo 1919, Krasnoarmeets 1935, deleted 1960
5 Hessa export Aalsunds Dampskibsrederi Cargo Ship 2,366 Oct-19 Later Bestum 1934, San Pedro 1955, scrapped 1960
6 Skolma export Skibs A/S Gröm (Einersen) Cargo Ship 2,447 Nov-19 Wrecked N Bornholm Is 1929
7 Torontonian 141663 Black Sea Shg & Mercantile Co. Cargo Ship 2,239 Jun-20 Later Spolanne 1929, Hai Wah 1933, wrecked Yunuisan, near Tsingtao 1935
8 T.L.Church 141662 T.L. Church Steamship Co. Cargo Ship 2,264 May-20 Later Mabay 1923, Nautic 1929, foundered 1940
9 Oriole IV 154878 Geo. H. Goodereham Yacht 68 1921 Completed by George S. Lawley & Sons, now HMCS Oriole, (KC 480), the Canadian Navy's sail training ship
10 Canadian Artificer/Canadian Pathfinder 150355 Canadian Govt. Cargo Ship 2,374 Jul-21 Completed by Collingwood SB, later Norman M.Paterson 1925, Novadoc 1926, Holmewood 1927, Mathiasen Trader 1934, Holmewood 1934, Ara 1936, mined 1942
11 Canadian Engineer 150367 Canadian Govt. Cargo Ship 2,281 Aug-21 Completed by Collingwood SB, later Donald E.Mckay 1925, Newbrundoc 1926, Ashington 1927, Erling 1931, Salvatore 1933, Sabine 1943, bombed Aegean Sea 1944
12             Keel laid on spec, vessel broken up on ways
13             Keel laid on spec, vessel broken up on ways
14 Gonzaba/Washington export Mexican Govt. Cargo Ship 1,669 1920 Scrapped 1934
15 Floraba/Bolivar export Mexican Govt. Cargo Ship 1,655 Sep-20 Scrapped 1934
Built by Dufferin Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., later Toronto Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.  
15 Nipigon (MS 15)   Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 672 11-Aug-41 To Turkey 1957 as Bafra, scrapped 1972
16 Burlington (MS 16)   Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 672 6-Sep-41 Scrapped 1946
17 Georgian (MS 17)   Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 672 23-Sep-41 Scrapped 1946
18 Thunder (MS 18)   Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 672 14-Oct-41 Scrapped 1947
19 Gananoque (CN 114)   Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 672 8.-Nov-41 Scrapped 1959
20 Goderich (CN 115)   Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 672 23-Nov-41 Scrapped 1959
21 Mingan/Fort York (CN 150)   Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 672 27-Feb-42 To Portugal 1950 as Comandante Almeida Carvalho, Cacheu 1965, scrapped 1971
22 Parrsborough (CN 151)   Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 672 27-May-42 Scrapped 1948
23 Qualicum (CN 152)   Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 672 13-May-42 Scrapped 1949
24 Shippigan (CN 153)   Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 672 17-Jun-42 Scrapped 1949
25 Tadoussac (CN 154)   Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 672 28-Mar-42 Sold 1946 as Alexandre, hulked in Greece 1952
26 Wedgeport (CN 155)   Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 672 21-Apr-42 To Egypt 1946 as Sollum, foundered off Alexandria 1953
27 Port Hope (CN 172)   Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 672 30-Jul-42 Scrapped 1959
28 Sarnia (CN 173)   Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 672 13-Aug-42 To Turkey 1958 as Buyukdere, scrapped 1972
29 Stratford (CN 174)   Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 672 29-Aug-42 In collision near Halifax NS and scrapped 1946
30 Westmount (CN 175)   Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 672 15-Sep-42 To Turkey 1958 as Bornova, scrapped 1972
Built by Redfern Construction Co., Ltd.
