Groton Iron Works was a company formed in 1917 to build cargo ships for theUnited States Shipping Board duringWorld War I. The company owned two shipyards: one inNoank, Connecticut for wooden ships; and the other inGroton, Connecticut for steel ships.^[1] The focus of this article is theGroton, Connecticut yard.

In 1916, Harry C. Rowe sold his 30-acre estate at Eastern Point toCharles W. Morse.^[2]Charles W. Morse was president of United States Steamship Company,^[3] which was the parent company ofGroton Iron Works and Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation.^[4] 4,993 shares of the 5,000 total shares ofGroton 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 constructGroton 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]

On 23 July 1922, theNew York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad leased the property for use as alocomotive 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 toShell 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 andShell Oil Company for $222,000 using condemnation proceedings.^[22] $9.5 million was spent to construct theVictory Yard, where theElectric 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 theVictory Yard to manufacture 105mm shells.^[25]

On 18 December 1946,Pfizer Inc purchased the property from theWar Assets Administration.^[26] Purchase price was $911,999.^[27]

• Shipyards of the United States
• Shipyards of Connecticut
• Defunct shipbuilding companies of the United States

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata