Isaac E. Smith
Encyclopedia
Isaac Edgar Smith was a boat builder
based in Port Washington, New York
. Isaac, or "Ike" as he was commonly known, was born in Charleston, Illinois
to Stephen Baldwin Smith and Mary Elizabeth Smith (née Sobey). His parents were residents of Port Washington, but had traveled to Illinois in 1856, returning to Long Island
when Isaac was two years old. His father was a boat builder and owned the business where Isaac Smith spent his apprenticeship
upon the conclusion of the American Civil War
, in which his father had served as a pilot aboard the steamship "T.V. Arrowsmith".
After completing his apprenticeship, Isaac Smith opened his own boat building business on Shore Road in Port Washington. It was there that he was to build the first 22 Star Class
sailboats during the winter of 1910–11. The Star Class was designed by Francis Sweisguth from an earlier design by William Gardner, at the prompting of George Arthur "Pop" Corry – known today as the "Father of the Stars." The boats originally sold for $240 plus $20 for sails, but due to their high quality they were fetching two–three times that more than 10 years later. Of the original 22 stars, half were purchased by the American Yacht Club of Rye and the rest sold to various clubs on the western end of the sound. Francis Sweisguth (#6) and George Corry (#17) were among the initial owners.
Smith continued to build Star Class and went on to build over 100 boats during his life. His work continued both through his own business and later through the Sands Point Shipyard, in conjunction with Carl H. Shultz, Martyn Baker, and James P. Ford, until his retirement in 1930. After retiring he continued to make rowboats as a hobby. By the time of his death, Smith's boats were found on both American coasts, in England, Mexico, and Pacific coast of Asia.
Isaac Smith was married to Mary Jane Fearon (April 28, 1893–March 25, 1924) on February 16, 1881, with whom he had one son, William Edgar Smith (September 20, 1882–September 23, 1925) and a daughter Helen E. Smith (July 1888–March 3, 1954). Later he married Ida Baxter, former Postmistress of Port Washington and they were still together when he died at his summer home in North Creek, New York
on September 27, 1940 of a heart attack. Surprisingly, Smith himself never set sail despite his long career as a boat builder.
In 2004 a dedication was made to the first 22 Star boats at the site of Smith's original shipyard. The mayor of Port Washington and other local celebrities attended the dedication which saw the mounting of a Starboat keel on the spot, which is now a public park.
Boat building
Boat building, one of the oldest branches of engineering, is concerned with constructing the hulls of boats and, for sailboats, the masts, spars and rigging.-Parts:* Bow - the front and generally sharp end of the hull...
based in Port Washington, New York
Port Washington, New York
Port Washington is a hamlet and census-designated place in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the community population was 15,846....
. Isaac, or "Ike" as he was commonly known, was born in Charleston, Illinois
Charleston, Illinois
Charleston is a city in and the county seat of Coles County, Illinois, United States. The population was 21,838 as of the 2010 census. The city is home to Eastern Illinois University and has close ties with its neighbor Mattoon, Illinois...
to Stephen Baldwin Smith and Mary Elizabeth Smith (née Sobey). His parents were residents of Port Washington, but had traveled to Illinois in 1856, returning to Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
when Isaac was two years old. His father was a boat builder and owned the business where Isaac Smith spent his apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
upon the conclusion of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, in which his father had served as a pilot aboard the steamship "T.V. Arrowsmith".
After completing his apprenticeship, Isaac Smith opened his own boat building business on Shore Road in Port Washington. It was there that he was to build the first 22 Star Class
Star (sailboat)
The International Star is a 6.9 m one-design racing keelboat for two people.The boat must weigh at least 671 kg with a maximum total sail area of 26.5 m . It is sloop-rigged, with a mainsail larger in proportional size than any other boat of its length...
sailboats during the winter of 1910–11. The Star Class was designed by Francis Sweisguth from an earlier design by William Gardner, at the prompting of George Arthur "Pop" Corry – known today as the "Father of the Stars." The boats originally sold for $240 plus $20 for sails, but due to their high quality they were fetching two–three times that more than 10 years later. Of the original 22 stars, half were purchased by the American Yacht Club of Rye and the rest sold to various clubs on the western end of the sound. Francis Sweisguth (#6) and George Corry (#17) were among the initial owners.
Smith continued to build Star Class and went on to build over 100 boats during his life. His work continued both through his own business and later through the Sands Point Shipyard, in conjunction with Carl H. Shultz, Martyn Baker, and James P. Ford, until his retirement in 1930. After retiring he continued to make rowboats as a hobby. By the time of his death, Smith's boats were found on both American coasts, in England, Mexico, and Pacific coast of Asia.
Isaac Smith was married to Mary Jane Fearon (April 28, 1893–March 25, 1924) on February 16, 1881, with whom he had one son, William Edgar Smith (September 20, 1882–September 23, 1925) and a daughter Helen E. Smith (July 1888–March 3, 1954). Later he married Ida Baxter, former Postmistress of Port Washington and they were still together when he died at his summer home in North Creek, New York
North Creek, New York
North Creek is a hamlet in the Adirondack Park, in the town of Johnsburg, in Warren County, New York, United States. It is an area known for skiing , hiking and other outdoor recreational activities. It is located at ....
on September 27, 1940 of a heart attack. Surprisingly, Smith himself never set sail despite his long career as a boat builder.
In 2004 a dedication was made to the first 22 Star boats at the site of Smith's original shipyard. The mayor of Port Washington and other local celebrities attended the dedication which saw the mounting of a Starboat keel on the spot, which is now a public park.