Moran Brothers Company (Seattle, Wash.)

Robert Moran, born in 1857 in New York, moved to Seattle in 1875 and was employed as a steamboat engineer in Puget Sound, British Columbia, and Alaska. Other members of the family followed Moran to Seattle, and in 1882 they opened a small machine shop on Yesler Wharf, expanding into larger quarters on Western Avenue. The Seattle fire of 1889 destroyed that factory, whereupon the firm moved to Charles Street and organized into the Moran Brothers Company. The Morans were large stockholders in the Seattle Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Company, a shipyard and marine railway which adjoined the Moran Brothers foundry and machine shops. By 1891 the company had completed a well equipped dry dock, which enabled it to receive federal contracts. In 1906 the Moran Brothers Company was sold, and in 1912 it became the Seattle Construction & Dry Dock Company.

After working on ships for a number of years, Robert, Sherman, and Frank Moran established Moran Bros. Marine and Sawmill Machinery Co. in 1882. The company became Moran Bros. Co. (ship and engine builders) in 1890. In 1898, the firm built -- in the record time of only four months -- a fleet of 12 steamers and 10 barges, and delivered them on the Yukon River to carry food to the miners. The firm also built many large steel and wood vessels, including the U.S. battleship NEBRASKA. Robert Moran served as mayor of Seattle from 1888 to 1890, overseeing both the response to the Great Fire and the development of the Cedar River water system.

After working on ships for a number of years, Robert, Sherman, and Frank Moran established Moran Bros. Marine and Sawmill Machinery Co. in 1882. The company became Moran Bros. Co. (ship and engine builders) in 1890. In 1898, the firm built -- in the record time of only four months -- a fleet of 12 steamers and 10 barges, and delivered them on the Yukon River to carry food to the miners. The firm also built many large steel and wood vessels, including the U.S. battleship Nebraska. Robert Moran served as mayor of Seattle from 1888 to 1890, overseeing both the response to the Great Fire and the development of the Cedar River water system.

Robert Moran was born on January 26, 1857 in New York City to Edward and Jean Dear (Boyack) Moran. He left school at the age of fourteen to acquire training as a machinist. In 1875, he migrated to the Pacific Coast, going first to San Francisco. He moved to Seattle in November of that year and was employed as a steamboat engineer in the regions of Puget Sound, British Columbia, and Alaska.

Other members of the family followed Moran to Seattle, and in 1882 he and his brothers, Peter and William, opened a small machine shop on Yesler Wharf with an initial capital of $1,500. When business expanded, the firm moved into new quarters at Western Avenue. This factory was worth about $40,000 when the Seattle fire of June 6, 1889 swept it away. A temporary plant reopened for business on Charles Street on June 16, 1889.

The Moran Brothers Company was organized on December 19, 1889 with capital stock of $250,000. Its officers included Robert Moran as president, secretary and treasurer, while Peter Moran acted as vice-president. William had retired previous to the reorganization.

Soon after moving the shops to the Charles Street factory, Moran Brothers Company opened a salesroom at their old location under the new name of Moran Brothers & Durie. When Durie dropped out of the firm a few years later, it became the Moran Supply Company, dealing in machinists' and engineering supplies.

The Morans were large stockholders in the Seattle Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Company, a shipyard and marine railway which adjoined the Moran Brothers foundry and machine shops. Robert Moran served as vice-president and manager of the Seattle Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Company. By 1890-1891, the company had completed a well equipped dry dock, enabling it to bid on and receive federal contracts later.

In March of 1906, Moran Brothers Company was sold. The new owners reorganized the business under the name of the Moran Company; in 1912 it became the Seattle Construction & Dry Dock Company.