Clarence W. Spangenberger

Last updated March 20, 2019

Clarence W. Spangenberger (December 9, 1905 – October 21, 2008) was the last president of Cornell Steamboat Company, whose more than 60 vessels made it the largest tugboat company in the United States.^[1]

Spangenberger was born in Kingston, New York on December 9, 1905. His parents both earned their incomes serving the shipyard workers and boatmen in Rondout, New York, with his mother selling bread and his father working as a barber. Spangenberger graduated from New York University, majoring in business. He first worked as a sales representative for the Standard Oil Company, before being hired in 1933 by the Cornell Steamboat Company, a firm whose history dated back to 1847. He started in the accounts receivable department and later supervised the firm's engineers, firemen and oilers.^[1]

Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, United States. It is 91 miles (146 km) north of New York City and 59 miles (95 km) south of Albany. The city's metropolitan area is grouped with the New York metropolitan area by the United States Census Bureau, It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British on October 13, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga. In the 19th century, the city became an important transport hub after the discovery of natural cement in the region, and had both railroad and canal connections. Passenger rail service has since ceased, and many of the older buildings are part of three historic districts, including the Stockade District uptown, the Midtown Neighborhood Broadway Corridor, and the Rondout-West Strand Historic District downtown.

Rondout, is situated on the Hudson River, at the mouth of Rondout Creek. Originally a maritime village serving the nearby city of Kingston, New York, Rondout merged with Kingston in 1872. It now includes the Rondout-West Strand Historic District.

New York University (NYU) is a private research university spread throughout the world. Founded in 1831, NYU's historical campus is in Greenwich Village, New York City. As a global university, students can graduate from its degree-granting campuses in NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai, as well as study at its 12 academic centers in Accra, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Florence, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Paris, Prague, Sydney, Tel Aviv, and Washington, D.C.

Spangenberger pushed the firm's management to convert to oil power instead of steam. With the change, the company's tugboats could push 21 barges that were grouped three across, rather than having all 21 barges towed end-to-end.^[1] He was selected by the firm's trustees to become the head of Cornell in December 1954,^[2] at a time when trucks and railroads were changing the dynamics of the shipping business. His efforts to revive the company included dismissing hundreds of employees, all of whom he notified in person.^[1]

New York Trap Rock Corporation, a producer of crushed stone that was the business's largest customer, acquired Cornell in 1958, in a merger that combined two of the Hudson River Valley's oldest companies. The Cornell Steamboat name was retained and Spangenberger remained in charge of the towing division.^[3] Even with more powerful tugboats and other efficiencies, Cornell went out of business in 1963.^[1]

He died at age 102 in Rhinebeck, New York on October 21, 2008.^[1]

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References

1 2 3 4 5 6 Martin, Douglas. "C.W. Spangenberger, of Storied Hudson River Tugboat Line, Dies at 102", The New York Times , November 1, 2008. Accessed November 3, 2008.
↑ Staff. "TOWING LINE FILLS POSTS; Cornell Concern's Chairman and President Selected", The New York Times , December 14. 1954. Accessed November 4, 2008.
↑ Staff. "TRAP ROCK BUYS TOWING COMPANY; Acquires Cornell Stock and Franchises — New Giant in Tugboat Field Seen", The New York Times , March 6, 1958. Accessed November 4, 2008.

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[NYTObit-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Martin, Douglas. "C.W. Spangenberger, of Storied Hudson River Tugboat Line, Dies at 102", The New York Times , November 1, 2008. Accessed November 3, 2008.

[2] Staff. "TOWING LINE FILLS POSTS; Cornell Concern's Chairman and President Selected", The New York Times , December 14. 1954. Accessed November 4, 2008.

[3] Staff. "TRAP ROCK BUYS TOWING COMPANY; Acquires Cornell Stock and Franchises — New Giant in Tugboat Field Seen", The New York Times , March 6, 1958. Accessed November 4, 2008.