Edwin Dennison Morgan III's Famed Racing Yacht "Constellation" Was Built in a Pelham Shipyard in 1889

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Yesterday's Historic Pelham article addressed the success of the Henry Piepgras Shipyard on City Island in the Town of Pelham during the latter half of the 1880s and efforts by Piepgras to expand the facility in 1888 and 1889.  See Wed., Dec. 13, 2017:  Henry Piepgras Made Improvements to His Pelham Shipyard in 1888 and 1889.  As noted in that article, at the very beginning of 1889, the Piepgras Shipyard was extremely busy.  On February 1, the keels of three yachts were already laid with plans to lay two more keels -- five at once.  All five vessels were steel-plated racing yachts intended to be finished in time for yacht races later that year.  One of the three steel-plated yachts under construction on February 1, 1889, was a yacht commissioned by Edwin Dennison Morgan III (E. D. Morgan).

Edwin Dennison Morgan III has been described as "The Greatest American Yachtsman."  According to one source he had a "long record in yacht racing, including the America's Cup."  He was a grandson of New York Governor and United States Senator Edwin Dennison Morgan and a distant relation of J. P. Morgan.  His father, Edwin Dennison Morgan II, died young.  Thus, when his grandfather died thereafter, the young Edwin Dennison Morgan III inherited from his grandfather an estate valued at about $12,000,000 (roughly $400 million in today's dollars).  He graduated from Harvard in 1877 and lived life thereafter as a "sportsman" -- primarily a yachtsman.

He served as Commodore of the New York Yacht Club in 1893-94 and served on that club's America's Cup Committee four times.  Yachting was central in his life.  His biography for his induction into the Herreshoff Marine Museum America's Cup Hall of Fame notes that "He owned some 17 vessels including steamers, schooners, sloops, America's Cup Defenders and many smaller yachts."  The biography further notes:

"After many years racing lesser yachts, Mr. Morgan came to particular prominence in yachting circles as the owner of Nathanael Greene Herreshoff's breakthrough yacht GLORIANA, which won all eight races in the New York Yacht Club's most competitive class in 1891. Thus began a legendary partnership in competitions over many years between E.D. Morgan as owner and manager and N.G. Herreshoff as designer and builder. The duo's accomplishments included very direct involvement with four Cup Defenders: VIGILANT in 1893 over VALKYRIE; DEFENDER in 1895 over VALKYRIE II; COLUMBIA in 1899 over SHAMROCK; and COLUMBIA in 1901 over SHAMROCK II with E.D. Morgan as syndicate manager."

Source:  Herreshoff Marine Museum / America's Cup Hall of Fame, "EDWIN DENNISON MORGAN, 2000 INDUCTEE" (visited Dec. 9, 2017).

Edwin Dennison Morgan III, Famous 19th Century Yachtsman.

During the late 1880s, E. D. Morgan hired Edward Burgess, one of the nation's premier yacht designers and maritime architects to design a massive steel-plated schooner exclusively for speed.  He also hired New York's premier shipbuilder, Heinrich Carl Christian "Henry" Piepgras of City Island in the Town of Pelham, to construct the massive racing schooner.

By February 1, 1889, the keel of the new schooner had been laid at the Piepgras Shipyard at the eastern end of Pilot Avenue (today's "Pilot Street") on City Island.  Although there are suggestions in some news accounts that Morgan hoped to race the new schooner in upcoming races in the Spring, work on the new schooner was delayed not long after the keel had been laid.  According to one report, Henry Piepgras was not satisfied with the quality of steel available to him for creating the steel plates for the hull and waited until he could obtain better quality steel.  By mid-February, 1889, Piepgras had the steel and arranged for work on the new schooner to proceed "in earnest" the week of February 23rd.

The yachting world was beginning to anticipate great things regarding the new schooner.  On February 16, 1889, a New York City newspaper reported a rumor that "the mainmast is to be 100 feet from tenon to masthead.  This looks as thought the yacht is to carry a big spread of sail."

