Groton Iron Works
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. The focus of this article is the Groton, Connecticut
yard.
. Charles W. Morse
was president of United States Steamship Company, which was the parent company of Groton Iron Works and Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation. 4,993 shares of the 5,000 total shares of Groton Iron Works stock was owned by United States Steamship Company. 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. $3,500,000 was spent to construct Groton Iron Works, which employed 3,600 men.
H.F. Morse, Vice President
B.W. Morse, Secretary
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.
leased the property for use as a locomotive
repair facility.
On 30 January 1926, Hickman Sea Sled
announced the lease of the jointer shop building.
On 25 January 1927, Atlantic Coast Fisheries purchased the northern section of the property from Boston Iron and Metal Company, 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.
In January, 1941, a syndicate headed by Alfred Holter purchased most of the property, intending to build freighters for Britain. Purchase price was $550,000 cash.
On 5 February 1942, the US Navy purchased the property from Alfred Holter and Shell Oil Company
for $222,000 using condemnation proceedings. $9.5 million was spent to construct the Victory Yard
, where General Dynamics Electric Boat began building submarines on 22 July 1942. On 3 November 1943 a Federal Court Committee awarded an additional $203,000 to the former owners.
On 13 January 1945, General Dynamics Electric Boat announced that $3,000,000 will be spent to convert the Victory Yard
to manufacture 105mm shells.
On 18 December 1946, Pfizer
Inc purchased the property from the War Assets Administration
. Purchase price was $911,999.
United States Shipping Board
The United States Shipping Board was established as an emergency agency by the Shipping Act , 7 September 1916. It was formally organized 30 January 1917. It was sometimes referred to as the War Shipping Board.http://www.gwpda.org/wwi-www/Hurley/bridgeTC.htm | The Bridge To France by Edward N....
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The company owned two shipyards: one in Noank, Connecticut
Noank, Connecticut
Noank is a village and census-designated place in the town of Groton in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,830 at the 2000 census...
for wooden ships; and the other in Groton, Connecticut
Groton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
for steel ships. The focus of this article is the Groton, Connecticut
Groton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
yard.
Early Property Ownership
In 1916, Harry C. Rowe sold his 30-acre estate at Eastern Point to Charles W. MorseCharles W. Morse
Charles Wyman Morse was a notorious businessman and speculator on Wall Street in the early 20th century.-Early life:...
. Charles W. Morse
Charles W. Morse
Charles Wyman Morse was a notorious businessman and speculator on Wall Street in the early 20th century.-Early life:...
was president of United States Steamship Company, which was the parent company of Groton Iron Works and Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation. 4,993 shares of the 5,000 total shares of Groton Iron Works stock was owned by United States Steamship Company. 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. $3,500,000 was spent to construct Groton Iron Works, which employed 3,600 men.
Groton Iron Works Officers
E.A. Morse, PresidentH.F. Morse, Vice President
B.W. Morse, Secretary
Steel Cargo Ship Contracts
Emergency Fleet Corporation contract #57 S.C. for six 8,800 dead-weight ton steamers was signed 11 August 1917.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.
Cargo Ships Built In Groton
| Contract # | GIW Hull # | EFC Hull # | Name | Keel Laid | Launched | Delivered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 57 | 1 | 372 | Tollard | 28 January 1918 | 9 November 1918 | 24 April 1919 |
| 57 | 2 | 373 | Nameaug | 8 July 1919 | 22 August 1919 | |
| 57 | 3 | 374 | Worcester | 5 April 1919 | 30 June 1919 | |
| 57 | 4 | 375 | Quinnipiac | 1 November 1919 | 12 December 1919 | |
| 57 | 5 | 376 | Merry Mount | 20 September 1919 | 18 October 1919 | |
| 57 | 6 | 377 | Hartford | 29 November 1919 | 31 December 1919 | |
| 225 | 7 | 1542 | Honnedaga | 27 March 1920 | July, 1920 | |
| 225 | 8 | 1543 | Provincetown | 19 June 1920 | September, 1920 | |
| 225 | 9 | 1544 | Hopatcong | December, 1920 |
Subsequent Property Uses
On 23 July 1922, the New York, New Haven and Hartford RailroadNew York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States from 1872 to 1968 which served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts...
leased the property for use as a locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
repair facility.
On 30 January 1926, Hickman Sea Sled
Hickman sea sled
The Hickman Sea Sled is an inverted vee planing hull invented by Albert Hickman. The Sea Sled is a direct forefather of the modern high speed catamaran or tunnel hull....
announced the lease of the jointer shop building.
On 25 January 1927, Atlantic Coast Fisheries purchased the northern section of the property from Boston Iron and Metal Company, to fillet, freeze and package haddock. In 1929 they purchased the remaining property, then sold some to Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company is the United States-based subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, a multinational oil company of Anglo Dutch origins, which is amongst the largest oil companies in the world. Approximately 22,000 Shell employees are based in the U.S. The head office in the U.S. is in Houston, Texas...
for the construction of a distributing center with seven tanks.
In January, 1941, a syndicate headed by Alfred Holter purchased most of the property, intending to build freighters for Britain. Purchase price was $550,000 cash.
On 5 February 1942, the US Navy purchased the property from Alfred Holter and Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company is the United States-based subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, a multinational oil company of Anglo Dutch origins, which is amongst the largest oil companies in the world. Approximately 22,000 Shell employees are based in the U.S. The head office in the U.S. is in Houston, Texas...
for $222,000 using condemnation proceedings. $9.5 million was spent to construct the Victory Yard
Victory Yard
The Victory Yard was a temporary expansion of the General Dynamics Electric Boat facility in Groton, Connecticut to dramatically increase submarine construction during World War II.-Early Property Ownership:...
, where General Dynamics Electric Boat began building submarines on 22 July 1942. On 3 November 1943 a Federal Court Committee awarded an additional $203,000 to the former owners.
On 13 January 1945, General Dynamics Electric Boat announced that $3,000,000 will be spent to convert the Victory Yard
Victory Yard
The Victory Yard was a temporary expansion of the General Dynamics Electric Boat facility in Groton, Connecticut to dramatically increase submarine construction during World War II.-Early Property Ownership:...
to manufacture 105mm shells.
On 18 December 1946, Pfizer
Pfizer
Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
Inc purchased the property from the War Assets Administration
War Assets Administration
The War Assets Administration was established in the Office for Emergency Management, effective March 25, 1946, by EO 9689, January 31, 1946. American factorieshad produced massive amounts of weaponry during the World War II...
. Purchase price was $911,999.