Groton Iron Works
Cargo ship builder during WW1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Groton Iron Works was a company formed in 1917 to build cargo ships for the United States Shipping Board during World War I. The company owned two shipyards: one in Noank, Connecticut for wooden ships; and the other in Groton, Connecticut for steel ships.[1] The focus of this article is the Groton, Connecticut yard.
Early property ownership
In 1916, Harry C. Rowe sold his 30-acre estate at Eastern Point to Charles W. Morse.[2] Charles W. Morse was president of United States Steamship Company,[3] which was the parent company of Groton Iron Works and Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation.[4] 4,993 shares of the 5,000 total shares of Groton Iron Works stock was owned by United States Steamship Company.[5] Qualifying shares were owned by the following: four shares by C.W. Morse and his three sons; one by Mr. Guggenheim; one by Mr. Loft; one unknown.[6] $3,500,000 was spent to construct Groton Iron Works, which employed 3,600 men.[7]
Groton Iron Works officers
Steel cargo ship contracts
Emergency Fleet Corporation contract #57 S.C. for six 8,800 dead-weight ton steamers was signed 11 August 1917.[11]
Emergency Fleet Corporation contract #225 S.C. for six 9,400 dead-weight ton steamers was signed 20 April 1918. Three were eventually canceled due to the end of the war.[11]
Cargo ships built in Groton
| Contract # [11] | GIW Hull # [12] | EFC Hull # [12] | Name [12] | Keel Laid | Launched | Delivered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 57 | 1 | 372 | Tollard | 28 January 1918 [13] | 9 November 1918 [13] | 24 April 1919 [12] |
| 57 | 2 | 373 | Nameaug | 8 July 1919 [12] | 22 August 1919 [12] | |
| 57 | 3 | 374 | Worcester | 5 April 1919 [12] | 30 June 1919 [12] | |
| 57 | 4 | 375 | Quinnipiac | 1 November 1919 [12] | 12 December 1919 [12] | |
| 57 | 5 | 376 | Merry Mount | 20 September 1919 [12] | 18 October 1919 [12] | |
| 57 | 6 | 377 | Hartford | 29 November 1919 [12] | 31 December 1919 [12] | |
| 225 | 7 | 1542 | Honnedaga | 27 March 1920 [14] | July, 1920 [1] | |
| 225 | 8 | 1543 | Provincetown | 19 June 1920 [15] | September, 1920 [1] | |
| 225 | 9 | 1544 | Hopatcong | December, 1920 [1] |
Subsequent property uses
On 23 July 1922, the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad leased the property for use as a locomotive repair facility.[16]
On 30 January 1926, Hickman Sea Sled announced the lease of the jointer shop building.[17]
On 25 January 1927, Atlantic Coast Fisheries purchased the northern section of the property from Boston Iron and Metal Company,[18] to fillet, freeze and package haddock. In 1929 they purchased the remaining property, then sold some to Shell Oil Company for the construction of a distributing center with seven tanks.[19]
In January, 1941, a syndicate headed by Alfred Holter purchased most of the property, intending to build freighters for Britain.[20] Purchase price was $550,000 cash.[21]
On 5 February 1942, the US Navy purchased the property from Alfred Holter and Shell Oil Company for $222,000 using condemnation proceedings.[22] $9.5 million was spent to construct the Victory Yard, where the Electric Boat Company began building submarines on 22 July 1942.[23] On 3 November 1943 a Federal Court Committee awarded an additional $203,000 to the former owners.[24]
On 13 January 1945, Electric Boat announced that $3,000,000 will be spent to convert the Victory Yard to manufacture 105mm shells.[25]
On 18 December 1946, Pfizer Inc purchased the property from the War Assets Administration.[26] Purchase price was $911,999.[27]