West Street Foundry

West Street Foundry

Company type	Private
Industry	Steam engineering, Marine steam engines
Founded	1839
Founder	Joseph E. Coffee, Maelzaer Howell
Defunct	1855
Fate	Bankruptcy and closure
Headquarters	Brooklyn , United States
Area served	United States (including New York, New England, Alabama)
Key people	Joseph E. Coffee, Wilson Small
Products	Marine steam engines, stationary steam engines, boilers, metal fabrications
Number of employees	200 (1851)

The West Street Foundry was a steam engineering enterprise located in Brooklyn, New York, active during the mid-1800s with a focus on marine steam engine production. Between 1845 and 1855, it crafted no fewer than 27 engines for steamships, powering some of the fastest vessels of that period. In addition to marine engines, the foundry also produced and maintained stationary steam engines, boilers, and various metal fabrications. Despite its significant role in the market, the company ultimately declared bankruptcy and closed its doors in 1855.

History

Established around 1839 under the name Howell & Coffee, the firm was founded by engineer Joseph E. Coffee alongside Maelzaer Howell. After Howell passed away in 1842, Coffee assumed full ownership and remained a central figure throughout the company's lifespan. The foundry was situated at the northwest corner of West and Beach Streets in Brooklyn.

Its manufacturing range encompassed marine and stationary steam engines, boilers, and assorted metalworking services. The business also operated as a steamboat broker and charter agent, extending its reach to markets as distant as Alabama. By 1850, ownership transferred to Wilson Small, a prominent New York Democratic Party member, while Coffee stayed on as superintendent and agent. The workforce expanded from 140 employees in 1850 to 200 by 1851.

The marine engines produced by West Street Foundry powered at least 27 steamships, including notable Hudson River passenger vessels such as Mountaineer, celebrated for their speed. Furthermore, the company provided engines for coastal vessels in Maine like State of Maine, both of which earned acclaim for their performance when launched.

Financial challenges amid a slump in shipbuilding led Wilson Small to assign the business in 1855. Subsequently, Small pursued a career in public service, while Coffee established a new engineering operation in Keyport, New Jersey.

About the proprietors

Joseph Ellis Coffee was born on December 27, 1811, in Philadelphia and served as an engineer and principal at West Street Foundry until it ceased operations. He later founded a comparable engineering firm in Keyport, New Jersey, conveniently near the steamboat landing and close to Benjamin C. Terry’s shipyard—a longtime business partner of both Coffee and Small. Coffee occasionally oversaw steamer construction at Terry's yard, where Small originally owned at least seven vessels built. Later on, Coffee held the position of Chief of Bureau of Steam with New York's Metropolitan Police.

In addition to his engineering roles, Coffee held leadership positions including director and vice-president of New York’s Mechanics' Institute and director of the Brooklyn Fire Insurance Company. He passed away at age 58 on December 5, 1869, and was interred at Green Grove Cemetery in Keyport.

Wilson Small was born on February 13, 1810, in New York City. Beginning his career at age twelve as a jeweller, he transitioned into politics following the panic of 1837. He served terms in the New York State Assembly during 1846 and 1847 and later became president of New York City's Tenth Ward. After the collapse of West Street Foundry, Small entered civil service holding various governmental positions. He was also a Sachem and longtime Sagamore within Tammany Hall, as well as Grand Master of the Odd Fellows. Small died on October 21, 1886.

Production table

The following table details marine steam engines manufactured by West Street Foundry, though it might not represent a complete inventory.

