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.
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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]
Successor companies of earlier corporate sales
editThe 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]
Ships built
editBasalt 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 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Courtney, Kevin (February 11, 2008). "One man's journey to save Napa-made warship". Napa Valley Register. Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
- ^ "Basalt Rock Company, Napa CA". Archived from the original on October 10, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
- ^ Courtney, Kevin (October 17, 2004). "Napa Pipe plant loads its final rail car". Napa Valley Register. Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
- ^ Luippold, Linda (April 26, 2005). "Cast in cement: American Canyon's industrial past". American Canyon Eagle. Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
- ^ Waterson, Michael (October 6, 2011). "American Canyon OKs study to save silos, ruins". American Canyon Eagle. Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
- ^ Jones, Jillian (July 14, 2010). "Major changes to Napa Pipe proposal". Napa Valley Register. Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
- ^ Noonan, James (September 25, 2011). "No hearings on Napa Pipe until at least 2012". Napa Valley Register. Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises, Inc. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
- ^ "City submits additional Napa Pipe comments". Napa Valley Register. Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises. April 21, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
- ^ "SYAR, Clarence M. 'Tony'". San Francisco Chronicle. Napa, CA. August 2, 2001. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
- ^ "Locations". Syar Industries. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
- ^ Peter Jensen (July 13, 2013). "Mining Napa's eastern hills". Napa Valley Register. Napa Valley Publishing.
- ^ Basalt Rock Company ships built