Edward Phinley Morse
1859 – 1930
Photographs of
Historic Plaques
Clementsport
Annapolis County Nova Scotia
Located in the Old St. Edward’s Anglican Church
34 Old Post Road, Clementsport
GPS location: 44°39’51″N 65°36’21″W
Google map showing this location
Clementsport, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia
Saint Edward’s Anglican Church
In 1942 the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) purchased the Morse Estate and adjacent properties to establish a new Naval Training Base (for training the thousands of new recruits being brought into the RCN during World War Two, 1939-1945) now known as Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Cornwallis.
Edward P. Morse (1859-1930) commemorative plaque
Edward P. Morse mansion as it appears in 2013
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Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company: aerial view
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World’s Largest Floating Dry Dock
Maintaining Ships and Dividends
by Edward P. Morse
— Presentation Cover”>cover | — Title page”>page 1 | — Foreword: A brief Discussion of the Problem of Ship Maintenance from the Standpoint of the Executive who Controls His Shipping Company’s Expense and Revenue”>page 2 | — Factors Determining whether a Repair Plant Can and Will Consistently give Ship Owners and Operators Best Economic Performance”>page 3 | — Convenient Location and Easy Accessibility of the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company”>page 4 |
— Convenient Location of Plant of the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company”>page 5 | — Aerial View, Main plant and offices of the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company”>page 6 | — Adequate Pier and General Facilities at the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company”>page 7 | — Workshops Owned and Operated by the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company”>page 8 | — Scope of Shop Facilities at the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company”>page 9 |
— Photograph, America’s Largest Floating Dry Dock at the Morse Yards ready to be submerged”>page 10 | — Capacity of Dry Docks at the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company”>page 11 | — Photographs, Large Ships in Dry Dock at the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company”>page 12 | — Dry Dock Records at the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company”>page 13 | — Photographs, Employees at the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company”>page 14 |
— Skilled and Conscientious Mechanics at the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company”>page 15 | — Accurate Accounting for Labor and Materials used for each job at the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company”>page 16 | — Accurate Cost Finding & Reliable Billing at the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company”>page 17 | — Some of the Specialized Equipment available at the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company”>page 18 | — Morse Economies at the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company”>page 19 |
— Photographs, Typical ship repair jobs at the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company”>page 20 | — Consistent Record at the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company”>page 21 | — Competent Supervision at the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company”>page 22 | — Policy at the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company”>page 23 |
Edward Phinley Morse commemorative plaque
Clementsport, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia
Clementsport, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia
Plaques (above) photographed on 15 August 2013.
Thanks to Marilyn and Jack Wright.
“Abner Morse… came from Dedham, Massachusetts, to Annapolis (Nova Scotia) in the schooner Charming Molly May 17, 1760, and settled at Bridgetown…” |
This 1760 move by Abner Morse from Massachusetts to Nova Scotia was in response to the Land Grant Proclamations issued by Charles Lawrence in 1757, 1758 and 1759. |
New York Times, 27 August 1930
Wikipedia
Morse Dry Dock and Repair Company
Wikipedia
World’s largest floating dry dock (1919)
Wikipedia
World Naval Ships Forums
Two of the items linked above state that “three million feet” ofwood was used in the construction of the Morse Dry Dock Company’s new (1919) floating dry dock. In this context, “three million feet” means three million board feet, or “three million feet board measure” (as it would appear in a legal document such as a contract or an invoice).
one foot long, twelve inches wide, and one inch thick. In other words, a board foot was (and still is) a measure of volume equal to 144 cubic inches.
