Defoe Shipbuilding Company, Bay City MI

Defoe Shipbuilding was started in 1905, as Defoe Boat & Motor Works, by the unlikely team of H. J. Defoe, who was a public school principal, his brother F. W. Defoe, who was a lawyer, and his brother-in-law G. H. Whitehouse, who was in the wholesale fish business.  Their shipyard closed in 1976 and the site is now a scrapyard.  See it from the air on Google here.

Hull # Original Name Original Owner Vessel Type Navy Type Pennant # Tons FY Price ($mm) Delivered Disposition
41 Phirenger   Yacht           1912  
43 Mariner   Yacht           1913  
44 Killarney James H. McGillan Yacht     32     1917 To USN 1917 as SP 219, sold 1919
45 Gee Bee Tee   Yacht           1916  
46   US Navy 40-ft. Torpedo Chaser           1917  
47   US Navy 40-ft. Torpedo Chaser           1917  
48   US Navy 40-ft. Torpedo Chaser           1917  
49   US Navy 40-ft. Torpedo Chaser           1917  
50   US Navy 40-ft. Torpedo Chaser           1917  
51 MAJ Lester E. Moreton US Army 98-ft. Mineplanter     170     1921 The names of these eight mine planters may
52 LTC Herman C. Schwumm US Army 98-ft. Mineplanter     170     1921 not be associated with the correct hull #s
53 CAPT W. McKie US Army 98-ft. Mineplanter     170     1921  
54 MAJ Clarence M. Condon US Army 98-ft. Mineplanter     170     1921  
55 COL Robert G. Gildart US Army 98-ft. Mineplanter     170     1921  
56 MAJ Albert G. Jenkins US Army 98-ft. Mineplanter     170     1921  
57 MAJ Carl A. Lohr US Army 98-ft. Mineplanter     170     1921  
58 MAJ William P. Pence US Army 98-ft. Mineplanter     170     1921 Later "Helen Miller" 1938,  "Jane Frank" 1963
59 Detroit   Yacht           1922  
60 Herself   Yacht           1924  
61 Windsor   Yacht           1923  
62 American Girl   Yacht           1922  
69 Mary Margaret   Yacht           1923  
70 Reomar III   Yacht     135     1924  
71