Jump to content

Pacific Bridge Company

From Alfawiki
Pacific Bridge Company
Company typePrivate
IndustryEngineering, Construction, Shipbuilding
Founded1869
FounderWilliam Henry Gorrill
FateSold in 1969; shipbuilding ceased post-WWII
Headquarters
Alameda, California
,
United States
Area served
United States, United Kingdom (wartime shipbuilding)
ProductsBridges, Piers, Shipbuilding (Auxiliary Repair Docks, Barges, Cargo Ships)
Number of employees
480 (during WWII shipbuilding peak) (1943)

Pacific Bridge Company was a prominent engineering and construction enterprise. Based in Alameda, California, the firm was contracted during World War II to construct US Navy Auxiliary Repair Docks (ARD) and Type B ship barges.

History

Established in 1869 by William Henry Gorrill, Pacific Bridge Company earned recognition for its proficiency in welding. In response to wartime needs in 1942, the company shifted focus to shipbuilding, concentrating on smaller and medium-sized vessels as larger yards prioritized aircraft carriers and battleships. Among its achievements was the production of the first nine N3-S-A1 Type N3 ship cargo ships for Britain in 1943; notably, two were constructed within an unprecedented 22 days by a crew of 480 at the Alameda Shipyard, which was equipped with two traveling cranes.

Pacific Bridge became part of Henry J. Kaiser's "Group of Six" construction firms, contributing both investment and expertise to the Hoover Dam project, illustrating its strategic diversification beyond ship construction. The Alameda shipyard operated as a Navy contractor throughout World War II but ended shipbuilding activities after the war concluded, maintaining manufacturing operations until its sale in 1969. The site was redeveloped into Alameda Marina, serving as a center for commercial vessel maintenance and industrial services. Additionally, a portion of the property was designated in 1949 as the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center, providing training on naval ship systems.

In 2016, demolition commenced on Pacific Bridge’s workshop to facilitate new condominium development, effectively concluding the company's physical footprint.

Prior to its venture into shipbuilding, Pacific Bridge Company specialized in constructing bridges across the San Francisco Bay Area and Portland, Oregon, completing ten bridges spanning the Willamette River. To aid these efforts, it acquired The McBain Stone Quarry located in Klickitat County, Washington, in 1922.

William Henry Gorrill

The Pacific Bridge Company was founded by William Henry Gorrill in 1869 and officially incorporated on March 29, 1872. Gorrill held the position of President, with C. F. Lucas as Vice-President and C. H. Gorrill serving as Secretary and Treasurer. Born in 1841, Gorrill was originally an Ohio-based lawyer who transitioned from legal practice to bridge construction after relocating westward for health reasons. He arrived in California in 1870. His immediate family included his wife Katharine B. Gorrill, daughter Marion H., and son William H., who was born in Oakland in 1872. William Henry Gorrill passed away in 1874. His son William H. pursued a career as an attorney and briefly taught at the University of California, Berkeley before his death in 1961.

Swigert family

In the 1890s, Charles F. Swigert and H. C. Campbell took ownership of Pacific Bridge Company from Gorrill. Swigert had been affiliated with the company since 1881 and served as President for more than four decades; Campbell acted as Secretary. Together in 1887, they established and managed the City and Suburban railway until its sale in 1905 to Portland Railway, Light and Power Company; at that time it encompassed eighty miles of track. Swigert also played a role in developing the Lyle and Goldendale Railroad before it was sold to Northern Pacific Railway. Leadership responsibilities transitioned from Charles F. Swigert to his son Gorill Swigert and subsequently to William Swigert.

Charles F. Swigert and his wife Rena Bliss Goodnough had three sons engaged in related industries: Charles F. Jr., who served as vice president of Electric Steel Foundry; Ernest G., who worked as sales manager; and W. G., who was a director at Pacific Bridge Company.

H. C. Campbell brought valuable experience from significant East Coast bridge projects and had been involved with The Willamette Iron Bridge Company prior to its merger into Pacific Bridge Company, which constructed the Willamette Bridge.

Philip Hart held the presidency during the 1930s through the 1940s and oversaw projects such as the Tacoma Narrows Bridge completed in 1940. Hart died tragically in a 1938 United Airlines DC-3 accident off Point Reyes, California; the crash was caused by fuel exhaustion amid stormy conditions and resulted in five fatalities including Hart himself.

Bridges and piers constructed

Significant undertakings by the company encompass:

These projects highlight the company's broad proficiency in executing major bridge and pier constructions, underpinning its strong industry position and reputation.

Pearl Harbor salvage operations

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Pacific Bridge Company obtained a Navy contract focused on recovering sunken naval vessels. The firm was instrumental in salvaging ships and rescuing crews, notably managing the recovery efforts for the USS Oklahoma, USS Utah, and USS West Virginia.

