Basalt Rock Company

USS Grasp (ARS-24) built by Basalt Rock Company in 1944

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.

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

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The 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

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Basalt 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

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References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Basalt Rock Company, Napa CA". Archived from the original on October 10, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  3. ^ Courtney, Kevin (October 17, 2004). "Napa Pipe plant loads its final rail car". Napa Valley Register. Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  4. ^ Luippold, Linda (April 26, 2005). "Cast in cement: American Canyon's industrial past". American Canyon Eagle. Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  5. ^ Waterson, Michael (October 6, 2011). "American Canyon OKs study to save silos, ruins". American Canyon Eagle. Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  6. ^ Jones, Jillian (July 14, 2010). "Major changes to Napa Pipe proposal". Napa Valley Register. Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "City submits additional Napa Pipe comments". Napa Valley Register. Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises. April 21, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  9. ^ "SYAR, Clarence M. 'Tony'". San Francisco Chronicle. Napa, CA. August 2, 2001. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  10. ^ "Locations". Syar Industries. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  11. ^ Peter Jensen (July 13, 2013). "Mining Napa's eastern hills". Napa Valley Register. Napa Valley Publishing.
  12. ^ Basalt Rock Company ships built

38°15′52″N 122°16′14″W / 38.26433°N 122.270622°W / 38.26433; -122.270622

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