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Bethlehem Steel Company, Wilmington DE

(formerly Harlan & Hollingsworth [1837-1904], later Dravo Wilmington [1928-1965])

Most recent update: October 24, 2011.

Bethlehem's Wilmington shipyard started life in 1837 as Betts, Harlan & Hollingsworth, a railcar manufacturer that expanded into shipbuilding in 1843: it was one of the earliest iron shipbuilders, becoming Harlan & Hollingsworth in 1849, Harlan & Hollingsworth & Company in 1858 and The Harlan & Hollingsworth Company in 1867.  It was bought by Bethlehem in 1904 but did not become Bethlehem Steel Wilmington until after WWI.  It closed in 1926 and most of the property was sold to Dravo Corporation.  At the outset of WWII, Bethlehem reopened the balance of the yard and the two companies teamed up for the wartime construction shown below.  See the site from the air on Google here.  It is now a public space called Riverfront Wilmington, part of which is called Dravo Plaza: all that's left of the shipyard are the whirly cranes but you can still see the ends of the launchways sticking out into the river.  If anyone can add to the table below, please e-mail your info to me at timcolton@aol.com

Hull # Original Name Original Owner Type GT Delivery Disposition

Built by Harlan & Hollingsworth (or related companies)
1 Ashland George W. Aspinall Cargo Ship 182 Jul-1844 Abandoned 1858
2 Ocean George W. Aspinall Cargo Ship 191 Oct-1844 Abandoned 1847
3 Bangor Bangor Steam Navigation Co. Cargo Ship 212 May-1844 Sold foreign 1849
4 Wilmon Whillden Anthony Reybold Psgr. Ship 241 Jun-1845 Abandoned 1890
5 Delaware Winnissimet Ferry Ferry 296 Feb-1847 Abandoned 1881
6 Willamette George W. Aspinwall Cargo Ship 370 1850  
7 Winnissimet Winnissimet Farry Ferry 272 Apr-1846 Abandoned 1879
8 Victoria Freeman and Rawdon Cargo Ship 252 1850 Sold foreign 1855
9 Dido Camden and Philadelphia Ferry Ferry 176 Jun-1851 Abandoned 1870
10 Unnamed Delaware and Chesapeake Canal Co. Dredge 100 1851  
11 John M. Clayton Cornelius Vanderbilt Psgr. Ship 150 1851  
12 Sir Henry Bulwer Cornelius Vanderbilt Psgr. Ship 150 1851  
13 Richard Stockton Camden and Amboy Railroad Steamboat 651 Nov-1852 Abandoned 1895
14 Wyoming Philadelphia & Havre de Grace Towboat Tug 313 Oct-1852 Abandoned 1886
15 Zephyr Cape Fear River Joint Account Ferry 123 Nov-1852 Sold to USG 1861
16 Major Reybold Reybold Brothers Cargo Ship 461 Jun-1853 Abandoned 1908
17 Maryland Phila., Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad Ferry 1,150 Feb-1853 Sunk 1889
18 Thomas A. Morgan Rockhill, Burden, and others Psgr. Ship 481 Apr-1853 Converted 1903
19 Tri-Mountain Winnissimet Ferry Ferry 344 Jan-1854 Abandoned 1883
20 Joseph Ogden Accessory Transit Company Psgr. Ship 150 May-1854 Sold foreign 1855
21 Isaac C. Lee Accessory Transit Company Psgr. Ship 158 Apr-1854 Sold foreign 1855
22 Thomas Sparks Philadelphia St. Prop. Co. Ferry 373 Jul-1854 Sunk 1866
23 San Carlos Accessory Transit Company Psgr. Ship 421 Nov-1854 Sold foreign 1855
24 Richard Willing Baltimore and Philadelphia Steamboat Psgr. Ship 232 Jul-1855 Abandoned 1909
25 Planet Philadelphia Stm. Prop. Co. Psgr. Ship 282 Apr-1855 Sunk 1867
26 Sophia Philadelphia Stm. Prop. Co. Psgr. Ship 286 Apr-1855 Sunk 1866
27 Unnamed Delware and Raritan Canal Company Barge 100 1855  
28 W. W. Harlee Wilmington and Raleigh R.R. Co. Ferry 241 Sep-1855 Sold to USG 1861
29 Unnamed U.S. Government Bell Beacon 40 1855  