By at least February 27, 1889, the new schooner under construction at the Piepgras Shipyard had a name.  The New York Herald of New York City reported that day that the "name of Mr. E. D. Morgan's schooner which Piepgras is building at City Island, will be the Constellation."

Work on the Constellation progressed slowly but steadily over the next six weeks.  By mid-April, the steel-plating was nearly complete with "only a little more" left to do.  The deck was expected to be laid "soon."  

As the Constellation slowly took shape at the Piepgras Shipyard slowly took shape during the next two months, it became increasingly clear that the schooner would be something very special.  It clearly would be the largest steel schooner yacht yet built in the world (136 feet overall, almost half the length of a modern football field).  In addition, it was being designed exclusively for speed.  

The Constellation, a centerboard schooner, had a rather revolutionary feature.  It was designed so that the centerboard did not rise above the cabin floor.  Reported measurements for the schooner differed slightly in various reports, but the vessel was about 136 feet long overall, 107 feet long on the water line, 24 feet 9 inch beam, and a draft of about 12 feet.  The ballast of the vessel was lead, "most of it being poured in hot."  The vessel also had a "pole bowsprit and set[] her jib flying cutter style" with a very large set of sails.  


By July 15, 1889, the Constellation was "rapidly approaching completion."  One newspaper reported that day that Morgan hoped to have the racing yacht ready for upcoming races of the New York Yacht Club.  

Though work on the yacht was not yet complete, over the next two and a half weeks, Morgan was able to take the vessel on "two or three trial spins."  The New York Herald reported on July 31 that Morgan was "quite satisfied with his new schooner Constellation."  It further reported that the trial runs gave Morgan "hope for great things when she gets into thorough racing trim.  In the forthcoming cruise of the New York Yacht Club her speed will be thoroughly tested, and some people think she will be a formidable candidate for the $1,000 Goelet Cup."  

That same day (July 31, 1889), the Constellation's designer, Edward Burgess, spent the day at the Piepgras Shipyard in Pelham giving Henry Piepgras instructions for a "few alterations in the rig" of the schooner "so as to have her in the best possible condition for the New York Yacht Club cruise" that would be held on August 8.  

On Thursday, August 8, the beautiful day broke with light breezes.  Edwin Dennison Morgan III and everyone else, frankly, expected great things of the Constellation during the New York Yacht Club Squadron Races from New London to Newport held that day. 

The Constellation raced among five other "First Class Schooners" including the Palmer, the Ramona, the Intrepid, the Norseman, and the Dauntless.  It won the race, beating all by about a minute.  See BEAUTIFUL GRAYLING LEADS THE FLEET, N.Y. Herald, Aug. 9, 1889, p. 4, cols. 1-3.  

Surprisingly, however, reaction to the Constellation and its performance in the race was somewhat negative among American yachtsmen.  The New York Herald reported the day after the race as follows:

 "The Constellation, the big schooner designed by Mr. Burgess for Mr. E. D. Morgan, comes in for a great deal of unkind criticism, and rather unjustly so, in my opinion.  She is a steel centreboard craft, 106 feet on the load water line, 24 feet 9 inches beam and 12 feet draught.  Constructed expressly for speed, her ballast is of lead, most of it being poured in hot.  She has a pole bowsprit and sets her jib flying cutter style.  Her sail plan is very large.  As to her beauty people are divided, but the point made against her is that she undoubtedly should have shown to better advantage."

The problem seems to have been one of expectations.  The Constellation was brand new with purportedly significant technological improvements.  Yet, it beat the last place Dauntless, a 24-year-old vessel, by only one minute and nine seconds.  Moreover, the remaining vessels that it also beat were a hodge podge of older ships with one even described as "old fashioned."  Indeed, the New York Herald reported "With such boats as these against her it is argued with some force that the Constellation ought to have made a more remarkable record.  Unkindly criticism of this kind ought, however, to be deferred until next season."

 Morgan himself seems to have been less than enthusiastic about the potential of the Constellation.  Barely two years later, on September 10, 1891, a local newspaper reported that he had sold the vessel to Mr. Bayard Thayer of Boston for $40,000, a price that was "much below the original cost of the yacht."  

