page_title: George Lawley & Son
section_title: South Boston, 1874 – c. 1909
hierarchical_section_title: George Lawley & Son / Brief history / South Boston, 1874 – c. 1909
caption_attribution_description: USS Cigarette, Boston, 1917
context_page_description: George Lawley & Son was a shipbuilding firm operating in Massachusetts from 1866 to 1945. It began in Scituate, then moved to Boston. After founder George Lawley retired in 1890, his son, grandson and great-grandson upheld the business, which continued until 1945. Of the hundreds of ships built by the Lawleys, highlights include the yachts Puritan and Mayflower, respective winners of the 1885 and 1886 America's Cup.
context_section_description: "In 1874 the yachting boom struck, and the firm transferred its yard to a more advantageous location near the city, a fairly large lot next to the Boston Yacht Club station at City Point in South Boston." The city directory of 1875 locates George Lawley & Son at the "rear Horse Car Stables." "Within a few years, the demand for new yachts became so great that the plant was moved to the north side of City Point." From ca.1887 through ca.1892 the city directory locates the firm at East First and O Street, South Boston.
  "In 1890 the Lawleys associated with them Mr. Thomas Hibbard, who looked after the construction of the new steel shops. The business was then incorporated. ... Mr. George Lawley, founder of the business, practically retired from active participation in the enterprise. Mr. George F. Lawley was elected president of the corporation." "In 1901 the Lawleys began working for the United States Navy and launched two torpedo boats. In the years to come they would continue the association, especially during the World War I." George's grandson, Frederick D. Lawley (1878–1953), "studied naval architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and subsequently joined the company as manager and designer" around 1902.
  By 1908, the firm had built over 800 ships, including "schooners Alcaea, Ingomar, Oonas, Idler, Latona, Endymion; the sloops Jubilee, Weetamoe, Wayward, Katonah, Independence; the steam yachts Alcedo, Aquilo, Satilla, Thetis, Kaleda, Carmina, Calumet, Anona, Visitor, Cigarette, Kehtoh, and Halawa; the three-masted auxiliary schooner Alcyone; the motor launches Zeeland, Elkhorn, Tonopah, Glenda, and Hupa." The firm employed "200 to 400 hands, the majority of whom are highly-skilled mechanics."
caption: Crewmen on USS Cigarette (SP-1234), Boston, 1917
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