and wood quantities in general (but not for firewood) in the 1800s and 1900s, continuing into the twenty-first century. Production statistics, inventories, prices of sawn timber, and other business information about wood and wood products was usually stated in terms of board feet. The term “board feet” (or “feet board measure”) was often abbreviated to simply “feet”, as in the items linked above. It was generally assumed that everyone understood “three million feet” of wood meant three million board feet (or 7100 cubic metres in modern language). |
A reasonably representative average price, in 2013along the eastern coast of the United States, of ordinary softwood lumber when sold in large quantities, was about two dollars per board foot. At this price, the cost of three million board feet of lumber would be about six million dollars – just for the wood, at the shipping dock of the supplier. |
For shipyard magnate Edward P. Morse, the late 1910s were very good years. Buoyed by a fortune amassed during World War One (1914-1918), he constructed the world’s largest USS George Washington‘s interiors in just 76 hours so President Woodrow Wilson could sail to the post-armistice talks in Paris. In 1919, Morse and his wife, Ada, began a breathtaking expansion of their Victorian summer house in the Long Island, New York… Morse’s stables, as all his neighbors knew, housed a prized acquisition: General Ruxton, the late Theodore Roosevelt’s beloved saddle horse… [links added]
—Source: Vince Camuto’s Jazz Age Manor in the Hamptons Architectural Digest, July 2013
Morse Dock Plant Swept by Flames
Six buildings in the great shipbuilding plant of the Morse Dry Dock and Repair Company, extending along the South Brooklyn waterfront from Fifty-fifth to Sixtieth Streets, were destroyed last night (3-4 December 1917) by a fire probably of incendiary origin… Because this plant has been employed exclusively on Government work of great importance since this country (U.S.A.) entered the war (on 6 April 1917), it has been heavily guarded. One company of soldiers has been quartered in the (Morse) yards and kept constantly on duty… The Morse docks were declared a Government reservation in September (1917), and thirty-nine saloons near it were closed by the War Department… (because) the dry dock doing Government work was in the same class as an army training camp.
—Source:
Morse Dock Plant Swept by Flames The New York Times, 4 December 1917
Motor Yacht Elgrudor c.1920
Photograph copied by Judith Peach, August 2014
1918
Morse Dry Dock Dial, Jan 1918 v1 n1
The Company’s Growth
Hagley Museum and Library
Morse Dry Dock Dial, Mar 1918 v1 n3
Morse Company Covers Historic Ground
in Brooklyn (originally “Breuckelen”)
The property was originally the farm of Theodorus Bergen.
Theodorus Bergen was born on 17 March 1775. He was the
son of Michael Bergen and Anthe Van Wyck. Theodorus married
Sarah Vanderbilt, daughter of John Vanderbilt and Marretje Ditmars.
Theodorus Bergen died on 21 January 1859 at age 83.
Hagley Museum and Library
Morse Dry Dock Dial, Apr 1918 v1 n4
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, May 1918 v1 n5
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, June-July 1918 v1 n6
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Aug 1918 v1 n7
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Sep 1918 v1 n8
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Oct 1918 v1 n9
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Nov 1918 v1 n10
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Dec 1918 v1 n11
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1919
Morse Dry Dock Dial, Jan 1919 v2 n1
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Feb 1919 v2 n2
Hagley Museum and Library
Morse Dry Dock and Repair Company’s huge new floating Dry Dock
February 1919, page 1
…when completed the new dry dock will be the largest sectional floating dry dock and the most efficient dry dock we know anything about in the world… The third of the three sections now in commission was launched on December 28 (1918); it was towed down (from the construction site and) added to the other two sections which had been completed earlier, and on January 16 (1919) the three sections went into (commercial operation), thus actually doubling the dry-docking facilities of our Company. When the fourth section is completed, that section will be added to the three now in use and our dry-docking facilities will be increased that much more. The same with the fifth and sixth sections, and before another winter gets around it is expected that all of the six sections will be in operation… an event of this kind is one big event in shipping circles… |
Morse Dry Dock Dial, Mar 1919 v2 n3
Hagley Museum and Library
Morse Dry Dock Dial, Apr 1919 v2 n4
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, May 1919 v2 n5
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Jun 1919 v2 n6
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Jul 1919 v2 n7
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Aug 1919 v2 n8
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Sep 1919 v2 n9
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Oct 1919 v2 n10
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Nov 1919 v2 n11
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1920
Morse Dry Dock Dial, Jan 1920 v3 n1
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Mar 1920 v3 n3
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Apr 1920 v3 n4
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, May 1920 v3 n5
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Jun 1920 v3 n6
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Jul 1920 v3 n7
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Aug 1920 v3 n8
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Sep 1920 v3 n9
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Oct 1920 v3 n10
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Nov 1920 v3 n11
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Dec 1920 v3 n12
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1921
Morse Dry Dock Dial, Jan 1921 v4 n1
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Feb 1921 v4 n2
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Mar 1921 v4 n3
Includes article:
Mr. Morse Discusses Wages And Conditions;
Must Produce More, Says Mr. Morse
Hagley Museum and Library
Morse Dry Dock Dial, Apr 1921 v4 n4
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, May 1921 v4 n5
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Jun 1921 v4 n6
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Aug 1921 v4 n8
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Sep 1921 v4 n9
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Oct 1921 v4 n10
