Basalt Rock Company
Encyclopedia
Basalt Rock Company was a multifaceted industrial operation that was founded in 1920. The company started as a rock quarrying operation located a few miles south of Napa, California
near the Napa River
. It later branched out into the ship building business in 1941 when it started building ships for the U.S. Navy for use during World War II
. Following the war, the plant built 30 miles of pipe for the City of Napa's pipeline from Lake Hennessey
.
In 1950, the company took title of a cement plant formally owned by Standard Portland Cement Company in what is now American Canyon, California
. The cement plant remained in operation until 1978. The city is now in the process of evaluating the plant for future use.
The company's steel making plant was purchased by Kaiser Steel in 1955. The plant changed hands again in 1988 when it was purchased by Oregon Steel Mills
and remained in operation as Napa Pipe until 2004. Developers have proposed turning the site into a housing development however thus far, they've faced strong opposition and controversy over the project.
The rock and sand portion of the company was purchased by the Dillingham Corporation in the early 1970s. It was acquired by Syar Industries in 1986, and presently remains in operation.
Napa, California
-History:The name Napa was probably derived from the name given to a southern Nappan village whose people shared the area with elk, deer, grizzlies and cougars for many centuries, according to Napa historian Kami Santiago. At the time of the first recorded exploration into Napa Valley in 1823, the...
near the Napa River
Napa River
The Napa River, approximately 55 miles long, is a river in the U.S. state of California. It drains a famous wine-growing region, called the Napa Valley, in the mountains northeast of San Francisco. Milliken Creek is a tributary of the Napa River....
. It later branched out into the ship building business in 1941 when it started building ships for the U.S. Navy for use during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Following the war, the plant built 30 miles of pipe for the City of Napa's pipeline from Lake Hennessey
Lake Hennessey
Lake Hennessey is a man-made lake in the hills east of St. Helena, California, U.S.A..The lake is formed by Conn Creek Dam, built in 1948 across Conn Creek. Construction of the earthen dam was authorized by the United States Congress when it passed the Flood Control Act of 1944 in order to...
.
In 1950, the company took title of a cement plant formally owned by Standard Portland Cement Company in what is now American Canyon, California
American Canyon, California
American Canyon is a city located in southern Napa County, California, northeast of San Francisco. It is part of the San Francisco Bay Area. The 2010 census reported the city's population at 19,454. Its zip code is 94503, and its area code is 707...
. The cement plant remained in operation until 1978. The city is now in the process of evaluating the plant for future use.
The company's steel making plant was purchased by Kaiser Steel in 1955. The plant changed hands again in 1988 when it was purchased by Oregon Steel Mills
Oregon Steel Mills
Oregon Steel Mills, Inc. is a Portland, Oregon, United States, based steel producer with facilities in Colorado and Alberta. In November 2006, Russian steel producer Evraz Group S.A. agreed to purchase Oregon Steel for $2.3 billion, and this was approved by U.S. regulators in January 2007...
and remained in operation as Napa Pipe until 2004. Developers have proposed turning the site into a housing development however thus far, they've faced strong opposition and controversy over the project.
The rock and sand portion of the company was purchased by the Dillingham Corporation in the early 1970s. It was acquired by Syar Industries in 1986, and presently remains in operation.