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.
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]
E.A. Morse, President [8]
H.F. Morse, Vice President [9]
B.W. Morse, Secretary [10]
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]
| 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] |
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]
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