Winter coats at a Burger launching

Photographer

Glander Art Studio

Date

• April 18, 1942

Summary

• As evidenced by the winter coats worn by many of the women in the christening party, the weather was cool when the wooden minesweeper "YMS-108" was launched at the Burger Boat Company in Manitowoc, Wisconsin on April 18, 1942. The "YMS-108" was one of 43 vessels built by Burger under Navy and Army contracts during World War II. The woman holding the large bouquet of flowers is Mrs. Henry Burger, who as the ship's sponsor was to christen it with a bottle of champagne. A penciled note on the back of this photograph states "Mrs. Irene Weaver, wife of Cmd. G. C. Weaver next to her on the christening stand, actually broke the bottle on the vessel when Mrs. Burger's hit with the bottle failed to break." Lieutenant Commander G. C. Weaver was the Navy's Supervisor of Shipbuilding at the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, located across the Manitowoc River from the Burger site. The penciled notes further identify some of the people in the picture: left to right, first six unknown, Mrs. George Burger, Caroline Burger, Mrs. Henry Burger, Mrs. Irene Weaver, Charlotte Burger, Mrs. Walter Burger.