31 Antares (AM 325/CN319)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 23-Aug-43 Scrapped 1947
32 Arcturus (AM 326/CN320)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 23-Oct-43 To Greece as Pyrpolitis 1947
33 Aries (AM 327/CN321)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 17-Jul-43 To Greece as Armatolos 1947
34 Clinton (AM 328/CN322)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 25-Aug-43 Scrapped 1947
35 Friendship (AM 329/CN323)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 15-Sep-43 Scrapped 1947
36 Gozo (AM 330/CN324)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 9-Sep-43 To Greece as Polemistis 1947
37 Lightfoot (AM 331/CN325)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 19-Oct-43 To Greece as Navmachos 1947
38 Melita (AM 332/CN326)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 20-Dec-43 Sold as Satellite 1947, Melita 1951, scrapped 1959
39 Octavia (AM 333/CN327)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 24-Feb-44 Scrapped 1950
40 Persian (AM 334/CN328)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 12-Nov-43 To Greece as Kikiades 1947
41 Postillion (AM 335/CN329)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 25-Nov-43 To Greece as Machitis 1947
42 Solebay/Scorpion/Skipjack (AM 336/CN330)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 29-Apr-44 Scrapped 1950
43 Thisbe (AM 337/CN331)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 8-Jun-44 Scrapped 1957
44 Truelove (AM 338/CN332)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 3-Apr-44 Scrapped 1957
45 Welfare (AM 339/CN333)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 4-Apr-44 Scrapped 1957
46 Toronto/Mary Rose (CN 498)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 24=Apr-44 Later HMCS Toronto, scrapped 1957
47 Mimico/Moon (CN 499)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 6-Jul-44 Later HMCS Mimico, scrapped 1957
48 Forest Hill/Providence (CN 500)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 15-May-44 Later HMCS Forrest Hill, scrapped 1958
49 Longbranch/Regulus (CN 501)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 20-May-44 Later HMCS Longbranch, mined off Sista Is, southern Corfu channel 1945
50 St. Thomas/Seabear (CN 502)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 22-Jun-44 Later HMCS St. Thomas, scrapped 1958
51 Leaside/Serene (CN 503)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 14-Sep-44 Later HMCS Leaside, scrapped 1959
52 Bowmanville/Coquette (CN 543)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 13-Jul-44 Scrapped 1958
53 Amprior/Courier (CN 544)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 31-Aug-44 Scrapped 1959
54 Coppercliff/Felicity (CN 545)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 10-Aug-44 Sold as Fairfree 1947, scrapped 1957
55 Tillsonburg/Flying Fish (CN 546)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 14-Oct-44 Later HMCS Tillsonburgm, to Ceylon as Vijaya 1949, scrapped 1964
56 Humberstone/Golden Fleece (CN 547)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 29-Aug-44 Scrapped 1960
57 Petrolia/Lioness (CN 548)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 11-Dec-44 Scrapped 1856
58 Huntsville/Prompt (CN 549)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 29-Sep-44 Later HMCS Huntsville, mined 12nm NW Ostend 1945 and scrapped 1947
59 Jaseur (CN 664)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 27-Oct-44 Scrapped 1956
60 Laertes (CN 665)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 9-Dec-44 Scrapped 1959
61 Maenad (CN 666)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 16-Nov-44 Scrapped 1957
62 Magicienne (CN 667)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 11-May-45 Scrapped 1956
63 Mameluke (CN 668)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 19-Mar-45 Scrapped 1950
64 Mandate (CN 669)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 22-Mar-45 Scrapped 1957
65 Marvel (CN 670)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 2-Apr-45 Scrapped 1958
66 Michael (CN (671)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 20-May-45 Scrapped 1956
67 Minstrel (CN 672)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 7-Jun-45 To Thailand as Phosampton 1947
68 Myrmidon (CN 673)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 9-Jul-45 Scrapped 1958
69 Mystic (CN 674)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 2-Aug-45 Scrapped 1958
70 Nerissa (CN 675)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 1,010 28-Aug-45 Scrapped 1960
71 Nicator (CN 676)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 950   Cancelled
72 Niger (CN 677)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 950   Cancelled
73 Nonpareil (CN 678)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 950   Cancelled
74 Nox (CN 679)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 950   Cancelled
75 Odin (CN 680)   Royal Navy Minesweeper 950   Cancelled