Benjamin F. Taber's Boatyard
Details
- Name
- Benjamin F. Taber's Boatyard
- Address
- Old 231 W Seneca St Ithaca
- Year Built
- Unknown
- Building Type
- Commercial
- Construction
- not specified
Annotations
1872 A. G. Bardin Map of Ithaca
B.F. Tabor Boat Yard
1889 F. W. Beers Map of Ithaca
Taber
1899 Crandall City Engineering Map
Sarah J. Taber
Description
Benjamin Franklin Taber (1824-1909) came from a family of boat-builders going bck at least to
his grandfather Jeduthan Taber, who had been a ship-builder in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Taber started the business in 1846, and it continued until at least 1897, employing at various
times between 4 and 20 workers. While the boatyard was operating, other members of the
extended Taber family worked there as well, including Charles L. Taber (son), Curtis Taber,
Benjamin Taber, and Henry Taber (cousins). The boatyard was known for being particularly
productive, constructing over 250 boats over 50 years, mostly canal barges, but also 12
steamboats (including the Forest City and the steam yacht Clara).
Benjamin F. Taber's boatyard was at the corner of W Seneca and what is now Floral Ave (formerly Spencer Rd).
On the 1866 map, B.F. Tabor's boatyard was on what is now Floral Ave. On the 1872 map that was labeled Curtis Tabor's boatyard.
his grandfather Jeduthan Taber, who had been a ship-builder in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Taber started the business in 1846, and it continued until at least 1897, employing at various
times between 4 and 20 workers. While the boatyard was operating, other members of the
extended Taber family worked there as well, including Charles L. Taber (son), Curtis Taber,
Benjamin Taber, and Henry Taber (cousins). The boatyard was known for being particularly
productive, constructing over 250 boats over 50 years, mostly canal barges, but also 12
steamboats (including the Forest City and the steam yacht Clara).
Benjamin F. Taber's boatyard was at the corner of W Seneca and what is now Floral Ave (formerly Spencer Rd).
On the 1866 map, B.F. Tabor's boatyard was on what is now Floral Ave. On the 1872 map that was labeled Curtis Tabor's boatyard.
Media (Photos, Videos, Audio Recordings)
B.F. Taber's Boatyard
Add Source/NarrativeSources & Narratives
"He Was a Veteran Boat Builder, Well Known on the Lakes--Constructed Many of the Boats That Plied to and From This Port.
Benjamin F. Taber, one of the oldest and best-known citizens of this city, died at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon at his residence on Monroe street.
Mr. Taber was 85 years and 15 days of age at the time of his death. Mr. Taber was married twice. His first wife died some years ago. He later married again.
He is survived by his widow, Rebecca, and the following children: Fred, of Addison; B. Frank, a minister in Battle Creek, Mich.; Charles L., and Mrs. Edwin Gregory, of this city.
Benjamin F. Taber was born in the town of Ithaca February 4, 1824. He came of a family of boat-builders, his grandfather Jeduthun Taber, having been a ship-builder in New Bedford. The elder Taber came to this county in 1810 and bought a large tract of land at the head of the lake, where he conducted a tavern for many years and engaged in boat-building.
Benjamin F. Taber's father, Lloyd, was the second son of the first of the family to settle here, and he too, was a boat-builder, following his father's trade until his death.
The deceased man was the oldest child and only son of Lloyd Taber. He was educated in the common schools and the Ithaca Academy. At the age of 21 he became proprietor of a boat-building yard at the Inlet, which he conducted for many years. During his active years he built more than 250 boats for canal and river, 12 being steamers. He built the lake steamer Forest City, and also superintended the building of the hull of the Clara, for Charles Kellogg, which boat was launched in 18?8 and was then one of the finest on the lake. He employed from four to twenty men and built a large number of small boats.
Mr. Taber was identified with R.W. King in various other business ventures, and was at one time a partner of his uncle, Benjamin Taber, in the grain and transportation business. He was a republican in politics, and served the village of Ithaca as a trustee and was school commissioner for 20 years."
Benjamin F. Taber, one of the oldest and best-known citizens of this city, died at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon at his residence on Monroe street.
Mr. Taber was 85 years and 15 days of age at the time of his death. Mr. Taber was married twice. His first wife died some years ago. He later married again.
He is survived by his widow, Rebecca, and the following children: Fred, of Addison; B. Frank, a minister in Battle Creek, Mich.; Charles L., and Mrs. Edwin Gregory, of this city.
Benjamin F. Taber was born in the town of Ithaca February 4, 1824. He came of a family of boat-builders, his grandfather Jeduthun Taber, having been a ship-builder in New Bedford. The elder Taber came to this county in 1810 and bought a large tract of land at the head of the lake, where he conducted a tavern for many years and engaged in boat-building.
Benjamin F. Taber's father, Lloyd, was the second son of the first of the family to settle here, and he too, was a boat-builder, following his father's trade until his death.
The deceased man was the oldest child and only son of Lloyd Taber. He was educated in the common schools and the Ithaca Academy. At the age of 21 he became proprietor of a boat-building yard at the Inlet, which he conducted for many years. During his active years he built more than 250 boats for canal and river, 12 being steamers. He built the lake steamer Forest City, and also superintended the building of the hull of the Clara, for Charles Kellogg, which boat was launched in 18?8 and was then one of the finest on the lake. He employed from four to twenty men and built a large number of small boats.
Mr. Taber was identified with R.W. King in various other business ventures, and was at one time a partner of his uncle, Benjamin Taber, in the grain and transportation business. He was a republican in politics, and served the village of Ithaca as a trustee and was school commissioner for 20 years."
"B.F. Taber Called To His Reward: Aged and Respected Resident Died This Afternoon," Ithaca Daily Journal, February 19, 1909, 3, accessed September 27, 2024, https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=idj19090219-01.1.3
1909
“One especially productive boat yard was that of Benjamin F. Taber. Taber’s produced the private steam yacht, the Clara, which was sleek and fast, and the winner of the only official steamboat race on Cayuga Lake. Both horse- (and mule-) drawn, as well as steam-powered barges came from there, also. Benjamin, William and later Henry Taber built boats in Ithaca from the 1850s until the early 20th century.”
‘Erie Canal Launched Boating Boom on Cayuga Lake’, Ithaca Journal, January 2, 2015