Smitten by the art of boatmaking at a young age, J. Herbert Madden Sr. and Arthur “Dick” Lewis would go on to have a 40-year partnership solidified by their love of boats.
After promising his mother he’d finish school at night, Madden began working at Wilson Boat Builders in San Francisco at 12 years old. Five years later, he built his first yacht called the Fulton G. In 1915, Madden and his brother, Francis, began a boatbuilding shop called J.H. and D.F. Madden Marine Railway. After Francis was killed in France just before an armistice was signed to end World War I, Madden continued the business.
Lewis was born in San Francisco and, at age 14, became an apprentice working for boatbuilders in San Francisco. He worked 10-hour days six days a week. Lewis went on to work for the White Star Line in China and Japan. He helped build boats for the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. in Central America.
Lewis and Madden were acquainted for a number of years before they worked together. When Madden’s original shop burnt down in 1920, the plant was rebuilt, and Lewis became a partner in 1921. This partnership would last 40 years along with Madden’s sister, Katherine Bassford. Madden was also a racer, and the business built five of the Class Five boats, beginning with the Osprey in 1921. The shop was also known for 30-foot S Class racing yachts called “bird boats.”
In addition to boatmaking, Madden and Lewis made time for outside interests and family. Madden and his wife, Gertrude Murphy, raised six children in Sausalito. In the 1920s, Madden was elected to the Sausalito City Council and later became the mayor. One priority was to have the city build a municipal yacht harbor. After not receiving support, he decided to build it on his own in 1937. Although construction was hindered by World War II, it was eventually completed with 300 berths.
Lewis married his childhood sweetheart, Teresa Ann Kohler, and they had two children. Lewis started the Sea Scouts in Sausalito, complete with their own boat. In addition to being president of the Marin County Shriners Club, he was the Santa Claus at the Shriners’ Christmas party for many years. Lewis became the first commodore of the Sausalito Yacht Club.
During World War II, Madden and Lewis doubled its facility and hired 200 employees. They produced 100-foot subchasers and motor sailers used by the British Admiralty in the English Channel. They also built 60-foot tugs for the Navy and motor sailers for the Mare Island Navy Shipyard. After the war, the shop focused on repair and reconditioning work of boats and yachts, keeping their 25 longtime employees.
A Marin IJ article on March 28, 1960, reported that on March 16 a blaze destroyed the Madden and Lewis shipyard in Sausalito. As the news spread, members of the Sausalito Yacht Club offered to help, with a full squad cleaning up the entire day. This heartfelt effort and elbow grease were reciprocation for all the assistance and advice the shipyard had provided over the years. In October 1960, the Sausalito Marine Corporation announced a new boat repair shop on the site of the Madden and Lewis shipyard purchasing the ways and docks. Madden and Lewis continued to do repair and maintenance jobs in the Sausalito Yacht Harbor.
Lewis summed up his love of boats and the boatmaking business in a Marin IJ article on July 30, 1969, remarking, “It’s an interesting game. It becomes a hobby. Going to work is not ‘going to work’ for me — all I know is boats.”
(Originally published as a History Watch article in the Marin Independent Journal)