Contributed by Maine Historical Society
- Item 102872
- print page
- download web image
Purchase a reproduction of this item on VintageMaineImages.com.
This record was added to Maine Memory Network through the efforts of a student at Cape Elizabeth High School. More info about student projects.
Description
The completed S.S. "Lewiston" at the Cumberland Shipyard in South Portland on October 31, 1918 preparing for launch.
The Cumberland Shipbuilding Company, owned by James C. Hamlen, built wooden vessels commissioned by the United States Shipping Board (U.S.S.B) during World War I. However, after the war, the government severed their contracts with many shipbuilders, without payment.
"The Cumberland Shipyard was left with two or three unfinished vessels. Only after James C. Hamlen Jr., the son of James C. Hamlen, went to Washington and confronted the President in person was the firm allowed to keep one of the unfinished vessels, finish it off as a schooner, and charter it out, hoping to recoup some of the over all expenditures involved in the shipbuilding operations. But the yard, like most others that relied on the stability of wartime contracts, would never recover from the contract severances." (Barrels and Daring, 1977).
About This Item
- Title: S.S. "Lewiston" before launch, South Portland, 1918
- Creator: Cumberland Shipbuilding Company
- Creation Date: 1918-10-31
- Subject Date: 1918-10-31
- Location: Cushing's Point, South Portland, Cumberland County, ME
- Media: Photographic print
- Dimensions: 24.5 cm x 19.5 cm
- Local Code: Coll. 454/121
- Collection: Cumberland Shipbuilding Company photograph album
- Object Type: Image
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Cumberland Shipbuilding Company
- Lewiston (Ship)
- Shipbuilding--Maine--South Portland
- Shipyards--Maine--South Portland
- World War, 1914-1918
Other Keywords
For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
Website
The copyright and related rights status of this item have not been evaluated. Please contact the contributing repository for more information.
Please post your comment below to share with others. If you'd like to privately share a comment or correction with MMN staff, please send us a message with this link.
