The Maritime Heritage Project

Davis and Jordan

Editor — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:04:21 +0000

Thank you for taking the time to read my request. I am looking for information about and pictures or drawings of the ships owned by Davis and Jordan.

I am John Asche. My mother was Marion Jordan. I have found some descriptions of their ships but not all and no pictures. I would like to share any information I can with the historic society, UCSC and my family if that is ok.

Thank you
John G. Asche

Timothy Herbert Dame reportedly arrived in California in November 1848 in search of gold. Shortly, he returned to the sea, captaining the schooners Mount Vernon and Queen of the West along the Central Coast, mainly between Santa Cruz and San Francisco.

In 1857, Dame ushered in a new era in Santa Cruz as captain of the new steamer Santa Cruz, for lime magnates Davis and Jordan. This ship reduced travel time between Santa Cruz and San Francisco from what could be thirty or more hours to seven or eight.

The Lime Trade of Santa Cruz

Daily Alta California, June 18, 1855

(Text below.)

The Lime Trade of Santa Cruz.

Among the many valuable products of the soil of California, not the least important is that of lime, which is found in various parts of the State, but particularly in the vicinity of the Mission of Santa Cruz. The time has been since the commencement of the building of San Francieco and other cities in California, when lime imported from the Eastern States woold not pay for the freight and storage; and we can recall more than one instance where large quantities of the article were thrown overboard in the bay from ships rather than incur the expenses of attempting to dispose of it in any other way. That, however, was when the extraordinary enterprise lately displayed is building had not commenced. As the construction of fine brick buildings here and in Sacramento and Marysviile became more general, the use of lime has increased so that from Santa Cruz alone, not counting the numerous other quarries ia the State, about 700 barrels a week have been brought, though at present less than 400 barrels are got out, owing to the decline in the building business. The Santa Cruz lime quarries are situated aboat a mile to the eastward of the Mission of that name, upon the third of a series of plateaus or table lands running inland from the sea coast.

The lime is of such excellent quality, that although there are numerous other quarries in the State, orders are constantly received at the depot in this city from all the principal towns in California as well as from Oregon. Last year one company (Messrs. Davis & Jordan,) got out 35,000 barrels, all of which was shipped to San Francisco. There are also other companies engaged in quarrying lime in the vicinity of Santa Cruz, the result of whose labors added to the above swell the amount to over 50,000 barrels yearly. When we consider that lime is used for little else than in the construction of houses, we can form from the above some idea of the large amount of the article consumed for such purposes. The trade employs quite a fleet of schooners, such as the Odd Fellow; the A. Adams; Queen of the West and others the greater part of the time, coming to Davis & Jordan, and Brennan & Co. The former firm has had a one time 50 men employed in their quarries, but have now less than 30. Thus the lime business alone in California may be safely estimated as giving employment to three or four hundred persons, and the gross value of the article extracted from the various quarries in the State per year at not far from $200,000.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE

Daily Alta California, Volume 9, January 14, 1857

San Francisco Call, Volume 83, December 21, 1897

ASHORE AT BELLE COOLA.
Pacific Coast Steamship Santa Cruz Fast On the Sandy Beach.

VANCOUVER, Dec. 20.— The Pacific Coast steamer Santa Cruz, enroute to Alaska, is ashore at Bella Coola. The passengers are camped, and it is thought the steamer will be floated, as assistnce was refused from the steamer Capilano.

The captain of the steamer Capilano says the Santa Cruz is lying on the sandy beach and can probably be floated if lightered. The Santa Cruz refused assistance from the Capilano because the George W. Elder, of the same line, was expected along very shortly.

San Francisco Call, Volume 83, December 25, 1897

The Santa Cruz at SeattleSEATTLE, Dec. 24–The steamer Santa Cruz, which on her downward trip from Alaska ran aground on Dahlpatch Reef, arrived here today. The vessel has a large hole in her hull. She will be taken to Tacoma and placed on the drydock at Quartermaster Harbor for rerpairs.

Daily Alta California, Volume 84, March 15, 1891

A Floating Conservatory.The steamer Santa Cruz resembled a floating conservatory when she sailed yesterday afternoon for Kedondo. She was loaded down to the guards with a cargo of shrubs, plants and flowers for the Kedondo Beach Hotel.

Have a nice day!

Editor — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:31:27 +0000

What a great blog.
By: Delores

Travel!

Editor — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:31:20 +0000

Cruise Direct sends along their top six most popular cruises and their last minute cruises every month or so. Here are their current listings.

We’ve been on a two-week Caribbean cruise and a 14-day Mediterranean cruise and would do them again in a heartbeat. We’re now thinking about cruises in Northern Europe and Asia. Also we’re really interested in some of the smaller ships that navigate rivers and are checking out those travel specials also.

CruiseDirect is featuring:

7 Night Bahamas Cruise on the Norwegian Jewel from $429. Beautiful ships. This cruise is round-trip from New York and includes Port Canaveral, Great Stirrup Cay, Nassau and a couple of days at sea.

