Defoe Shipbuilding Company as a Presidential Yacht. It was called the "Barbara Anne" by President Eisenhower after his granddaughter, the "Honey Fitz" by President Kennedy in honor of his maternal grandfather John Francis Fitzgerald, and the "Tricia" by President Nixon after his daughter. In 1941, the name of the company was changed to Defoe Shipbuilding Company. During World War II, all production went to the war effort. From 1939 to 1945, the company built 154 ships, including four s, 13 destroyer escorts, 11 destroyer transports (converted destroyer escorts), patrol craft, and numerous landing craft of various types. The brand-new Defoe family yacht even
Erie Yacht Club inside the Club gates. This capsule will be opened at the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Club. To this day the Erie Yacht Club continues the traditions set forth by the Club's founding members to promote, encourage and develop activities associated with yachting and yachting activities. With a roster of over 1,300 members, the Erie Yacht Club is one of the largest and oldest privately owned clubs on the Great Lakes. Like most yacht clubs on the Lake Erie, the Erie Yacht Club is a member of the Inter-Lake Yachting Association, which provides reciprocal privileges between members of many other