Eight years later, in 1899, Bayard Thayer sold the Constellation to Francis Skinner of the Eastern Yacht Club.  The yacht eventually landed in the hands of Henry Sears, also of the Eastern Yacht Club.  According to the City Island Nautical Museum, "The yacht was the flagship and landmark at Marblehead Harbor and the Eastern Yacht Club until 1941, when the yacht was donated to the Navy for scrap metal, so much of Constellation went into the construction of war ships. Constellation was considered by many to be the most beautiful yacht in America during its lifetime."

The most beautiful yacht in America during the late 19th and early to mid-20th centuries was built in a Pelham shipyard by Pelhamite and City Island shipbuilder Heinrich Carl Christian "Henry" Piepgras.  The lovely yacht is pictured immediately below.

Edwin Dennison Morgan's Centerboard Schooner Constellation

Designed by Edward Burgess and Built at the Henry Piepgras Shipyard

on City Island in the Town of Pelham in 1889.  This Image Shows the

Yacht on August 10, 1892 in a Race Near Marblehead, Massachusetts

Which She Won in Her Class.  Source:  Wikimedia Commons.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"YACHTING NOTES AND COMMENTS. . . .

I saw Mr. E. D. Morgan and Mr. Edward Burgess at City Island.  They had gone there to see how the big steel schooner is progressing.  There has been some little delay in getting the proper kind of steel for the yacht, but Mr. Piepgras has at last obtained what he wants and work will go on in dead earnest next week.  I hear a rumor that the mainmast is to be 100 feet from tenon to masthead.  This looks as thought the yacht is to carry a big spread of sail."

Source:  YACHTING NOTES AND COMMENTS, N.Y. Herald, Feb. 16, 1889, p. 8, col. 2.

"YACHTING TOPICS. . . . 

The name of Mr. E. D. Morgan's schooner which Piepgras is building at City Island, will be the Constellation. . . . ."

Source:  YACHTING TOPICS, N.Y. Herald, Feb. 27, 1889, p. 8, col. 2.

"YACHTING NOTES.
-----
A Great Deal of Activity in all the Local Shipyards. . . . 

Work is being rapidly pushed on Mr. E. D. Morgan's Burgess cutter Tomahawk and Burgess' schooner Constellation by Piepgras.  The former is nearly plated and her deck will soon be laid.  Only a little more plating is needed by the Constellation. . . ."

Source:  YACHTING NOTES -- A Great Deal of Activity in all the Local Shipyards, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Apr. 11, 1889, Vol. 49, No. 100, p. 1, col. 3.

"YACHTING TOPICS. . . .

Mr. E. D. Morgan's fine steel centreboard yacht Constellation, designed by Mr. Burgess, was launched yesterday afternoon from the yard of Mr. Henry Piepgras at City Island, on the Sound.  A large party of yachtsmen and ladies witnessed the launch, which was successful in every way.  Just as the yacht settled in the water Mrs. Morgan, wife of the owner, broke a bottle of wine over the yacht's prow, at the same time saying prettily, 'I christen thee Constellation.  Be speedy, victorious and safe.'  The yacht will be schooner rigged, is both keel and centreboard.  A feature of the centreboard is that it does not rise above the cabin floor.  The Constellation is 138 feet long over all, 107 feet on the water line and 26 feet beam and 16 feet depth of hold.  Her spars are in readiness at the yard of her builder, and she will probably receive them to-morrow."

Source:  YACHTING TOPICS, N.Y. Herald, Jun. 21, 1889, p. 8, col. 6.  

"YACHTING. . . .

Edwin  D. Morgan's handsome new schooner Constellation is rapidly approaching completion at Piepgras's yard.  Mr. Morgan hopes to have her ready for the cruise of the New York Yacht Club.  She will be classed with the schooners Dauntless, Roseman, Palmer and Ramona. . . ."

Source:  YACHTING, Utica Morning Herald [Utica, NY], Jul. 15, 1899, p. 3, col. 2.  

