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Webb’s Bronx Guests: The Lost Alumni

Webb’s Bronx Guests: The Lost Alumni. 125 th Anniversary Celebration Webb Institute Southwest Alumni Dinner San Diego, CA - 2/8/14. Welcome. “ The great eventful Present hides the Past; but through the din Of its loud life hints and echoes from the life behind steal in.”

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Webb’s Bronx Guests: The Lost Alumni

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  1. Webb’s Bronx Guests: The Lost Alumni 125th Anniversary CelebrationWebb InstituteSouthwest Alumni DinnerSan Diego, CA - 2/8/14

  2. Welcome “The great eventful Present hides the Past; but through the dinOf its loud life hints and echoes from the life behind steal in.” John Greenleaf Whittier The Garrison of Cape Ann1857 William H. Webb, about 1886 125th Anniversary Celebration, Southwest Alumni

  3. 1889 Charter “… for the purpose of offering free and gratuitous aid, relief and support to aged, decrepit, invalid, indigent, distressed, or unfortunate men who have been engaged in building hulls of ships or vessels, or marine engines … together with the lawful wives of such persons. Also further to provide and furnish to any young man, a native of the United States, who may, upon examination, prove himself competent and of good character, and worthy, free and gratuitous education in the art and science of the profession of shipbuilding, both theoretical and practical. …” Prof. Edwin Dunbaugh, A Centennial History of Webb Institute of Naval Architecture, p. 7 125th Anniversary Celebration, Southwest Alumni

  4. Webb’s Academy & Home for Shipbuilders • William Webb’s Vision:A retirement home and a trade school • Equal capacity for both functions in a purpose-built facility • 60 students • 60 guests • Never much interaction between students & guests Architect A. B. Jenning’s Rendering of Webb’s Academy & Home for Shipbuilders, Fordham Heights, Bronx, NY 125th Anniversary Celebration, Southwest Alumni

  5. Guests: First In, Last Out • First Guests , November 1893 • Peter Haulenbeck, 11/2/1893 • Nathaniel Whelpley, 11/2/1893 • Daniel Milton, 11/3/1893 • Thomas Nash, 11/9/1893 • William D. & Phoebe Craft, 11/15/1893 • First Student, New Year’s Day 1894 • George C. Cook ‘1897, 1/1/1894 • Last students in Bronx, 1/1/1947 • Last Guest, 2/9/1947 • James P. Hughes, transferred 2/9/1947 to National Sailor’s Home, Duxbury, MA Harper’s Magazine, 1896 125th Anniversary Celebration, Southwest Alumni

  6. Guest count • Analysis of Guest Register • Total Entries = 258 • Withdrawls = 21 • Re-admits = 4 • Net Guests = 233 • At or above 80% Guest Capacity for about 20 years • Started to reduce Guest admissions in 1918 • No admissions during WWI • Last Guest admitted • James P. Hughes, admitted 1/22/1939 80% - 100% Guest Capacity WHW Death Regents 2nd Caution Regents 1st Caution 125th Anniversary Celebration, Southwest Alumni

  7. Guest profiles • 2/3 born in US, but a melting pot of nationalities • Most by trade were wooden shipbuilders • Worked for many tri-state yards • Only 1 Guest listed William H. Webb as employer • Some worked for Trustees • Some worked for lease holder at site of WHW shipyard (James Tregarthen & Son) • 17% females (44 spouses) Birth Trade 125th Anniversary Celebration, Southwest Alumni

  8. Some were major players • Darius Davison • Designer of largest Hudson River steamer of its time • Proposed a giant iron steamer, (16 screws!) • Abraham Polhamus • Modeled America’s Cup Contender GRACIE • Designed luxury steam yachts built at Nyack, NY • Died during a visit to Wm. Webb at his 5th Ave. home GENERAL WASHINGTON, 1852 SHAMROCK, SEA FOX, GRACIE, KATRINA10th America’s Cup 125th Anniversary Celebration, Southwest Alumni

  9. Longevity and length of residence • Guests were old when they were admitted • As a reference, males in 1900: • Median age at death = 56 • Life expectancy at age 65 = 14 years (death at 79) • Some women lived many years after their spouses • Longest resident was Harriet Maybe, • Admitted in 1895 • Lived at Webb 28.75 years • Her husband, Peter Maybe, was the second longest residing male Guest • Data attests to good care for Guests • Dementia care was probably generous • In 2007, at age 71, incidence is 13.7% • However only 3.5% of Webb Guests dismissed to mental hospitals 125th Anniversary Celebration, Southwest Alumni

  10. … and hence to their final rest • Webb provided funerals & burials for Guests • Funerals probably at Webb’s Academy, 2nd Floor Parlor • Guests interred in several places • 76 at Mt. Hope (not just 43 as in the 1955 Binnacle) • 12 at Cypress Hills • 8 at Greenwood • 7 at Calvary • Several other cemeteries • Wreath laying on this Founder’s Day 2014 at Mt. Hope, Hastings on Hudson, NY Webb Binnacle 1955 125th Anniversary Celebration, Southwest Alumni

  11. Webb Corporate Seal 125th Anniversary Celebration, Southwest Alumni

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