30 Unnamed U.S. Government Bell Beacon 40 1855  
31 Unnamed U.S. Government Bell Beacon 40 1855  
32 Unnamed U.S. Government Bell Beacon 40 1855  
33 Unnamed U.S. Government Bell Beacon 40 1855  
34 Kahukee D. Clark, Scotland Neck Cargo Ship 150 1855 Sold to Govt. 1861
35 Logan W. Whillden and others Psgr. Ship 296 1855 Burned 1861
36 James A. Requa New Grenada Canal Co. Psgr. Ship 449 Jul-1856 Sold foreign 1861 as Cauca
37 Hunter Woodis City of Norfolk Ferry 211 Aug-1856 Sold to Govt. 1863
38 Curlew Dr. Thomas Warren Psgr. Ship 236 Jul-1856 Sunk 1862
39 Swan John Richardson Psgr. Ship 170 Aug-1856 Abandoned 1880
40 Amazon John A. Moore Psgr. Ship 372 Dec-1856 Snagged 1866
41 Saint Mary's Claghorn and Cunningham Psgr. Ship 337 Jan-1857 Sunk 1874
42 General Rusk Harris, Morgan, and Co. Steamboat 417 Jan-1857 Burned 1862
43 John A. Warner Johnathan Cone and Co. Psgr. Ship 527 May-1857 Abandoned 1916
44 No Name Delaware and Chesapeake Canal Co. Ice Boat 50 1856  
45 No Name Delaware and Chesapeake Canal Co. Ice Boat 50 1856  
46 Antioquia Everett and Brown Psgr. Ship 297 Jun-1857 Sold foreign 1858
47 Cecile Fenn, Peck and Others Psgr. Ship 360 Sep-1857 Sold to Govt. 1861
48 Pilot Boy Capt. W. Whillden Psgr. Ship 258 Nov-1857 Abandoned 1908
49 John S. Shriver Baltimore & Philadelphia Steamship Co. Psgr. Ship 222 Nov-1857 Abandoned 1902
50 Faith David Clark Barge 100 Nov-1857  
51 Hope James Bishop Barge 100 Nov-1857  
52 Ellen S. Terry O.G. Terry Psgr. Ship 259 Mar-1858 Burned 1889
53 Matagorda C. Vanderbilt Psgr. Ship 616 May-1858 Abandoned 1871
54 Ariel P.W. and B.R.R. Co. Psgr. Ship 407 Oct-1858 Abandoned 1902
55 Flamenco Panama Railroad Company Tug 100 1858  
56 Unnamed R.A. Joy Unknown 30 1858  
57 Arizona Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 578 Jan-1859 Burned 1865
58 Enterprise J. H. Anthony Barge 162 Dec-1858  
59 Georgeanna G. R. H. Leffler Psgr. Ship 738 Sep-1859 Abandoned 1902
60 Champion C. Vanderbilt Cargo Ship 1,419 Sep-1859 Sunk 1879
61 Indianola C. de Goicoarea Psgr. Ship 312 Apr-1859 Sold foreign 1860
62 Indio Fernando J.L Calvo Tug 114 1859 Sold foreign 
63 Benjamin Deford Merch. and Miners Transp. Co. Cargo Ship 1,090 Mar-1860 Sold foreign 1878
64 S. R. Spaulding Merch. and Miners Transp. Co. Cargo Ship 1,090 Nov-1859 Sunk 1888
65 Austin Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 603 Mar-1860 In collision and sank 1876
66 Adratic S. and J. M. Flanegan Tug 58 Apr-1860 Abandoned 1913
67 Champion S. and J. M. Flanegan Tug 57 Apr-1860 Abandoned 1899
68 F. W. Brune NY and Baltimore Trans. Cargo Ship 240 May-1860 Abandoned 1927
69 Fairfield D. D. Simmons and Bros. Psgr. Ship 100 Aug-1860 Sold to Govt. 1861
70 William G. Hewes Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 747 Dec-1860 Sunk 1895
71 Louisiana S. and J. M. Flanegan Psgr. Ship 295 Dec-1860 Sunk 1864
72 Honduras James Bishop and Co. Psgr. Ship 150 1860  
73 Unnamed Panama R.R. Co. Barge 260 1860  
74 Virginia Dare Albemarle Steam Packet Co. Cargo Ship 400 Oct-1861 To USN 1864 as Delaware, later Louis Dolive, abandoned 1919
75 St. Mary's Charles Morgan Psgr. Ship 1,126 1861 To USN 1861 as Katteras, lost 1863
76 Salvador Panama R.R. and Co. Cargo Ship 1,095 Feb-1861 Sunk 1882
77 Tequendama United Magdalena Steamboat Company Psgr. Ship 198 Jun-1862 Sold foreign 1862
78 General Burnside R. F. Loper Cargo Ship 380 Apr-1862 Sunk 1864
79 Martha A. Stevens New York and Baltimore Trans. Co. Cargo Ship 247 Mar-1862 Burned 1922
