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WILSON AND THE ALIBER The history of Captain William P. Wilson and the John A. Aliber provides a brief glimpse into the life of a Saugatuck boat builder, captain and shipping business owner a hundred years ago. Lake Michigan was a free and convenient “super highway” and a few good mariners, like Wilson, made their living moving goods and passengers along its western shoreline and across the lake to Chicago. William P. Wilson was born in 1861, the second of three sons of Thomas and Anna Wilson. His mother was Irish, his father was English and a Singapore sawmill engineer. Will Wilson made his living working winters in the area boatyards and in warm months working the Great Lakes, where he worked up from boy deck hand to first engineer. In 1896 Wilson began to capitalize on his experience and skills by building a boat of his own. The Commercial Record reported, “Will Wilson and Cal Heath have purchased the engine and the boiler of the tug A. S. Allen of Chicago and during the winter they will build a small barge in which the machinery will be placed. She will be built at the foot of Water Street near the ferry.” Wilson’s first partner was Cal Heath, but he was soon replaced by George J. Harvey. The John A. Aliber was launched in April 1897 – she was 73’ in length, 14.2’ in beam and drew 5.4’ of water. The paper noted, “She is between a tug and a lumber barge with crew’s quarters aft and gallery forward. Her power will be supplied by a 12 x 12 engine.” The newspaper also noted, “Almost the entire work of construction has been done by the owners. They expect to find a coasting trade for the boat, picking up a cargo of lumber here and there where there is not sufficient trade for a larger boat.” Kit Lane notes, “She found many small charters, bringing up wood for the local lumber dealer, occasionally investing in a cargo of potatoes up north for resale in Chicago, and transporting basket bottoms for the Douglas Basket Factory. Wilson became sole owner in 1898, and he applied iron to the bows so as to be ‘ready to accommodate the people at any time’. “ In the winter of 1902-03, in order to carry more passengers, the Aliber was lengthened and a promenade deck added. This was followed by the purchase of property near the corner of Water and Lucy Streets in 1906 and in a move to secure more fruit shipping business, Wilson bought one of the piers at Pier Cove. More next week, stay tuned. By Jack Sheridan

Remembering When

Winthers, Sally

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01/02/2022

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11/18/2023