N3-S-A1 cargo vessels

  • SS Charles H. Salter, lost near Iceland in 1946
  • SS Cyrus Sears, underwent multiple sales from 1951 to 1963; sank in 1964
  • SS Benjamin Sherburn, sold between 1949 and 1968; dismantled in 1972
  • SS Samuel V. Shreve, transferred ownership from 1949 to 1957; foundered in 1963
  • SS Reuben Snow, sold from 1949 to 1963; exploded and sank in 1968
  • SS Caleb Sprague, torpedoed off Beachy Head and sunk in 1944
  • SS Benjamin Tay, sold between 1951 and 1975; scrapped in 1980
  • SS Charles Treadwell, sold from 1950 to 1954; wrecked in 1964
  • SS Samuel Very, sold during 1951–1953; scrapped in 1985

Type B barges

In 1943, Pacific Bridge Company constructed twenty-seven YFN Freight Barges—non-powered steel-hulled vessels designed for nearshore use with a carrying capacity of 550 long tons. These barges measured 110 feet long with a beam of 32 feet and an eight-foot draft, operating primarily within harbors and sheltered waters. Furthermore, the company built ninety smaller barges weighing approximately 138 tons each—often referred to as lighters—many of which served as enclosed workshops. Their robust build quality has enabled some of these barges to remain operational for many years beyond their initial deployment.

Medium Auxiliary Repair Docks (ARDM)

Medium Auxiliary Repair Docks (ARDM) have a displacement of 5,200 tons and stretch 489 feet in length. Featuring a hull shaped like a ship, these docks possess a lifting capacity of 3,500 tons and provide maintenance for destroyers, submarines, and smaller auxiliary vessels. Their crews typically consist of between 130 and 160 members.

Auxiliary Repair Docks (ARD)

Built by Pacific Bridge in Alameda, California, the ARDs measure 483 feet long with a beam spanning 71 feet and a draft depth of 5 feet, displacing approximately 4,800 tons. Their complement includes 6 officers and 125 enlisted sailors. These seaworthy docks are equipped with two single Oerlikon 20 mm cannons for defense. Designed with bow entrances, they are self-sufficient units featuring rudders to facilitate towing and two cranes capable of lifting up to 5 tons each. ARDs often operate alongside stowage barges and are tasked with repairing destroyers and submarines; the Class 2 variants can also service Landing Ship, Tank (LST). The open stern design allows vessels to enter directly for repairs.

Notable vessels include:

  • USS ARD-1 (2,200 tons, constructed in 1933)
  • USS ARD-2 (disposed of in 1963)
  • USS ARD-3 (disposed of in 1999)
  • USS ARD-4 (disposed of in 1961)

ARD-2-class (410 feet long by 49 feet wide; hull numbers ARD-5 through ARD-11):

  • USS Waterford (ARD-5)
  • USS ARD-6 (disposed of in 1961)
  • USS West Milton (ARD-7) (scrapped in 1992)
  • USS ARD-8 (disposed of in 1961)
  • USS ARD-9 (disposed of in 1977)
  • USS ARD-10 (disposed/scrapped in 2014)
  • USS ARD-11 (disposed of in 1977)

Wide ARD-2-class (410 feet long with widths up to 59 feet; hull numbers ARD-12 through ARD-32):

  • USS ARD-12 (disposed of in 1987)
  • USS ARD-13 (disposed of in 1977)
  • USS ARD-14 (disposed of in 1980)
  • USS ARD-15 (disposed of in 1971)
  • USS ARD-16 (disposed and relocated to Mobile, Alabama)
  • USS ARD-17 (disposed of in 1971)
  • USS Endurance (laid up at Charleston Naval Shipyard)
  • USS Oak Ridge (transferred to US Coast Guard in 2002)
  • USS White Sands (reclassified as AGDS-1, disposed of in 1974)
  • USS ARD-21 (held in reserve status)
  • USS Windsor (ARD-22) disposed of in 1976
  • USS ARD-23 disposed of in 1992
  • USS ARD-24 disposed of in 1982
  • USS ARD-25 disposed of in 1973
  • USS Alamogordo disposed of in 2000
  • USS ARD-27 scrapped in 1974
  • USS ARD-28 sold and renamed Capitan Rodriguez Zamora
  • USS Arco sold to Iran in 1971
  • USS San Onfre (ARD-30)
  • USS ARD-31 transferred to the US Air Force in 1974
  • USS ARD-32 disposed of in 1960
  • USS ARD-33 renamed AFDL 47 Reliance

These auxiliary repair docks constitute vital components within naval support infrastructure, significantly improving fleet operational readiness through their mobility and repair capabilities. Their widespread deployment across various theaters highlights their strategic importance for maintaining naval assets effectively.

See also

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=Pacific_Bridge_Company&oldid=7220"