In the event you’ve never sailed, be assured that you can choose to do absolutely nothing but enjoy the silence; we have never heard our on-board neighbors! Or join in on parties, dancing, dining, visit the gym, spas, or library. Or gamble. Also, take advantage of land tours for days in port. We’ve met people who travel by ship so much that they don’t even get off when the ship is docked. They like the sense of effortlessly going from port to port, obviously.

7 Night Alaska Cruise on Holland America’s Alaskan Explorer. Round-trip from Seattle through Puget Sound and Tracy Arm. In port at Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Alaska and Victoria, British Columbia. Oceanview rooms start at $949 per person.
7 Night Europe Cruise on MSC, a well-regarded, popular Italian shipping company which covers the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Atlantic, Caribbean, South America, the Indian Ocean and South and West Africa.
6 Night Caribbean Cruise on Carnival’s Valor. Round trip from Miami with stops at Key West, Georgetown in the Grand Cayman’s, Ocho Rios in Jamaica. If you have the time and the funds, we highly recommend a 14-day cruise such as this on Princess Cruises. While we prefer smaller vessels, the large ships can travel through rough seas without you even noticing. We followed Hurricane Richard around the Caribbean during this cruise and weren’t aware of any inconvenience. (Of course, a great captain and crew helps.)
7 Night Mediterranean Cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas. Round-trip from Rome (Civitavecchia) to Genoa, Ajaccio in Corsica, Spain (Barceona, Palma De Mallorca and Valencia)

Also, they generally have last minute cruises which can save you quite a bit. Again, unless you are fond of sleeping in closets, stay away from booking inside rooms. The rate is somewhat lower, but we’ve never heard anyone say the savings were worth it.

If you really want to spoil yourself, book an Asian Cruise. Friends went last year, loved it, and came home with dozens of stories and hundreds of photos of exotic people, places and things.

Cruising up the Yangtze River is on our Must Do list.

Researcher

Editor — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:39:07 +0000

I was asked to find out about the bench in the attachments. I was told it was used for rope knotting and tying. It is at least two hundred years old.

Thank you, Joseph

By: Joseph Buberger

Editor’s Note: Sorry, but no images came through. It seems they are on your desktop and we can’t access them. In any case, your best source for such questions would be a historical or maritime museum as noted on that link.

SS New Orleans, 1862

Editor — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:31:30 +0000

My great, great grandfather came to New York on 5 July 1862 aboard the SS New Orleans from Hamburg, Germany.

If anyone has a photo of this ship, I’d like to post it on my Ancestry website.

Thanks…

Stephen Rice

Editor’s Note: One of the larger maritime museums or historical societies listed on our Resources page may have photographs or etchings.

SS Golden Gate 1853

Editor — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:30:39 +0000

Do you have a list of passengers for the “GOLDEN GATE” from Panama to SF for June and July 1853? I am looking for Eliza Grove from Waterford, Ire. Thanks.

Sincerely,
Cheryl

Cheryl Schmidt

Editor’s Note. Passenger lists are on the site at:

SS Golden Gate, June 1, 1853 from Panama and SS Golden Gate, July 19, 1853 from Panama

Please note that all passengers were not listed in the newspapers of the day. The most extensive lists are at the National Archives and Records in San Bruno (south of San Francisco). Contact Information for the National Archives

Oregon

Editor — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:56:57 +0000

Dear Editor,

Thank you very much for all the information you provided about the Oregon. It was much appreciated.

I did find an “Oregon” which sailed from Plymouth England to Adelaide on 12.7.1851. Unfortunately my G.G. Grandfather was not on the passenger list. On his naturalization papers he stated he came to Australia from Germany on the Oregon in 1854.

Still a mystery, but thank you again for all your help.

Regards.

Margaret
By: Margaret Earle

New Year’s Thoughts

Editor — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:47:43 +0000

A superb message for the New Year which thoughts to add to your resolutions. From Sevren Suzuki from the Environmental Children’s Organization, which is a group of 12 and 13-year olds trying to make a difference.

This is an extraordinary message for all the people of the world. Plaese include these global ideas in your New Year’s planning, goals and dreams. Travel as environmentally careful as is possible whether it’s in your neighborhood or around the world.

Maritime Museum in Mykonos

Editor — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:04:45 +0000

Back to dreams of travel. Just came across a maritime museum new to me: Aegean Maritime Museum in Mykonos, Greece, which is a place I’d like to revisit . . . especially to stay in one of the classic white Cycladic houses like this one in Thira’s Imerovigli neighborhood: Heliotopos.

