Shipbuilding in progress — 8/11/1942 — #19743_1
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Photograph Copyright Anderson & Middleton Company
United States — Washington (State) — Hoquiam
Chilman Shipyard
"Carl Ivar Chilman, the founder and owner of the Chilman Shipyard which was located on the banks of the Hoquiam river in Hoquiam, Washington, built more than 100 boats during nearly a half century as a shipbuilder. Born in Goteberg, Sweden on October 4, 1877 he was the son of a ship's captain. He began his career sailing before the mast in the 1890s and continued sailing after the death of his father. Chilman received an early education in the construction of sea going vessels, and in the winters when the harbors of his native Sweden were chocked with ice he worked on and repaired ships for the next season. Chilman arrived permanently in the United States in 1902 as a ship's carpenter on the Glasgow sailing vessel,Brambletye. In 1905 he established a small shipyard near the northeast approach of the since removed Eighth street bridge, on what is now Riverside Avenue. In 1911 he moved his yard upstream to the area of 13th and C streets directly across the river from the early-day Matthews Shipyard. On July 20, 1911 he received authorization from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers to build the first of three marine railways into the Hoquiam River. Of the ships Chilman designed and built at the yard in the early years, the largest was a 140-foot, three-mast schooner built for private Belgian owners in 1918. Two 130-foot, three-mast schooners were also built during that decade. One was destroyed by fire soon after completion in 1919. During World War II the U. S. government called upon Chilman to build 26 boats for the armed forces, including several army freight and passenger boats, and a number of mine yawls. Also included were two navy patrol vessels, the YP 633 and YP 634. These 128-foot, 700-ton refrigerated vessels had the capacity to carry 300 tons of refrigerated cargo. They had a range of 7,000 statute miles. In 1945 the navy commissioned these vessels to patrol and supply its far-flung Pacific bases. Chilman died in 1950 leaving the shipyard to his son Gilbert Chilman who operated it until his retirement in 1979." Thanks to Shane Chilman for providing this essay.
