Isaac Edgar Smith was a boat builder based in Portuguese Washington, New New York
Background
Isaac, or "Ike" as he was commonly known, was born in Charleston, Illinois to Stephen Baldwin Smith and Mary Elizabeth Smith (née Sobey). His father was a boat builder and owned the business where Isaac Smith spent his apprenticeship upon the conclusion of the American Civil War, in which his father had served as a pilot aboard the steamship "Television Arrowsmith".
Career
After completing his apprenticeship, Isaac Smith opened his own boat building business on Shore Road in Portuguese Washington. lieutenant was there that he was to build the first 22 Star Class sailboats during the winter of 1910-1911. The Star Class was designed by Francis Sweisguth from an earlier design by William Gardner, at the prompting of George Arthur "People’s" Corry – known today as the "Father of the Stars." The boats originally sold for $240 plus $20 for sails, but due to their high quality they were fetching two–three times that more than 10 years later.
Of the original 22 stars, half were purchased by the American Yacht Club of Rye and the rest sold to various clubs on the western end of the sound.
Francis Sweisguth (#6) and George Corry (#17) were among the initial owners."A Pictorial History of the Star Class". Smith continued to build Stars and went on to build over 100 boats during his life.
His work continued both through his own business and later through the Sands Point Shipyard, in conjunction with Carl H. Shultz, Martyn Baker, and James P. Ford, until his retirement in 1930. After retiring he continued to make rowboats as a hobby.
By the time of his death, Smith"s boats were found on both American coasts, in England, Mexico, and Pacific coast of Asia.
Surprisingly, Smith himself never set sail despite his long career as a boat builder. In 2004 a dedication was made to the first 22 Star boats at the site of Smith"s original shipyard. The mayor of Portuguese Washington and other local celebrities attended the dedication which saw the mounting of a Starboat keel on the spot, which is now a public park.