The Aegean Maritime Museum is was founded in 1983; in 1985 it opened its doors to the public on the island of Mykonos. The goal of the museum is the preservation, promotion and study of Greek maritime history and tradition, and in particular the evolution and activities of the merchant ship, chiefly in the historic region of the Aegean Sea. The Museum is housed in a traditional Mykonian building of the 19th century located at the centre of the Town of Mykonos, in the area known as Tria Pigadia. The building was the home of the Nikolaos Sourmelis, Master of the merchant ship “Enosis.” The museum’ exhibits include models of ships from the pre-Minoan period down to the beginning of the twentieth century, historical shipping documents, rare engravings and maps, ancient artifacts, navigational instruments, equipment and tools, as well as rare coins with nautical subjects from the fifth century BC to the fifth century AD. The museum’s library consists of more than 5,000 volumes of rare books and more recent editions, and archives of manuscripts and photographs. The Aegean Maritime Museum was the first museum in Greece that rescued and restored living historical exhibits as they were originally designed and built.

CruiseDirect features online cruise exclusives and sailings to world ports, including Europe along the Mediterranean on the Italian Costa Concordia to ports such as Santorini (right), the Bahamas on the Disney Magic, to Asia, for Honeymoons . . .

For our family and many of our friends, one of the best gifts anyone could be given is a vacation and during this time of year, cruises to tropical places are high on the list of vacations that people desire.

If you are considering giving the gift of an exceptional vacation and aren’t sure what to choose, following are popular cruise deals and highly regarded cruise lines such as the Norwegian Pearl in the picture above.The Norwegian Pearl is an exquisite new ship, built to impress with 10 different restaurants, 14 bars and lounges, three swimming pools, the exclusive new Courtyard Villas and the very first bowling alley to hit the high seas.

Important: Unless you really like sleeping in dark closets, inside cabins are dreadful and not worth a couple of hundred dollars in savings. Our most budget-conscious friends finally agree on this and now book outside cabins!

Also, when to travel? If possible, avoid peak seasons when crowds are excessive and prices higher. We’d rather risk dealing with questionable weather than navigating around too many people. This has served us well for years in that we have never had a problem with travel arrangements or weather and we can travel with a tighter budget!

Online Exclusives – Find the Perfect Cruise

Cruise Direct includes several of the world’s top cruise lines:
Cunard, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean
and Viking River Cruises.

7 Night Bahamas Cruise $599 Oceanview on Norwegian Cruise Line: From New York to Orlando, Great Stirrup Cay, Nassau, At Sea and back to New York.
1 Night Bahamas Cruise $128 on Celebrity: From Miami and Nassau and return. Great outing if you are in Miami anyway and interested in seeing if you even like cruising or if you wish to check out a particular cruise line.
3 Night Bahamas $219 on Carnival: From Miami with two days in Nassau, a day at sea and back to Miami
3 Nights Bahamas $199 on Norwegian: Miami to Great Stirrup Cay to Nassau and back to Miami
7 Night Alaska Cruise. These cruises are popular gifts; the sailings are in June and July (Cruise ships do not sail into these waters in December; way too cold.) From Seattle to Juneau, Skagway, Kitchikan, Victoria and back to Seattle. This is a fabulous trip. Never heard one negative comment about cruising Alaska.

Great Gift for Boat People

Editor — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:33:09 +0000

Ever kayaked? Ever thought of padding San Francisco Bay (or the San Juans, Sea of Cortez, various fjords)? Sea Trek Ocean Kayaking in Sausalito just sent the following eMail:
What could be a better gift for friends or family than some peaceful paddling time and healthy exercise?

An additional benefit: Water imparts negative ions, which are an automatic stress reducer.

True story: Years ago we invited a divorced couple to paddle with us (they were still friends). We went on a full moon kayak tour from Sausalito to Tiburon for dinner, then back to Sausalito. The bay at night is SO romantic. This couple re-married some months later and have been married ever since!

Purchase a Sea Trek Gift Certificate and as a thank-you Sea Trek will give you a certificate for 2 hours of free rental (for kayak or stand up paddleboard). Use it as a stocking stuffer or enjoy it yourself. It’s a win for everyone!

Some great gift ideas. (Any amount is transferable to any other program.)

2 hours of Rental Time for kayak or SUP $40
Discounted Book of Rental Hours. 15 hrs of Kayaking: $150 ($10/hr.)
Introductory SUP class: $60
Introductory Kayaking Class: $110
Full Moon Paddle: $75
Paddle the Gate: $80
Angel Island Crossing: $85
FREE $150 Book of Rental Time with 7 Days of Kayaking and SUPing in the Sea of Cortes $1195
This is another great trip from Sea Trek. We lived out of boats for ten days some years ago with Sea Trek. Quite amazing, especially the

Recommendation: Opt for Paddle the Gate — that is a tremendous experience and easily puts the world into a proper perspective.

Or join a full moon paddle. Few things are more beautiful than San Francisco Bay during a full moon. You can literally paddle through the reflection of stars in the water. It’s like paddling through the Milky Way.

Oh, actually, opt for any of the kayaking sessions. Everyone of the outings has its own magic because our Bay is magic.