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 Rocktram adjacent to 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. [1] [2] [3] 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 formerly owned by Standard Portland Cement Company in what is now American Canyon, California. The cement plant remained in operation until 1978. [4] As of 2001, the city was evaluating the plant for future use. [5]
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 proposed turning the site into a housing development, but faced strong opposition and controversy over the project. [6] [7] [8]
The rock and sand portion of the company was purchased by Dillingham Construction in the early 1970s. It was acquired by Syar Industries in 1986, [9] and as of 2018 remains in operation as Syar's Napa Quarry. [10] In 2013 Syar announced that it was applying for permits to double the output of the quarry from 1 million to 2 million tons of aggregate. [11]
Basalt Rock Company ships built for World War 2: [12]
Hull # | Ship ID | Name | Customer | Type | Tons | Length ft | Delivered | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
579393 | Basalt Rock Co. | Barge | 120 | 360 | 1938 | Later Basalt No. 1 | ||
YC 697 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Jan-41 | |||
YC 698 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Jan-41 | |||
YC 699 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Feb-41 | |||
YC 705 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Feb-41 | |||
YC 706 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Feb-41 | |||
YC 711 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Mar-41 | |||
YC 712 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Mar-41 | |||
YC 713 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Mar-41 | |||
PAB 1 | CPNAB | Freight Barge | 400 | 150 | Apr-41 | Later YC 1026, lost 1948 | ||
PAB 2 | CPNAB | Freight Barge | 400 | 150 | Apr-41 | Later YC 1027 | ||
PAB 3 | CPNAB | Freight Barge | 400 | 150 | May-41 | |||
PAB 4 | CPNAB | Freight Barge | 400 | 150 | May-41 | |||
PAB 5 | CPNAB | Freight Barge | 400 | 150 | May-41 | Later YC 1028 | ||
PAB 6 | CPNAB | Freight Barge | 400 | 150 | Jun-41 | |||
PAB 7 | CPNAB | Freight Barge | 400 | 150 | Jun-41 | Later YC 1029 | ||
PAB 8 | CPNAB | Freight Barge | 400 | 150 | Jun-41 | |||
22 | Crownblock (YO 48) | US Navy | Yard Oiler | 950 | 235 | 28-Aug-42 | Sunk as target 1977 | |
23 | Whipstock (YO 49) | US Navy | Yard Oiler | 950 | 235 | 23-Sep-42 | Scrapped 1975 | |
266745 | PAB 9 | CPNAB | Freight Barge | 400 | 150 | Jul-41 | Later YC 1030, Graham #12 | |
PAB 10 | CPNAB | Freight Barge | 400 | 150 | Jul-41 | Later YC 1031 | ||
PAB 11 | CPNAB | Freight Barge | 400 | 150 | Jul-41 | Later YC 1032 | ||
257154 | PAB 12 | CPNAB | Freight Barge | 400 | 150 | Aug-41 | Later Sause Bros. 12 | |
28 | 284504 | YF 295 | US Navy | Freighter | 197 | 126 | Oct-41 | Later Lupe, f/v Labrador, active |
29 | YC 735 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Dec-41 | ||
30 | YC 736 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Dec-41 | ||
31 | YC 737 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Dec-41 | ||
32 | YC 755 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Dec-41 | Active in Pago Pago | |
33 | YC 756 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Dec-41 | ||
34 | YC 757 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Dec-41 | ||
35 | 175468 | PAB 13 | CPNAB | Freight Barge | 666 | 144 | Sep-41 | Later CC Co. 23 |
36 | 175467 | PAB 14 | CPNAB | Freight Barge | 666 | 144 | Sep-41 | Later CC Co. 14 |
37 | PAB 15 | CPNAB | Freight Barge | 450 | 124 | Oct-41 | ||
38 | PAB 16 | CPNAB | Freight Barge | 450 | 124 | Oct-41 | ||
Caledonian Salvor (BARS 1) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,897 | 213 | 22-Aug-42 | To Britain 1942, to Australia 1943, returned 1946, sold 1947 as Sudbury II, later Lady Pacific, burnt and lost 1982 | ||
Cambrian Salvor (BARS 2) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,897 | 213 | 7-Sep-42 | To Britain 1943, to Australia 1943, returned 1946, sold 1947 as Caribische Zee, later Collinsea, Francois C, Ras Deira, scrapped 1981 | ||
Atlantic Salvor (BARS 3) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,897 | 213 | 24-Oct-42 | Intended for Britain but retained as USS Clamp (ARS 33), to NDRF 1999 | ||
576547 | Pacific Salvor (BARS 4) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,897 | 213 | 24-Oct-42 | Intended for Britain but retained as USS Gear (ARS 34), scrapped 1982 | |
43 | Diver (ARS 5) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,897 | 213 | 23-Oct-43 | Sold 1949 as Rescue, later Rescue M, Grand Day, Rescue M, scrapped 1986 | |
44 | Escape (ARS 6) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,897 | 213 | 20-Nov-43 | To USCG 1946 as Escape (WAT 6/WMEC 6), scrapped 2009 | |