Marine steam engines produced by West Street Foundry

Vessel	Category	Year	Manufacturer	Displacement (tons)	Initial Owner and/or Operator	Service Area	Engine Model	Quantity	Cylinder Diameter (inches)	Stroke Length (feet)	Notes on Vessel; References
Naushon Newsboy 48 Naushon 51	Steamboat	1845	W. & T. Collyer	230	New Bedford & Martha's Vineyard SBC	New England coastal routes	Ch	1	34	8	Served on New Bedford–Vineyard Haven route, functioned as mail steamer in New York Harbor, operated as Coney Island ferry, later used for transporting animal carcasses; dismantled in 1880.
Template:Border Santa Claus A. B. Valentine 69	Steamboat	1845	W. & T. Collyer	385	E. Fitch & Co.	Hudson River operations	VB	1	42	10	Noted for speed on the competitive New York–Albany corridor; converted into a towboat in 1855, underwent reconstruction in 1869, dismantled in 1901.
Mountaineer	Steamboat	1846	William H. Brown	513	Isaac Newton	Hudson River service	VB	1	54	11	Known for fast service between Peekskill and New York City; later operated on NYC–Bridgeport route; wrecked near Delaware Bay in 1850.
State of Maine San Pelayo 71	Steamboat	1848	Bishop & Simonson	806	Penobscot SNC	Coastal service in New England	VB	1	54	11	At launch, the largest and swiftest steamer along Maine's coast; routes included Boston–Bangor and Fall River–New York City; served as a hospital vessel during the Civil War; sold for Cuban operations in 1871.
George W. Coffee	Steamboat	1848	(Jersey City, NJ)	177	O. B. Hilliard	Coastal routes in South Carolina	—	—	—	Constructed for service between Charleston and Sullivan's Island; destroyed by fire in 1865.
Niagara	Ferry	1849	Perine, Patterson & Stack	411	Williamsburg FC	East River ferry operations	VB	1	38	9	One of five ferries commissioned by Williamsburg Ferry Company; sold to Erie Railroad around 1860; destroyed by fire suspected as arson in 1868.
Oneota	Ferry	1849	Perine, Patterson & Stack	411	Williamsburg FC	East River ferry operations	VB	1	38	9	Transferred to U.S. government ownership in 1863.
Oneida	Ferry	1849	Perine, Patterson & Stack	313	Williamsburg FC	East River ferry operations	VB	1	32	8	Decommissioned and left abandoned in 1876.
A. H. Schultz	Steamboat	1850		164	Wilson Small		—	1	24	6
Sea Witch	Steamship	1850		—		California coastal service		1	40	9
Independence	Steamship	1850	William H. Brown	600	Independent Line		San Francisco–Nicaragua route		1	42	9	Wrecked near Mexico in 1853.
Canada	Ferry	1851	Perine, Patterson & Stack	338	Williamsburg FC	East River ferry operations		VB	1	32	9	Decommissioned and abandoned in 1876.
Wilson Small	Steamboat	1851	Isaac C. Smith	258		NYC–New Jersey service		—	—	—	Sank after collision near Poplar Island, Maryland, in 1867; subsequently raised and wreck sold at auction.
Steamboat |1852 |Isaac C. Smith |170 |Middletown & Shrewsbury S&TC |NYC–New Jersey route |— |1 |— |— | Acquired by USQMD in 1863; returned to commercial use by 1867; removed from documentation around 1880.
Steamboat |1852 |John Terry |204 |Capt. Joe Armstrong |Mobile Bay operations |VB |1 |28 |6 | Last registered enrollment was in 1856.
Steamship |1852 |(Brooklyn, NY) |341 |— |— |— |1 |48 |9 | Served as a US Navy gunboat during the Civil War; captured and destroyed by Confederate forces in 1864.
Steamboat |1852 |— |— |Capt. Baldwin |— |— |1 |28 |7 | Constructed at Astoria.
Steamer |1852 |— |— |— |— |— |1 |32 |9 | Built for southern regional routes.
Steamboat |1853 |Isaac C. Smith |250 |Wilson Small		—	1	28	6
Steamboat|1853|W. Collyer|283|Red Bank SBC|NYC–New Jersey service		1	32	10	Served with USQMD during the Civil War; sunk by Confederate mine off Florida in 1864.
Steamboat|1853|Benjamin C. Terry|256|Red Bank SBC|NYC–New Jersey service		1	28	8	Destroyed by fire in Savannah, Georgia, in 1856.
'Peter G. Coffin' 'Alexis' 71 'Riverdale' 79	Steamboat	1853	Isaac C. Smith	350		Hudson River		VB		1		34		10		Operated exclusively on the Hudson River throughout its lifespan; underwent two lengthenings and rebuilds; wrecked due to boiler explosion causing fatalities in 1883.
'Daniel Webster No. 2' 62 'Expounder' 62 'Daniel Webster' 64 'Saguenay' 72	Steamboat	1853	Samuel Sneden	630		Maine SNC		New England coastal service		VB		1		52		11		At launch, the largest and fastest steamer along Maine's coast; utilized as troop transport and hospital vessel during the Civil War; destroyed by fire and sank at Quebec, Canada, in 1884.

Bibliography

• OCLC 1626009
• OCLC 1626009