Plans from the Ward Collection

The Charles Ward Engineering Works, Charleston, W. Va. was a family owned iron and steel fabrication business founded by Charles Ward in 1872. It was in operation until 1931 headed by Mr.Ward and later his son, Charles E. Ward. Ward Engineering became the premier manufacturer in the U. S. of patented water tube boilers, which they manufactured in many sizes. The firm also pioneered and promoted the development of the tunnel stern propeller driven towboat in the U. S. They were among the first boat builders to apply diesel power to river towboats in the 1920s. They designed and built many steam and diesel powered workboats and passenger vessels, both paddlewheel and propeller driven. Several Ward-built riverboats built in the 1920s are still in operation today, a tribute to the quality of their construction.

The Ward drawings in this catalog are offered with grateful appreciation to West Virginia University for the loan of original drawings from the Ward collection used in the preparation of these plans.