webb’s bronx guests: the lost alumni 125 th anniversary celebration webb institute southwest...

Webb’s Bronx Guests: The Lost Alumni

125th Anniversary CelebrationWebb InstituteSouthwest Alumni DinnerSan Diego, CA - 2/8/14

125th Anniversary Celebration, Southwest Alumni

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Welcome

“The great eventful Present hides the Past; but through the din

Of its loud life hints and echoes from the life behind steal in.”

John Greenleaf Whittier The Garrison of Cape Ann

1857

2/8/2014

William H. Webb, about 1886


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1889 Charter

“… for the purpose of offering free and gratuitous aid, relief and support to aged, decrepit, invalid, indigent, distressed, or unfortunate men who have been engaged in building hulls of ships or vessels, or marine engines … together with the lawful wives of such persons.

Also further to provide and furnish to any young man, a native of the United States, who may, upon examination, prove himself competent and of good character, and worthy, free and gratuitous education in the art and science of the profession of shipbuilding, both theoretical and practical. …”

2/8/2014

Prof. Edwin Dunbaugh, A Centennial History of Webb Institute of Naval Architecture, p. 7


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Webb’s Academy & Home for Shipbuilders

• William Webb’s Vision:A retirement home and a trade school

• Equal capacity for both functions in a purpose-built facility– 60 students– 60 guests

• Never much interaction between students & guests

2/8/2014

Architect A. B. Jenning’s Rendering of Webb’s Academy & Home for Shipbuilders, Fordham Heights, Bronx, NY


Guests: First In, Last Out

• First Guests , November 1893– Peter Haulenbeck, 11/2/1893– Nathaniel Whelpley, 11/2/1893– Daniel Milton, 11/3/1893– Thomas Nash, 11/9/1893– William D. & Phoebe Craft, 11/15/1893

• First Student, New Year’s Day 1894– George C. Cook ‘1897, 1/1/1894

• Last students in Bronx, 1/1/1947• Last Guest, 2/9/1947

– James P. Hughes, transferred 2/9/1947 to National Sailor’s Home, Duxbury, MA

2/8/20145

Harper’s Magazine, 1896


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Guest count

• Analysis of Guest Register– Total Entries = 258– Withdrawls = 21– Re-admits = 4– Net Guests = 233

• At or above 80% Guest Capacity for about 20 years

• Started to reduce Guest admissions in 1918– No admissions during WWI

• Last Guest admitted– James P. Hughes, admitted

1/22/19392/8/2014

18931896

18991902

19051908

19111914

19171920

19231926

19291932

19351938

19411944

19470

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Guest CountWebb's Academy & Home for

Shipbuilders

Regents 1st Caution

Regents 2nd Caution

80% - 100% Guest Capacity

WHW Death


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Guest profiles

• 2/3 born in US, but a melting pot of nationalities

• Most by trade were wooden shipbuilders

• Worked for many tri-state yards– Only 1 Guest listed William

H. Webb as employer – Some worked for Trustees– Some worked for lease

holder at site of WHW shipyard (James Tregarthen & Son)

• 17% females (44 spouses)2/8/2014

16625

20

14

33

US Born

Ireland

Canada

England

Other

Carpenter/Ship Carpenter/Sawyer

Caulker

Shipwright

Joiner/Ship Joiner

Machinist/Eng Builder/Mar Engineer

Ship Fastener

Shipbuilder

Spar Maker

Draughtsman/Engineer/Inventor

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Birth

Trade


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Some were major players

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• Darius Davison

— Designer of largest Hudson River steamer of its time

— Proposed a giant iron steamer, (16 screws!)

• Abraham Polhamus— Modeled America’s Cup

Contender GRACIE— Designed luxury steam yachts

built at Nyack, NY— Died during a visit to Wm. Webb

at his 5th Ave. home

GENERAL WASHINGTON, 1852

SHAMROCK, SEA FOX, GRACIE, KATRINA10th America’s Cup


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Longevity and length of residence

Male Guests

Age at Admit

Age at Death

Years at Webb

Min 49.93 62.08 0.04

Median 73.02 78.43 3.67

Max 91.21 93.58 19.83

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• Guests were old when they were admitted

• As a reference, males in 1900:— Median age at death = 56— Life expectancy at age 65 = 14

years (death at 79)• Some women lived many years after

their spouses• Longest resident was Harriet Maybe,

— Admitted in 1895— Lived at Webb 28.75 years— Her husband, Peter Maybe, was

the second longest residing male Guest

• Data attests to good care for Guests• Dementia care was probably

generous— In 2007, at age 71, incidence is

13.7%— However only 3.5% of Webb

Guests dismissed to mental hospitals


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… and hence to their final rest

2/8/2014

Webb Binnacle 1955

• Webb provided funerals & burials for Guests

• Funerals probably at Webb’s Academy, 2nd Floor Parlor

• Guests interred in several places— 76 at Mt. Hope (not just 43 as

in the 1955 Binnacle)— 12 at Cypress Hills— 8 at Greenwood— 7 at Calvary— Several other cemeteries

• Wreath laying on this Founder’s Day 2014 at Mt. Hope, Hastings on Hudson, NY


112/8/2014

Webb Corporate Seal

webb’s bronx guests: the lost alumni 125 th anniversary celebration webb institute southwest...

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