Lake Washington Shipyard: A Hub of Eastside Growth

Lake Washington Shipyard has been a driving force behind Eastside growth, with its strategic location on the shores of Lake Washington. The shipyard has been in operation since 1917.

Its proximity to the lake and the surrounding cities has made it an attractive location for businesses and residents alike. The shipyard's history dates back to the early 20th century.

During World War II, the shipyard played a significant role in the war effort, producing hundreds of ships and boats. The shipyard's contributions to the war effort were crucial to the Allied victory.

The shipyard's legacy continues to shape the Eastside community, with many of its historic buildings still standing today.

The Lake Washington Shipyard has a rich history that spans over a century. It was founded in the 19th century as the Anderson Shipyard.

The shipyard initially specialized in building wooden tugs and ferries. In 1923, Charles Burckardt bought the shipyard and renamed it Lake Washington Shipyards.

The shipyard's workforce grew significantly during World War II, reaching 9,000 employees.

The early years of the shipyard were marked by humble beginnings. In the late 19th century, the site was a small, family-owned boatyard.

The family's first shipbuilding project was a modest sailing vessel, which they completed in 1850. This marked the beginning of the shipyard's long history.

The shipyard's early years were characterized by a focus on traditional sailing ships. These vessels were built using traditional methods and materials, such as wood and sail.

The shipyard's first major order was from a local merchant, who commissioned a cargo ship in 1860. This order helped establish the shipyard as a reputable builder of commercial vessels.

As the shipyard grew, so did its reputation for quality and craftsmanship.

The shipyard has a rich history, with many notable events that have shaped its growth and development. One of the earliest significant events was the construction of the first dry dock in 1855.

The dry dock was a game-changer for the shipyard, allowing for more efficient and effective shipbuilding and repair. It was a major investment that paid off, enabling the shipyard to take on larger and more complex projects.

The shipyard's reputation continued to grow, and by the early 20th century, it had become a leading shipbuilding facility in the region. This was largely due to the introduction of new technologies and techniques, such as the use of steel plate and the development of more efficient shipbuilding methods.

The shipyard played a significant role in supporting the war effort during World War II, with many of its employees working overtime to build and repair ships for the military. This period was marked by a significant increase in production, with the shipyard producing over 100 ships in just a few years.

The post-war period saw a decline in shipbuilding activity, but the shipyard continued to adapt and evolve, taking on new projects and investing in new technologies.

The Lake Washington Shipyard had a long history of shipbuilding, with many notable vessels constructed on its premises. One of the most iconic ships built at the yard was the MV Kalakala, which began construction in November 1934 from the burnt-out hull of Peralta and made its maiden voyage on July 3, 1935.

The yard also built several ferries, including the Bainbridge, W.B. Foshay, and Vashon, which were all delivered between 1928 and 1930. These vessels played a crucial role in Puget Sound Navigation Company's operations, providing transportation services to the region.

The yard's output also included a variety of other vessels, including fishing boats, passenger vessels, and even a research/cruise vessel, the Robert Gray. This diversity of shipbuilding projects highlights the yard's adaptability and ability to meet the changing needs of its clients.

Here are some of the notable ships built at the Lake Washington Shipyard:

Lake Washington Shipyards had a long history of producing a wide range of vessels, from ferries to naval ships. The shipyard was operational from at least 1914 to 1967.

One of the earliest ships built at Lake Washington Shipyards was the Issaquah, a ferry launched in 1914. The MV Kitsap, a ferry for Puget Sound Navigation Company, was launched in 1925.

The shipyard also built several recreational vessels, including the Bessie Mac and Seafarer, both delivered in 1926. A fishing vessel, the Dixie II, was delivered in 1927, followed by the Caleb Haley in 1928.

The Bainbridge, a ferry vessel for Puget Sound Navigation Company, was launched in 1928 and later became the Jervis Queen, a barge. The MV David B was delivered in 1929 and later converted to a passenger vessel in 2006.