80 Saint Mary Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 678 Jul-1862 Abandoned 1891
81 Commodore S. F. Du Pont S. and J. M. Flanagan Tug 126 May-1862 Abandoned 1907
82 Rescue Harlan and Hollingsworth Tug 111 May-1861 Abandoned 1889
83 Crescent Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 678 Jan-1863 Burned 1868
84 Patapsco U.S. Navy Monitor 1,875 Jan-1863 Sunk by mine 1865
85 Vineland R. D. Wood and Company Cargo Ship 148 Mar-1863 Unknown 1888
86 Alliance J. B. Bloodgood Psgr. Ship 397 Feb-1863 Converted 1890
87 Saugus U.S. Navy Monitor 2,100 Apr-1864 Later Centaur 1869, Saugus 1869, sold 1891
88 Clinton Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 721 Aug-1863 Abandoned 1915
89 Napa U.S. Navy Monitor 1,175 May-1865 Later Nemesis 1869, Napa 1869, scrapped 1874
90 Frances Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 988 1864 Abandoned 1899
91 Louise Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 1,351 Nov-1864 Sunk 1933
92 Unnamed Panama R. R. Company Barge 220 1863  
93 Vengoechea United Magdalena Steamship Company Psgr. Ship 300 1864  
94 Wilmington Harlan & Hollingsworth Corp. Cargo Ship 737 Mar-1865 Abandoned 1893
95 Frances No.2 Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 850 Jul-1865  
96 Morgan Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 994 Oct-1865 Abandoned 1913
97 I. C. Harris Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 994 Dec-1865  
98 Harlan Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 1,163 Mar-1866 Burned 1894
99 Lady of the Lake Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 716 Jul-1866 Abandoned 1895
100 Mary Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 1,096 May-1866  
101 City of Norfolk Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 1,040 Sep-1866 Sold foreign 1889
102 City of Lawrence Norwich and New York Company Cargo Ship 1,702 Feb-1867  
103 Laura Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 1,098 May-1867 Abandoned 1896
104 Unnamed Panama R.R. Company Barge 220 1867  
105 Unnamed Panama R.R. Company Barge 220 1867  
106 John W. Garrett New York & Baltimore Transportation Cargo Ship 393 Oct-1867 Abandoned 1927
107 Josephine Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 1,282 Dec-1867  
108 Sue Harlan & Hollingsworth Corp. Cargo Ship 688 Jul-1867 Abandoned 1924
109 Carrie P. L. Willingham Psgr. Ship 210 Apr-1869  
110 Ianthe New York & Baltimore Tptn Line Barge 286 Mar-1868  
111 Twilight Captain H. Crawford Psgr. Ship 466 Jun-1868 Burned 1923
112 Costa Rica Panama R.R. Company Cargo Ship 1,457 Dec-1868  
113 Unnamed Panama R.R. Company Barge 220 1868  
114 Unnamed Panama R.R. Company Barge 220 1868  
115 Unnamed Panama R.R. Company Barge 220 1868  
116 Unnamed Panama R.R. Company Barge 220 1868  
117 Unnamed Panama R.R. Company Barge 220 1868  
118 Unnamed Panama R.R. Company Barge 220 1868  
119 Southampton East River Ferry Company Ferry 673 Jun-1869  
120 Maggie Harlan & Hollingsworth Corp. Cargo Ship 515 May-1869  
121 Iron Age Tupper & Beattie Cargo Ship 679 Sep-1869  
122 Leopard Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Co. Collier 609 Jul-1870  
123 Wyanoke Old Dominion Steamship Company Cargo Ship 2,067 Jun-1870  
124 Hutchinson Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 1,434 Dec-1870  
125 Whitney Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 1,337 Feb-1871  
126 Roanoke Baltimore Steam Packet Company Cargo Ship 531 Feb-1871  
