Strange Tales The Boeing Connection to the Northern Wilds By Elle AndraWarner
The Boeing Company is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of commercial aircraft, with a net worth of more than $150 billion (2021). It was founded on July 15, 1916 in Seattle, Washington by William Edward Boeing as Pacific Aero Products Company, renamed a year later to Boeing Airplane Company. So, what’s the Boeing connection to the Northern Wilds? Well, back in the 1880s, it was William’s father, Wilhelm Boeing who was in the national spotlight when he claimed to own part of the Duluth Canal and tried to stop ships from entering. Born in 1846 in Hohenlimburg, Germany, Wilhelm immigrated to the U.S. in 1868, arriving broke. He anglicized his name to Boeing, settled in Detroit, worked for lumberman Karl Ortmann, and married the boss’s daughter Marie Ortmann. They had two children: William (founder of Boeing) and Caroline. Not long after marrying, Wilhelm started buying timberland around Lake Superior (including 7,500 acres around today’s town of Chisholm) and securing mineral rights on his properties on Minnesota’s Mesabi Range (his Boeing Mine in the Mesabi Range was located north of Hibbing in what is now the Hull-Rust mine pit). He became a wealthy man with his holdings in land, timber and mining rights. Meanwhile, he continued to live in Detroit, having built a stately mansion there. When he died of influenza in 1890 at age 42, his estate was worth $2 million (2021 value of $60.7 million). His land purchases included 14 lots on Minnesota Point. When the Duluth Ship Canal was created, the canal had been built through his property leaving his land on both sides of the canal. In 1888, he began actions to get his land back. Rumours swirled that he planned to charge ships a toll. However, Wilhelm told the Superior Times (October 19, 1889) that “his intention was to establish his right to the fourteen lots in the canal.” The end goal was for the City of Duluth to buy his canal property, which he valued at $100,000 (2021 value of $2.9 million). In the fall of 1889, Wilhelm set about to enforce his ownership. On September 27, 1889, Wilhelm signed a warning notice that appeared in Duluth newspapers. It was also distributed to shipping companies and to vessels at the Sault
An 1890s view of Duluth from Fifth Street to the canal (before aerial bridge). | UMD KATHRYN A. MARTIN LIBRARY Ste Marie locks headed to Duluth. It read: You are hereby notified that on and after the 15th day of October 1889, the right of passage through the canal connecting the waters of Lake Superior and the Bay of Duluth will be denied by me to all boat and vessel owners. A rope will be stretched across said canal upon my property, which lies in and upon either side of the said canal, and the owner or master of any boat or vessel breaking the same will be promptly proceeded against in the courts. September 27, 1889 WILHELM BOEING. With no offer forthcoming from the city to purchase his land, Wilhelm apparently telegraphed his Duluth lawyer Marshall H. Alworth on October 14, 1889 and gave the order, “String the Rope.” Alworth hired Ferryman Charles Winters and assistants Frank Jacobs and James Jones to do the
A portrait of Wilhelm Boeing. | DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY
Wilhelm Boeing’s mansion in Detroit was designed by Henry T. Brush. It was built in 1881 and demolished around 1910. | DIGITAL ARCHIVE NORTHERN WILDS
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