Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Two Marjorie Yachts |
Notes |
TWO MARJORIE YACHTS Marjorie I Marjorie I, a 72' steam yacht, was built in 1893, and designed by J.B. Herreshoff and built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company in Bristol, Rhode Island. It was named Eugenia for J.B.'s wife. In 1894 it was purchased by Augustus Van Wickle who was visiting the Howes in Bristol and bought the boat impulsively. He renamed it Marjorie (his eldest daughter). Within a few weeks, Augustus also bought the Blithewold estate. The family enjoyed many cruises and day trips. It was often used to take guests from Blithewold to Newport to see the tennis matches at the Casino, serving elegant luncheon on the way. Sometime in 1898 Augustus decided that he wanted a larger steam yacht, and commissioned the building of a new 174' yacht from the Delaware River Iron Shipbuilding and Engine Works in Chester, Pennsylvania. Augustus died later that year, and Bessie took possession of the new yacht in 1900. Bessie sold Marjorie I to Joseph A. Vandergrift of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1905 it was sold to Henry W. Savage of New York who owned it until 1911. The subsequent fate of the yacht is unknown. (NOTE: This boat has been at times, identified by curatorial staff as the 'White Marjorie' because of its white hull, and to differentiate it from Marjorie II. Marjorie II had a black hull and was identified as the 'Black Marjorie.' Each yacht was was known by the family simply as Marjorie) Marjorie II Augustus Van Wickle commissioned the building of his new 174-foot steam yacht in 1898, shortly before his death. It was built by the Delaware River Iron Shipbuilding and Engine Works in Chester, Pennsylvania. Bessie took possession of this yacht in 1900 and immediately planned its maiden voyage -a two-month long voyage to Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica. Later in 1900 Bessie sold the new yacht to Isaac Emerson of Baltimore who renamed her Margaret after his daughter who cruised around Europe on the vessel in 1902. In August 1917 the Margaret was requisitioned by the U.S. Navy for overseas service in World War I. Following the conversion the ship was placed in commission and in November she began a voyage to the European war zone, towing a French submarine chaser and accompanied by several other converted yachts. The trip, plagued by mechanical troubles, ended in the Azores where the Margaret remained for several months. She returned to the United States in November 1918 following the Armistice, and was decommissioned. She was sold again at the end of September 1921, after which no further records of her have been found. ----M. Whitehead, Blithewold Curator, 2020 |
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1976.1.P061.01 - Folder 01 (1976.1.P061.01) The Marjorie I 1894-1899
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1976.1.P061.02 - Folder 02 (1976.1.P061.02) Cruise Of The Marjorie II To West Indies, 1900
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