127 Unnamed Captain Blanchard Launch 123 1871 Knockdown delivery
128 Unnamed Captain Blanchard Launch 123 1871 Knockdown delivery
129 William Crane Merchants & Miners Transportation Co. Cargo Ship 1,416 Jun-1871  
130 Helen Eastern Shore Steamboat Company Psgr. Ship 550 Jun-1871  
131 Transfer Baltimore and Ohio R. R. Company Tug 101 Jan-1872  
132 Old Dominion Old Dominion Steamship Company Cargo Ship 2,222 Feb-1872  
133 Acapulco Pacific Mail and S.S. Co Psgr. Cargo 2,572 1873  
134 Granada Pacific Mail and S. S. Company Psgr. Cargo 2,572 Oct-1872  
135 Peerless Gloucester Ferry Company Ferry 298 Jan-1872  
136 Gussie Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 998 Jul-1872  
137 Unnamed Panama R.R. Company Launch 260 1873  
138 Unnamed Panama R.R. Company Launch 260 1873  
139 Richmond Old Dominion S.S. Co. Psgr. Ship 1,437 Mar-1873  
140 Johns Hopkins Merchants & Miners Transportation Co. Cargo Ship 1,470 Sep-1873  
141 Westover Baltimore Steam Packet Company Cargo Ship 577 Dec-1873  
142 Pennsylvania Camden & Philadelphia Steamboat Co. Psgr. Ship 388 Mar-1874  
143 Hampton Old Dominion S.S. Company Psgr. Cargo 624 May-1874 Later Tlacotalpan, scrapped about 1903
144 City of Chelsea Winnissimmet Ferry Company Ferry 273 Jun-1874  
145 Shirley Baltimore Steam Packet Company Cargo Ship 576 Jul-1874 Later West Point 1981, burnt 1881
146 Ranger U.S. Navy Sloop 1,020 Nov-1878  
147 Seaboard Baltimore Steam Packet Company Cargo Ship 662 Dec-1874 Later a tanker 1935, deleted 1979
148 Chowan Albemarle Steam Navigation Company Cargo Ship 458 Mar-1875  
149 Tangier Eastern Shore Steamboat Company Psgr. Ship 589 Apr-1875 Later tanker Suburban 1927
150 Brashear Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 1,735 Aug-1875 Later Lone Star 1876, Conneaut 1903, burnt 1887 and converted to barge
151 New York Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 1,735 Aug-1875 Scrapped 1923
152 Dauntless Gloucester Ferry Company Ferry 301 May-1876  
153 Delaware Camden & Philadelphia Steamboat Co. Ferry 371 1875  
154 Protector New Orleans Harbor Protection Co Fireboat 158 Dec-1875  
155 Algiers Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 1,716 Mar-1876 Foundered 1925
156 Morgan City Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 1,716 Mar-1876 Wrecked 1899
157 Columbia Delaware River Steamboat Company Psgr. Ship 663 Jun-1876 Burnt 1923
158 Meteor Carson Lumber Company Yacht 35 1876 Built as a kit and reassembled on Lake Tahoe, scuttled 1939
159 Flushing East River Ferry Company Ferry 521 Apr-1877 Deleted before 1925
160 Carolina Old Bay Line Ferry 984 Jul-1877 Later Murray Bay 1905, Cape Diamond 1920, scrapped 1930
161 B. S. Ford Chester River Steamboat Company Ferry 378 Jun-1877 Later cargo ship 1930, cut down to a barge 1936. foundered 1960
162 Columbia West Jersey Ferry Company Ferry 388 Sep-1877  
163 Aransas Charles Morgan Psgr. Cargo 1,156 Dec-1877 In collision and sank 1905
164 James M. Waterbury Nassau Ferry Company Ferry 412 Jan-1878  
165 Unnamed American Dredging Company Dredge 69 1877  
166 Republic J. Cone and Associates Psgr. Ship 1,285 Jun-1878 Later Cape May 2002, Dreamland 2004, scrapped 1928
167 Jose Gonzales Lyles and Gilson Tug 29 Jun-1878  
168 Mary Morgan Charles Morgan Cargo Ship 369 Aug-1878  
169 St. Johns Commercial Navigation Company Cargo Ship 1,098 Nov-1878 Later Bombay 1927, Tolchester 1933, burnt 1941
170 Victor J. Taylor Cause Yacht 14