"YACHTING TOPICS.
-----

Mr. E. D. Morgan is said to be quite satisfied with his new schooner Constellation, which Mr. Burgess designed and Mr. Piepgras built.  He has given her two or three trial spins, and the way she goes through the water leads him to hope for great things when she gets into thorough racing trim.  In the forthcoming cruise of the New York Yacht Club her speed will be thoroughly tested, and some people think she will be a formidable candidate for the $1,000 Goelet Cup.  The Constellation is one of the largest centreboard schooner yachts afloat.  Her fittings are in excellent taste and cost a pile of money."

Source:  YACHTING TOPICS, N. Y. Herald, Jul. 31, 1889, p. 8, col. 6.  

"YACHTING TOPICS. . . . 

Mr. Edward Burgess spent some time yesterday at City Island giving Mr. Piepgras instructions for a few alterations in the rig of Mr. E. D. Morgan's schooner Constellation, so as to have her in the best possible condition for the New York Yacht Club cruise."

Source:  YACHTING TOPICS, N. Y. Herald, Aug. 1, 1889, p. 6, col. 4.

"THE CRUISE AND ITS LESSONS.
-----
How Yachtsmen Regard the Results of the New York Yacht Squadron Races.
-----
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE FORTIES.
-----
Minerva the Most Popular Boat in Her Class in Spite of Her Scotch Origin.
------

The problems which the cruise of the New York Yacht Club, with its glorious races, was expected to solve are as yet unsolved.  It is one of a yachtsman's salient characteristics never to admit that he is beaten, so the owners and designers of the vessels which sustained actual defeat are by no means satisfied that under different conditions their boats would not have come in at the head of the fleet.  Nearly all the yachtsmen have returned and are sweltering in their offices, trying to get on even terms with the immense amount of work which has accumulated during their absence.  They do not seem so happy, though, as they did at Newport or Cottage City, when with silken soul and body lashings of various brilliant hues they charmed the hearts of the girls and had a tip-top, glorious time.

Discussion as to the merits of each and every boat in the squadron may be heard at all the haunts of yachtsmen.  There are two factions -- Burgess and anti-Burgess -- and the way they clapperclaw each other is a caution to snakes.  The Constellation, the big schooner designed by Mr. Burgess for Mr. E. D. Morgan, comes in for a great deal of unkind criticism, and rather unjustly so, in my opinion.  She is a steel centreboard craft, 106 feet on the load water line, 24 feet 9 inches beam and 12 feet draught.  Constructed expressly for speed, her ballast is of lead, most of it being poured in hot.  She has a pole bowsprit and sets her jib flying cutter style.  Her sail plan is very large.  As to her beauty people are divided, but the point made against her is that she undoubtedly should have shown to better advantage.  She had against her the Dauntless, a boat twenty-four years old, whose shape and spars have been described until they are quite familiar.

Competing against her also was the Intrepid, a wooden keel schooner, designed in 1878 by Mr. A. Cary Smith for ocean work entirely, with inside ballast of iron and lead, and rigged with flying jib-boom in the old style.  Her dimensions are 100 feet 8 inches load water line; beam 24 feet 1 inch; with a plumb sternpost, a deep bilge and flat floor, with nothing modern about her.

Another of her rivals was the Palmer, a wooden schooner, lately rebuilt by Piepgras and transformed into a keel yacht by Poillon.  She is 104 feet 3 inches on the load water line, 24 feet 2 inches beam and 12 feet draught.  Her ballast is of lead, about forty tons of it on the keel.  She has a pole bowsprit.  She carried away her foretopmast on the run to Vineyard Haven, and sailed without it during the rest of the cruise.  Consequently she could not set her spinnaker or jibtopsail is a great help to speed in windward work.

With such boats as these against her it is argued with some force that the Constellation ought to have made a more remarkable record.  Unkindly criticism of this kind ought, however, to be deferred until next season, when she will be in full racing condition, and then she may turn out the best centreboard racing schooner of her size in the world.  Yachtsmen who have seen the fast keel schooner Yampa, designed by Mr. A. Cary Smith, whose fine achievements in deep water have been from time to time chronicled in the HERALD, would very much like to see the two boats in an ocean race.  The Iroquois, a good, seaworthy cruising craft, from the design of Mr. A. Cary Smith, successfully weathered the memorable blizzard and did very well indeed on the cruise.

