| Additional Information: | The Burger Boat Company site is made up of some twenty buildings of various types, sizes and ages. All the buildings are utilitarian in nature and without great architectural significance. All but one of the buildings are original to this site and were built after the company moved from its original site immediately across the river in c.1914. That building, now used for storage, dates from c.1900 and was moved across the river to the site.
The existing buildings fit into three classifications. The older buildings date from the period 1900-1929, with most being built in 1915. Theya re clapboard sided and the larger manufacturing buildings all have small paned windows. All these buildings have gable roofs. These buildings are shown in MN54-04, and 06-20.
The second group are comprised of a series of quonset the buildings dating from 1941-1953 and reflect war time and post war expansion.
The third gorup include wooden, metal clad pole type buildings from the 1950's and 1960's.
The Burger Boat Company was founded in 1863 by German born Henry B. Burger. The company was originally located on the peninsula now completely taken up by the Manitowoc Company, immediately across the river from its present location at 1811 Spring Street. For the first twenty three years of its existence, the company built wooden hulled schooners and smaller lake sailing craft. In 1873, Henry Burger went into partnership with Hanson Rand, forming Rand and Burger. This expansion of resources launched the company into new lines, starting to build tugs in 1875, barges in 1880 and steamers in 1881.
In 1886, a new partnership was formed when the Rand part was dropped and Henry Burger entered into partnership with his nephew, GHeorge B. Burger. At that time the name of the firm was chantged to Burger and Burger. In 1887, Burger and Burger acquired and enlarged the one dry dock in Manitowoc and from that year until 1902, was the predominant shipbuildign firm int he City building or restoring barges, tugs, steamers and schooners.
In 1902, Burger and Burger was purchased by a group of Chicago businessmen who moved to Manitowoc forming the Manitowoc Dry Dock Co., first forerunner of the large Manitowoc Company.
The Burger Boat Company is as the sole remaing boat construction firm in the City, once known for its leadership in Great Lakes boat construciton.
The present Burger Company is the descendent of the Henry B. Burger boat Co. started in 1863 and later known as Rand and Burger and Bulrger and Burger and Burger prior to its purchase and reorganization as the Manitowoc Dry Dock Company, forerunner of the Manitowoc Company. However, Henry B. Burger, son of George Burger, had formed a new Burger Boat Co. in 1892, specializing in smaller wooden-hulled lake craft. This operation continued and, in 1914, was moved across the river to the present site as Manitowoc Dry Dock (now Manitowoc Shipbuilding). The oldest group of buildings, principally dating from 1915, were built immediately following the move.
Although the Burger Company had large naval contracts in World Wars I and II and the korean War, building tugs, mine sweepersd, sub-chasers and utility boats, the 1941-era quonset huts date from the WW II work. The bulk of the company's recent history has been in custom building large pleasure craft, both sail and motorized.
In 1892, the present company was founded as an offshoot of the older Burger and Burger specializing in smaller sailing craft. The company continues in operation today building customized pleasure craft. |
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