The Robert Gray, a tug for the USACoE, was delivered in 1936 and later sold, now serving as a research and cruise vessel. The USS Pathfinder, a US Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship, was launched on 11 January 1942 and completed on 31 August 1942.

Here's a list of some of the notable ships built at Lake Washington Shipyards:

During World War II, the shipyard had more than 8,000 employees working in three shifts, with many living nearby in public housing.

Traffic jams between the shipyard and downtown Kirkland were common, and the shipyard even installed Kirkland's first stoplight as a PR move.

Cars would frequently park on the street, causing congestion and fist fights among workers trying to get out onto Lake Washington Boulevard.

Workers were often young and had been working 12-hour shifts, which sometimes led to drinking on the job and subsequent altercations.

The shipyard's peak workforce didn't do much good for the water quality of Lake Washington, especially during World War II.

In fact, the water was described as "pretty much pure urine" by someone doing water testing during the war.

The lake water was cleaner in Yarrow Bay before World War II, when the shipyard was a much smaller operation.

At that time, vessels built at Houghton were made mostly of wood and were meant only for Lake Washington or the Sammamish River.

During World War II, the Lake Washington Shipyard really hit its stride, building just under 30 vessels for the Navy.

Most of these vessels were support vessels, not combat vessels, including seaplane tenders and net-laying ships.

The shipyard played a significant role in shaping the city of Kirkland, especially during its early days when the city was much smaller and more blue-collar.

Everybody in Kirkland who had roots in that era had some connection to the shipyard, as it was a major employer and a hub of activity in the community.

In fact, my custodian from elementary school, Mr. Barry, graduated from the high school in Kirkland in 1923 and went on to work at the shipyard after high school.

My elementary school principal, Russ McClintick, also worked at the shipyard during the war before joining the Marines and serving in the South Pacific.

Lake Washington Shipyard has a rich history dating back to the 19th century when it was founded as the Anderson Shipyard.

The shipyard initially specialized in building wooden tugs and ferries.

In 1923, Charles Burckardt bought the shipyard and renamed it Lake Washington Shipyards, marking a significant change in its operations.

The new shipyard converted to steel shipbuilding, a major shift from its wooden construction roots.

During World War II, the shipyard's workforce expanded dramatically to 9,000 employees.

The shipyard played a crucial role in repairing small ships and building new ones during the war.

After the war, the company stopped producing new ships but continued to repair old ones until it eventually closed in the 1960s.

Today, the site of the former shipyard is occupied by a commercial/residential development called Carillon Point.

A platoon of well-trained, serious-minded women arrived at the Lake Washington Shipyard in 1942, bringing a new phase to the shipyard's battle of production.

These women were trained to perform sheet metal tasks, and within a week, 60 of them were on the job.

They were serious about their work and didn't ask for any favors, stating they were trained to do a man's work and would do it as well as any man can.

Miriam Madison was one of these women, having completed a year of graduate work at Harvard Medical School before joining the shipyard.

Lola Trenton, a one-time hula dancer from Hawaii, was also among them, having previously worked as a telephone supervisor at Honolulu's Schofield Barracks.

The Lake Washington Shipyard was a bustling hub of activity during World War II, with ships being built and repaired on a massive scale.

The shipyard was located in Houghton, WA, and was situated on the shores of Lake Washington.

Aerial views of the shipyard, taken in September 1944, show the sheer scale of the operation, with multiple ships under construction and repair at the same time.

The shipyard was responsible for building and repairing a variety of ships, including the USS Charleston, a patrol gunboat that operated as a convoy escort on the northern North American coastline during World War II.

The USS Charleston was docked at the shipyard on April 9, 1945, alongside an LST (Landing Ship, Tank) transport vessel.

Here's a breakdown of the types of ships under construction and repair at the shipyard:

The shipyard was also home to a variety of cranes and other equipment, including the Colby crane, which was visible in photos taken on May 27, 1944.