Anchors Aweigh

[click image to enlarge]

Today is a national holiday set aside for honoring our veterans like my father who served in the U.S. Navy on a mine sweeper. Every time I drive over Fore River Bridge I am reminded of our armed forces when I see the USS Salem moored there. You can see the full view of this preserved heavy naval cruiser by clicking here.

"How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!" ~Maya Angelou

Abandoned

[click image to enlarge]


This building was abandoned many years ago at the site of the Fore River Shipyard. The windows caught my eye first and then the rich texture of this crude building. If you click and enlarge the image, you'll see a rusty shovel that's been weathering along with the building.

Hoisting Apparatus

[click image to enlarge]

This shackle was captured at the site of the former Fore River Shipyard. I don't know whether it is put to use any more. Click here to see more black and white images from the Monday Monochrome Maniac group.

Remnants

[click image to enlarge]

This steel framework is one of the many remaining structures being dismantled at the former Quincy Shipyard site. At one time there were 32,000 workers working in this "yard". Neighboring residents knew the time of day by the shift whistles that blew day and night.

Fore River Rail

[click image to enlarge]

The leading line is a shiny rail belonging to the Fore River Railway. This 2-mile freight line operates between Quincy Point and Braintree. It saw lots of action when this was a thriving shipbuilding area which peaked during World War II. Click here to see more rail car pictures. Some tank cars and old shipyard scaffolding can be seen in the background. Much of this 111 acre industrial site is being cleaned up and is not open to the public. I will share more images and history from this famous Quincy site in the weeks to come.

I am also posting this on the "Skywatch Friday" site as this blue sky was a rare treat in Quincy over the past few weeks. Enjoy your weekend everyone!

August Theme Day . . . Metal

[click image to enlarge]

"Goliath", the largest gantry crane in North America is being dismantled at the Fore River Shipyard and moved to a shipyard in Romania this month. I thought that the 3,000 tons of metal pictured here would provide a good post particularly because Quincy is saying goodbye to this landmark that's more than 3 decades old.

There are 183 photoblogs participating in August theme day . . . hope you had fun checking them out.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Go Goliath

[click image to enlarge]


Goliath dominated the landscape and economy of Quincy for many years. The gantry crane, once the world’s largest at 328 feet tall, has been a Quincy landmark since it was built 33 years ago. The shipbuilding industry in Quincy has been idle for two decades. The glorious "shipbuilding age" in Quincy will have its final chapter written with the sale of Goliath. It will be dismantled and moved to the Romanian coast where shipbuilding is a growing industry.

Has anyone seen the movie, The Departed? The warehouse to the left is where the final shootout scene was filmed. Quincy, located just south of Boston, would like to host more movie shoots.

Cranes

[click image to enlarge]

Cranes at the old Quincy Shipyard. These cranes will be coming down soon to make way for development of the shipyard.

Commuter Boat

One of the Boston commuter boats.

Cranes

Derelict cranes at the shipyard are set to be dismantled. They are located next to the USS Salem.

USS Salem

The USS Salem was built in Quincy by the Bethlehelm Steel Company and launched in 1949. She served a distinguished 10 year career as flagship of the US Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean and the Second Fleet in the Atlantic.

She was decommissioned on 30 January, 1959 and joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. After being mothballed for 35 years the Salem was moved back to Quincy where she is now the centerpiece of the United States Naval and Shipbuilding Museum.