Paul Curtis (shipbuilder)
| Paul Curtis | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 26, 1800 South Scituate, Massachusetts |
| Died | possibly 1857 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Shipbuilder |
| Parent(s) | Elijah Curtis & Rachel Clapp |
Paul Curtis (December 26, 1800 – after 1857) was an American shipbuilder who built ships in Medford, Massachusetts (up the Mystic River from Boston).
Shipbuilding was one of the two big businesses at Medford in the mid-19th century. Thatcher Magoun's shipyard, where Curtis did his apprenticeship, was the oldest (established 1802) and largest of the 10 yards, and remained so even after Thatcher's retirement in 1836. In 1845 one-quarter of all shipwrights in Massachusetts were employed in the Medford shipyards. The yards clustered along 1 mile of the Mystic River riverfront, and Curtis's yard was between South, Winthrop and Curtis Streets. He launched his ships directly across the South Street roadway. The yards drew upon the ready supply of local timber until the local woods were depleted. Ships were then built from timber cut down and floated south from the hardwood forests of New Hampshire. Each ship was built from fifteen or more species of wood carefully pieced together where the special properties of each would do the most good.
Curtis was the youngest child of Elijah and Rachel (Clapp) Curtis. He was born on December 26, 1800 at South Scituate, Massachusetts. In 1819, at the age of 18, he moved to Medford and began an apprenticeship as a shipwright in Medford at the shipyard of Mr. Thatcher Magoun. When serving time as apprentice he was called "Honest Paul". In 1834 the firm of Curtis and Co. was formed together with James O. Curtis. In the 5 years from 1834 to 1839 they were to build 9 vessels. In 1836 they took over the yard of Thatcher Magoun to whom they had both been apprenticed, relinquishing the yard to others after their partnership dissolved in 1839. Carrying on business on his own, Paul Curtis built another 27 vessels at Medford before moving his shipbuilding business to East Boston in 1852. He continued to build boats at East Boston until his retirement from shipbuilding. James Curtis also continued building ships on his own at Medford. Even though both Paul and the younger James shared a surname, and were both born in Scituate, they were not closely related and no link has been found between their families.
While living at Medford he built and occupied the large house with pillars on South Street now known as Grandfather's House. Curtis Street at Medford is named in remembrance of this ship builder. Also in 1845 Curtis had upon the stocks at his shipyard near the Winthrop-street bridge a ship of 850 tons burden, it being the largest vessel built in Medford up to that date. This ship was too wide to pass through the draw of the bridge, and the town was again petitioned to widen the draw, and chose a committee to repair according to their discretion; under this vote the bridge was rebuilt, the width of the draw increased to 40 feet, and the north abutment relaid.
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