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Nov 1921 v4 n11
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Dec 1921 v4 n12
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1922
Morse Dry Dock Dial, Jan 1922 v5 n1
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Mar 1922 v5 n3
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Apr 1922 v5 n4
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, May-June 1922 v5 n5-6
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Jul 1922 v5 n7
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Aug 1922 v5 n8
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Oct 1922 v5 n10
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Nov 1922 v5 n11
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Dec 1922 v5 n12
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1923
Morse Dry Dock Dial, Jan-Feb 1923 v6 n1
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Apr 1923 v6 n4
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, May 1923 v6 n5
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Jul-Aug 1923 v6 n7-8
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Morse Dry Dock Dial, Sep 1923 v6 n9
…a call is made for specifications at ten o’clock in the morning,
bids are opened at eleven, and work started by noon…
Hagley Museum and Library
Morse Dry Dock Dial, Oct 1923 v6 n10
Special Diesel Number
The First Industrial Diesel Engine Plant in New York City
Hagley Museum and Library
Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company advertisement, November 1925
November 1925
(Publication not known)
Cover, Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Presentation Cover
Page 1 (front page), Maintaining Ships and Dividends
One Executive to Another
Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Page 1 (front page)
Page 2, Maintaining Ships and Dividends
from the Standpoint of the Executive who Controls
His Shipping Company’s Expense and Revenue
Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Page 2
Page 3, Maintaining Ships and Dividends
give Ship Owners and Operators Best Economic Performance
Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Page 3
Page 4, Maintaining Ships and Dividends
of the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company, South Brooklyn, New York City.
Note the convenient location with relation to main channel, mooring basin and docks.
Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Page 4
Page 5, Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Page 5
Page 6, Maintaining Ships and Dividends
at the
foot of 56th Street, South Brooklyn, New York City
Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Page 6
Page 7, Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Page 7
Page 8, Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Page 8
Note the large area of window glass along
both sides of the plate and forge shops.
Page 9, Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Page 9
Page 10, Maintaining Ships and Dividends
ready to be submerged
Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Page 10
All six sections of the floating dry dock are visible here.
Page 11, Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Page 11
Page 12, Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
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Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
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Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
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Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Page 15
Page 16, Maintaining Ships and Dividends
at the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company
Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Page 16
Page 17, Maintaining Ships and Dividends
at the Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company
Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Page 17
Page 18, Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Page 18
Re the “portable boring mill reboring stern tube in place“: Note the flat belt drive powering the portable
boring mill – the power source, driving this flat belt, is located below the temporary staging that the
workmen are standing on. This being the 1920s, the power source probably was a portable steam engine.
The men are wearing clothing with long loose sleeves, working in close proximity to moving parts,
especially the fast-moving flat belt, that today would be considered (correctly) to be an extreme
hazard not to be tolerated in any workplace – but in the 1920s (and continuing into the 1940s and
even the 1960s) this sort of workplace hazard was taken for granted everywhere in North America.
Page 19, Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
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Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
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Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
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Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
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Page 23, Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
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Page 24 (back page), Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Edward P. Morse: Maintaining Ships and Dividends
Page 24 (back page)
Edward Morse mansion as it appears in 2013
11 Morse Crescent, Cornwallis Park
Annapolis County, Nova Scotia
GPS location: 44°39’23″N 65°38’02″W
Google map showing this location
Photographed on 6 November 2013
from the intersection of Haida Street and Spitfire Street
When Edward P. Morse
Fig. 8, “Trails End,” west elevation viewed from the northwest
September 1942
Department of National Defence (Building 30)
—Source: Figure 8, page 23
Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Building Report 90-320 (pdf 11Mbytes)
Map showing the CFB Cornwallis gunnery range (1970s)
Roads are shown as they were in 1978. Except for Highway 101, the
layout of the roads in 2013 has not changed much from that shown here.
“Following the unification of the Canadian Armed Forces
in 1968, Cornwallis became the primary Canadian Forces
English-language new-recruit training centre. With the
expansion of the training course to include fieldcraft
training and firing-range practice, 3000 additional acres
were acquired at a new site at Granville Ferry on
the far (north) side of the Annapolis Basin.”
—Source:
Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Building Report 90-320 (pdf 11Mbytes)
“Base Commander’s Residence, Building 51, Canadian
Forces Base Cornwallis, Cornwallis, Nova Scotia”, (page 5)