If Mr. Burgess made a partial failure with his schooners this year, all hands must congratulate him on the peerless work of his smart sloop Titania.  This boat, with the exception perhaps of the Puritan, is undoubtedly the very best yacht Mr. Burgess has ever turned out.  The Volunteer is excepted for many reasons obvious to well informed yachtsmen.  The brilliant all round work of the Titania must make her celebrated in the annals of American yachting.  There is not a yachtsman on this side of the Atlantic who does not believe that the Titania could walk away with the Valkyrie with great ease under any conditions of weather.  The general impression goes that if Valkyrie had only proved herself just a wee bit smarter in her races the Royal Yacht Squadron would probably have taken a different view of the New Deed of Gift.

The Titania, therefore, seems to be facile princepa in her class.  The owners of the Katrina have had tests enough and they must fain admit that the Burgess boat is the better.  As for the Bedouin she might, with a few alterations, have done more creditably, but the good old cruiser has been out-built.  Nevertheless she is still staunch and sound as a roach and for a good all round boat, perfectly safe and seaworthy and one that can weather a gale of wind in fine style, commend me to Archie Rogers' fine old cutter.

The next class which commands attention is that of the forty footers -- those purely racing machines concerning which the HERALD has had something to say since they first originated.  Boats with great beam, large displacement, deep draught and enormous sale area, they were sprung with a rush upon American yachtsmen.  The result cannot be truly said to have been satisfactory.  All of them which have tried conclusions with the Scotch cutter Minerva have come woefully to grief.  Burgess, Cary, Smith, Gardner and McVey have trotted out their finest and choicest designs and young Fife of Fairlie has beaten them with a last year's boat."

Source:  THE CRUISE AND ITS LESSONS, N. Y. Herald, Aug. 25, 1889, p. 7, col. 6.

"E. D. MORGAN'S SCHOONER SOLD. -- The famous schooner yacht Constellation, built two years ago by Piepgras of City Island, for Mr. Edwin D. Morgan, of New York, the owner of the Gloriana, has been sold to Mr. Bayard Thayer of Boston.  The price paid for the schooner is said to be $40,000.  This is much below the original cost of the yacht.  She is of Burgess design, built of steel, fitted with a centreboard below the cabin floor and rigged in the strongest manner.  Her dimensions are:  131 feet over all, 166 [sic] feet water line, 24 feet 9 inches beam and 12 feet draught.  She is just the kind of vessel in which to make a cruise around the world."

Source:  E. D. MORGAN'S SCHOONER SOLD, Queens County Sentinel [Hempstead, NY], Sep. 10, 1891, Vol. 35, No. 15, p. 3, col. 2.  

"VICE COMMODORE MORGAN'S ITUNA. . . .

Yachtsmen here who had given the subject consideration during the winter and early spring wondered a little what Vice Commodore Morgan would do this year for a large boat.  He had disposed of the schooner Constellation to Mr. Bayard Thayer, of Boston. . . ."

Source:  VICE COMMODORE MORGAN'S ITUNA, N.Y. Herald, Jun. 8, 1892, p. 11, col. 4.  

"NEWS FOR YACHTSMEN. . . .

B. B. Crowninshield reports that he has sold the schooner Puritan, the former cup defender, for J. Malcolm Forbes to J. O. Shaw, Jr. Eastern Yacht Club, and the steel schooner Constellation for Bayard Thayer to Francis Skinner, Eastern Yacht Club.  The Constellation is one of the largest and finest schooners in the fleet; was designed by Burgess and built by Piepgras in 1889.  The yacht's dimensions are 131 feet over all, 107 feet water line, 25 feet beam, and 12 feet draught. . . ."

Source:  NEWS FOR YACHTSMEN, N. Y. Times, Mar. 12, 1899, p. 8, col. 4.

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