45 | Grapple (ARS 7) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,897 | 213 | 16-Dec-43 | To Taiwan 1977 as Da Hu (ARS 327, later 552), active | |
46 | Preserver (ARS 8) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,897 | 213 | 11-Jan-44 | Scrapped 2005 | |
47 | Shackle (ARS 9) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,897 | 213 | 5-Feb-44 | To USCG 1946 as Acushnet (WAT 167/WMEC 167), active | |
YC 811 | US Navy | Lighter | 145 | 110 | Jun-42 | Destroyed 1946 | ||
YC 812 | US Navy | Lighter | 145 | 110 | Jun-42 | |||
YC 822 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Sep-42 | |||
YC 823 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Sep-42 | |||
YC 824 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Oct-42 | |||
YC 825 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Oct-42 | |||
YC 826 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Oct-42 | |||
YC 827 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Nov-42 | Destroyed 1946 | ||
YC 828 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Dec-42 | |||
254678 | Cable (ARS 19) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,441 | 213 | 6-Mar-44 | Sunk as target 1978 | |
Chain (ARS 20) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,441 | 213 | 31-Mar-44 | Reclassified as AGOR 17 1958, scrapped 1979 | ||
254289 | Curb (ARS 21) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,441 | 213 | 12-May-44 | Reefed off Key West FL 1983 | |
Current (ARS 22) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,441 | 213 | 14-Jun-44 | Scrapped 1975 | ||
Deliver (ARS 23) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,441 | 213 | 18-Jul-44 | To South Korea 1979 as Gumi (ARS 26), active | ||
Grasp (ARS 24) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,441 | 213 | 22-Aug-44 | To South Korea 1978 as Chang Won (ARS 25), active | ||
Safeguard (ARS 25) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,441 | 213 | 30-Sep-44 | To Turkey 1979 as Isin (A 589), active | ||
Seize (ARS 26) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,441 | 213 | 3-Nov-44 | To USCG 1946 as Yocona (WAT 168/WMEC 168), sunk as target 2006 | ||
Snatch (ARS 27) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,441 | 213 | 11-Dec-44 | Reclassified as AGOR 18 1967, scrapped 1971 | ||
YF 339 | US Navy | Yard Freighter | 435 | 133 | Apr-44 | To USCG 1947 as White Bush (WAGL 542/WLM 542), to USN as IX 542, sunk as target 2004 | ||
YF 340 | US Navy | Yard Freighter | 435 | 133 | May-44 | Later an inter-island ferry | ||
YF 341 | US Navy | Yard Freighter | 435 | 133 | Jun-44 | To USCG 1947 as White Holly (WAGL 543/WLM 543), training ship 1998 | ||
YF 420 | US Navy | Yard Freighter | 435 | 133 | Jul-44 | |||
252167 | YF 421 | US Navy | Yard Freighter | 435 | 133 | Aug-44 | ||
YF 449 | US Navy | Yard Freighter | 300 | 133 | Sep-44 | |||
YF 450 | US Navy | Yard Freighter | 300 | 133 | Oct-44 | |||
YF 451 | US Navy | Yard Freighter | 300 | 133 | Oct-44 | Later YFR 451, sold 1995 | ||
YF 452 | US Navy | Yard Freighter | 300 | 133 | Nov-44 | |||
YF 453 | US Navy | Yard Freighter | 300 | 133 | Dec-44 | |||
YF 454 | US Navy | Yard Freighter | 300 | 133 | Jan-45 | |||
YC 978 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Jun-44 | |||
YC 979 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Jun-44 | |||
YC 980 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Aug-44 | Active in Pago Pago | ||
YC 981 | US Navy | Lighter | 750 | 142 | Aug-44 | |||
566700 | YC 982 | US Navy | Lighter | 750 | 142 | Sep-44 | ||
YC 983 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Sep-44 | |||
YC 984 | US Navy | Lighter | 170 | 110 | Nov-44 | |||
Bolster (ARS 38) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,441 | 213 | 1-May-45 | Scrapped 2011 | ||
Conserver (ARS 39) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,441 | 213 | 9-Jun-45 | Sunk as target 2004 | ||
Hoist (ARS 40) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,441 | 213 | 21-Jul-45 | To Taiwan 1998 as Ta Peng (ARS 549), to Toledo OH as museum 2003, scrapped 2007 | ||
Opportune (ARS 41) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,441 | 213 | 5-Oct-45 | Scrapped 2003 | ||
Reclaimer (ARS 42) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,441 | 213 | 20-Dec-45 | Scrapped 2011 | ||
Recovery (ARS 43) | US Navy | Rescue Ship | 1,441 | 213 | 14-May-46 | To Taiwan 1998 as Da Juen (ARS 556), active |
Napa County is a county north of San Pablo Bay located in the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 138,019. The county seat is the City of Napa. Napa County was one of the original counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood. Parts of the county's territory were given to Lake County in 1861.
