Lorain's shipbuilding industry began when Augustus Jones and William Murdock constructed wooden sailing vessels on the west side near the mouth of the Black River, and the sloop General Huntington became the first boat launched from Lorain in 1819. In 1897, shipbuilding moved to the east side of the river with the establishment of the Lorain yard of the Cleveland Shipbuilding Company, precursor of the American Shipbuilding Company. In 1898, it was the largest dry dock on the Great Lakes, and on April 13, 1898, the first steel ship, the Superior City, was launched as the largest vessel on fresh water at the time. In its early years, the yard built passenger ships, railroad car ferries, tankers, self-unloaders, tugs, and barges. Although the shipyard suffered extensive damage in the June 28, 1924 tornado, the American Shipbuilding Company rebuilt and remained in Lorain. During World War II, many vessels were built for the U.S. Navy, including the U.S.S. Lorain and the U.S.S. Lorain County. The Walter Sterling was lengthened from a tanker into an ore carrier in 1961, and 22 years later it became the last ship repaired in Lorain as ship lengthening into super ships became an industry trend. The last ship built in Lorain was the William De Lancy, a 1013 footer, in 1981, and the American Shipbuilding Company closed its Lorain yard on December 1, 1983, ending Lorain's first industry.