Matton Shipyard
Encyclopedia
Matton Shipyard is a historic shipyard
and canal boat service yard located on Van Schaick Island
at Cohoes
in Albany County, New York
. It consists of eight extant buildings, various surviving features, and archaeological remains dating to the period 1916 to 1983 when the site functioned as a shipyard, repair facility, and towboat operation on the New York State Barge Canal
and Champlain Canal
. Extant buildings include the office / stores (ca. 1916-1917), watchman's building (ca. 1936-1943), sheet metal shop (ca. 1937-1938), carpenter shop (ca. 1916 and 1936-1943), stores building (ca. 1941-1943), pipeshop (ca. 1936-1943), pitch building (pre-1936), garage (ca. 1916), and electric building. Also on the property are a flagpole (ca. 1916), dock, steel launching ramps, fence, and camels. Numerous ruins also occupy the property. The motor ship Day Peckinpaugh
is berthed here.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2010.
the shipyard produced five SC-497 class submarine chaser
s, SC-985 through SC-989 for the US Navy, and from February-June 1944 four tugs for the US Army. In 1945 four of the sub chasers went to service with the US Coast Guard while SC-986 went to the USSR. At the time of closing it was one of the longest operating tug and barge shipbuilders in the United States
. The shipyard is currently owned by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
(OPRHP) as part of the Peebles Island State Park
, which is turning the shipyard into an educational center, museum, and home for historic vessels. The motor ship
Day Peckinpaugh
is berthed
here and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
and canal boat service yard located on Van Schaick Island
Van Schaick Island
Van Schaick Island is an island in the city of Cohoes, New York. Van Schaick is a part of the delta of the Mohawk River at its mouth with the Hudson River. The island has been referred to by numerous names including Quehemesicos, Long, Anthony's, Isle of Cohoes, and Cohoes Island...
at Cohoes
Cohoes, New York
Cohoes is an incorporated city located at the northeast corner of Albany County in the US state of New York. It is called the "Spindle City" because of the importance of textile production to its growth. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 16,168...
in Albany County, New York
Albany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
. It consists of eight extant buildings, various surviving features, and archaeological remains dating to the period 1916 to 1983 when the site functioned as a shipyard, repair facility, and towboat operation on the New York State Barge Canal
New York State Canal System
The New York State Canal System is a successor to the Erie Canal and other canals within New York...
and Champlain Canal
Champlain Canal
The Champlain Canal is a canal that connects the south end of Lake Champlain to the Hudson River in New York. It was simultaneously constructed with the Erie Canal and is now part of the New York State Canal System and the Lakes to Locks Passage....
. Extant buildings include the office / stores (ca. 1916-1917), watchman's building (ca. 1936-1943), sheet metal shop (ca. 1937-1938), carpenter shop (ca. 1916 and 1936-1943), stores building (ca. 1941-1943), pipeshop (ca. 1936-1943), pitch building (pre-1936), garage (ca. 1916), and electric building. Also on the property are a flagpole (ca. 1916), dock, steel launching ramps, fence, and camels. Numerous ruins also occupy the property. The motor ship Day Peckinpaugh
Day Peckinpaugh (canal motorship)
Day Peckinpaugh is a historic canal motorship currently berthed at the Matton Shipyard on Peebles Island, Cohoes in Albany County, New York.-Early Years:...
is berthed here.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2010.
History
In 1916 John E. Matton moved his ship building business south from Waterford to Van Schaick Island, and the shipyard would continue to build canal boats, barges, tugboats, and police boats until closing in 1983. From December 1941 to July 1943 during World War IIWorld 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...
the shipyard produced five SC-497 class submarine chaser
SC-497 class submarine chaser
The SC-497 class submarine chasers were a class of 438 submarine chasers built primarily for the United States Navy from 1941-1944. The SC-497s were based on the experimental submarine chaser, USS SC-453. Production began in 1941 and continued until they were succeeded by the SC-1466 class...
s, SC-985 through SC-989 for the US Navy, and from February-June 1944 four tugs for the US Army. In 1945 four of the sub chasers went to service with the US Coast Guard while SC-986 went to the USSR. At the time of closing it was one of the longest operating tug and barge shipbuilders in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The shipyard is currently owned by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation operates :*168 state parks*35 state historic sites*76 developed beaches*53 water recreational facilities*27 golf courses*39 full service cottages*818 cabins...
(OPRHP) as part of the Peebles Island State Park
Peebles Island State Park
Peebles Island State Park is a park located in New York State at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers. With 191 acres , the park includes hiking and cross-country ski trails, as well as earthworks dating from the Revolutionary War and a Visitors' Center detailing the island's industrial...
, which is turning the shipyard into an educational center, museum, and home for historic vessels. The motor ship
Motor ship
A motor ship or motor vessel is a ship propelled by an internal combustion engine, usually a diesel engine. The name of motor ships are often prefixed with MS, M/S, MV or M/V.- See also :...
Day Peckinpaugh
Day Peckinpaugh (canal motorship)
Day Peckinpaugh is a historic canal motorship currently berthed at the Matton Shipyard on Peebles Island, Cohoes in Albany County, New York.-Early Years:...
is berthed
Berth
Berth may refer to:*Berth *Berth *Berth , an album by The UsedBerthing may refer to:*The placement of a spacecraft into a berthing mechanism through the use of a robotic arm*A cabin on a ship...
here and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.