Napa is the largest city and county seat of Napa County and a principal city of Wine Country in Northern California, United States. Located in the North Bay region of the Bay Area, the city had a population of 77,480 as of the end of 2021. Napa is a major tourist destination in California, known for its wineries, restaurants, and arts culture.
The Napa River is a river approximately 55 miles (89 km) long in the U.S. state of California. It drains a famous wine-growing region called the Napa Valley, in the mountains north of the San Francisco Bay. Milliken Creek and Mt. Veeder watersheds are a few of its many tributaries. The river mouth is at Vallejo, where the intertidal zone of fresh and salt waters flow into the Carquinez Strait and the San Pablo Bay.
The California Northern Railroad is one of several Class III short-line railroad companies owned by Genesee & Wyoming, Inc. It operates over Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) tracks under a long-term lease.
The Napa Valley Wine Train is a privately operated excursion train that runs between Napa and St. Helena, California. Much of the rail line parallels State Route 29 after leaving the City of Napa and passes the towns of Yountville, Rutherford and Oakville. The route passes by many of the region's vineyards and wineries located in Napa County. The Wine Train is operated by the Napa Valley Railroad.
Copia: The American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts was a non-profit museum and educational center in downtown Napa, California, dedicated to wine, food and the arts of American culture. The center, planned and largely funded by vintners Robert and Margrit Mondavi, was open from 2001 to 2008. The 78,632-square-foot (7,305.2 m2) museum had galleries, two theaters, classrooms, a demonstration kitchen, a restaurant, a rare book library, and a 3.5-acre (1.4 ha) vegetable and herb garden; there it hosted wine and food tasting programs, exhibitions, films, and concerts. The main and permanent exhibition of the museum, "Forks in the Road", explained the origins of cooking through to modern advances. The museum's establishment benefited the city of Napa and the development and gentrification of its downtown.
Napa Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Napa County, California. It was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) on January 27, 1981. Napa Valley is considered one of the premier wine regions in the world. Records of commercial wine production in the region date back to the nineteenth century, but premium wine production dates back only to the 1960s.
USS Clamp (ARS-33) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Bolster (ARS-38) was a Bolster-class rescue and salvage ship acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II and remained in service during the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
The Permanente Quarry and cement plant is in an unincorporated area of Santa Clara County, California, just west of Cupertino. The limestone and aggregate mining operation and cement plant is owned by Lehigh Southwest Cement, a subsidiary of Heidelberg Cement. Limestone was mined beginning in 1902 but remained a small operation until 1939 when it was purchased by Henry J. Kaiser to supply the 5.5 million barrels of cement to build Shasta Dam. With increased production Kaiser supplied all of the cement used by the Navy in the Pacific Theater of World War 2. At 7 million barrels, it was more cement than the Shasta Dam project. Roughly 70 percent of the cement used in the communities of Santa Clara County was acquired from the cement plant.
G. L. Mezzetta, Inc., commonly known as Mezzetta, is a California food processor that packs olives, pickled peppers and other pickled vegetables in glass jars for retail sale. They also pack and sell wine-based pasta sauces under the Napa Valley Bistro brand name.
American Canyon High School is a public comprehensive high school located in American Canyon, California. It is operated by the Napa Valley Unified School District.
Lake Hennessey is a reservoir in the Vaca Mountains, east of St. Helena and the Napa Valley, within Napa County, California.
Cuttings Wharf is an unincorporated community in Napa County, California. It lies at an elevation of 7 feet. Cuttings Wharf is located on the Napa River, 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of Napa Junction.
Shipyard Acres was an unincorporated community in Napa County, California. It lies at an elevation of 33 feet. Shipyard Acres is located 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south-southeast of Napa.
The Veterans Home of California is located in Yountville, California, and was founded in 1884. The facility is the largest of its kind in the United States and has a population of almost 800 aged and disabled veterans of World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, and Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom. Several levels of care are offered to residents, including domiciliary services, residential care for the elderly, intermediate nursing care, skilled nursing care, and outpatient clinic.
John Patchett (1797–1876) was the first person to plant a commercial vineyard and build a commercial wine cellar in the Napa Valley in California. Patchett planted his vineyard in 1854 and started making wine in 1857. Patchett established his winery in Napa in 1858.
Charles Krug (1825–1892) was among the pioneers of winemaking in the Napa Valley, California, and was the founder of the Charles Krug Winery.
The 2014 South Napa earthquake occurred in the North San Francisco Bay Area on August 24 at 03:20:44 Pacific Daylight Time. At 6.0 on the moment magnitude scale and with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe), the event was the largest in the San Francisco Bay Area since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The epicenter of the earthquake was located to the south of Napa and to the northwest of American Canyon on the West Napa Fault.
The 2000 Yountville earthquake occurred with a moment magnitude of 5 on a previously unmapped fault, about 3 miles (4.8 km) south southwest of Yountville, California in the Mayacamas Mountain Range under Mount Veeder and about 9 miles (14 km) south northwest of Napa, California. It occurred at 01:36 PDT on September 3.