Abandoned Shipyard

Elfmama: 11th Mar 2009 - 14:11 GMT

Wonderful photo! The imagination can run wild with this one. I'm expecting a modern day Grendel to emerge.

Peter: 11th Mar 2009 - 14:15 GMT

one more shot... im guessing this part comprised part of one of the dry docks, as it doesnt seem to be the sort of wall that would be part of a building-type structure. there were several of these types of walled-off areas, each about a half-acre in size:

Franny Wentzel: 11th Mar 2009 - 14:46 GMT

terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=10&Z=18&X=2845&Y=22497&W=3&qs=%7cStaten+Island%7c%7cIf this is the area I see a couple square walled areas with tanks in them in this 1995 image.

Cartlegger: 11th Mar 2009 - 15:06 GMT

"The origin of the present-day landscape dates to about 1903, when the Milliken Brothers' Structural Iron Works and Rolling Mill built its plant here. Considered one of the world's largest manufacturers of steel products, Milliken Brothers survived until 1917, when the plant was converted to Downey's Shipyard"

NYC Parks Dept.
those with more time than I can read more here...
www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/historical_signs/hs_historical_sign.php?id=115

Franny, you got the place.I'd love to see some older aerial photogrammetry for this area, that could show more of what was once here...

Personally, I thought we'd find more (I was with Peter that day), but nature has indeed reclaimed what was once the world's largest shipyard...

Peter: 11th Mar 2009 - 15:08 GMT

worlds largest shipyard! wow... i didnt know that. thanks for the link, i knew youd come though with some info :)

Cartlegger: 11th Mar 2009 - 15:27 GMT

more from parks:

...Concrete supports and pylons, many of which have fallen into picturesque decay, silently tell of the site's industrial past. These structures supported a system of rails and runners which transported newly-built ships to water. Before this system was built, however, the area's water table had to be exposed. Extensive sand mining, which lowered the grade and brought the water table to the surface for the ships, created the basins which today hold ponds...

eatin and readin!

Peter: 11th Mar 2009 - 15:52 GMT

more reading: www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/staten-island.htm

anon (206.47.179.196): 11th Mar 2009 - 16:07 GMT

There is no better time to take photos of abandonness then in the fall... Well done. Not only are the photos of abandonment but the setting as fall feels like your abandoning summer if your a summer folk like myself.

Peter: 11th Mar 2009 - 16:19 GMT

well, this is winter going into spring, so im guessing youre in another hemisphere? ;)

Nebris: 11th Mar 2009 - 16:32 GMT

That general area is an old haunt of mine. A high school buddy - we went to the old Art & Design - still lives in a big Victorian in Tottenville and we did A LOT of drugs down there in the late 60's. lol

The bus ride from the ferry - I rode on all three ferries listed in the first link - was always bizarre, not so much like I was going back in time, but as if I was riding into some alternate present. ;)

Sean Hopkins: 11th Mar 2009 - 19:05 GMT

Holy Shite this place looks effin' amazing.

Mateo: 11th Mar 2009 - 19:46 GMT

Holy crap, that's cool! It looks like a Hobbit house or something. It's part of an old ship yard, you say?

Franny Wentzel: 11th Mar 2009 - 23:00 GMT

Not sure where this is in relation...

www.forgotten-ny.com/YOU'D%20NEVER%20BELIEVE/rossville/rossville.html

Another interesting forgotten NY relic...

www.forgotten-ny.com/YOU'D%20NEVER%20BELIEVE/yellowsub/yellowsub.html

CartLegger: 12th Mar 2009 - 00:36 GMT

One question is, why is the park closed for an environmental investigation?

Is it:
A) Because of the unquantified legacy of chemicals in the ground
B) Because of the amazing array of wild life (rabbits, deer, and who knows what else) that needs to be studied and measured

?

CartLegger: 12th Mar 2009 - 00:39 GMT

Franny:

Rossville is the subject of a recent postcard

gotta make it back to Coney Island Creek, but I do have some photos from 2005 I've been meaning to post as a postcard.

Thanks for the inspiration!

Graz: 12th Mar 2009 - 02:22 GMT

Sopme nice shots of what looks like a cool place!

I love Forgotten NY...and it's how I found my way over here to citynoise.

Peter Puleo: 12th Mar 2009 - 08:01 GMT

The concensus on the deer is that they swam across the Arthur Kill from New Jersey as development there soared in the past 10 years. The reason the park is closed is for an environmental impact study on the amazing amount of biodiversity that dwells within such close proximity to such a heavily industrialized and populated area.

Personally I am perplexed that the deer swam across the Arthur Kill with the currents, ship traffic and tides. Guess deers are better swimmers than I previously thought.

References:
www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=4160&folder_id=630

www.nytimes.com/2008/05/03/nyregion/03deer.html

Simple Sue: 13th Mar 2009 - 13:06 GMT

Wow! This photo is great! Stone arches, moss, vines and roots all in elegant decay.

lea: 31st Mar 2009 - 10:11 GMT

i think this place used to be a convabelt track from hundreds of years ago because i have seen one in a woods that was supposed to be haunted the one i saw was also near a cave wich may have been build by cave men so i think you should find out what it really is

ramairgto: 15th Sep 2010 - 05:33 GMT

A 14 year old girl named Susan Jacobson was murdered here on May 15,1976 and dumped in a shaft by her 16 year old boyfriend Dempsey Hawkins. Her body was found 2 years later. Hawkins was tried and convicted in 1979 and is doing 22 years to life. As of today he is still in jail.

Islander: 28th Sep 2010 - 13:36 GMT

Any more information about Dempsey Hawkins? Where is he?

ramairgto: 11th Oct 2010 - 03:55 GMT

He is serving 22 years to life sentence at MT. MCGREGOR CORRECTIONAL FACILITY in upstate Wilton, New York.
http://nysdocslookup.docs.state.ny.us/GCA00P00/WIQ3/WINQ130

STEVE DOGAN: 12th Aug 2011 - 18:07 GMT

M A R
(OK HERE'S A FEW MORE HINTS...SMELL OF OIL, DUAL CHURCH STEEPLES, DUAL SMOKE STACKS, ABANDON CAR, SWAMPS, MARSHES)
FIGURING OUT THE REST OF IT, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN! :P

Alexis: 20th Aug 2011 - 17:41 GMT

Update on Dempsey Hawkins http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/20/nyregion/an-inmates-letter-recalls-a-certain-summer.html

Supposed to have more next week.

In Gods Hands: 14th Oct 2011 - 03:04 GMT

Dempsey Hawkins is a ruthless murderer. Anyone who knew of his guilt and hid it from authorities should get what's coming to them. He deserves nothing but to suffer and die the same way he killed her! How dare anyone post a link to his letter glorifying his horrific selfish crime!
@Steve Dogan....are you some kind of wiseguy? What goes around comes around buddy.....what kind of remark is that!??

Jacobson: 18th Feb 2012 - 02:03 GMT

My aunt was Susan Jacobson and he is a disgusting person. He pretended to help my family look for her. He was jealous and abusive. He deserves nothing but to suffer for the hurt he put my family through. And as for his letter, it's all b.s

anon (cpe-24-168-121-172.si.res.rr.com): 23rd Apr 2012 - 05:04 GMT

I am a retired lawman.I always had an interest in the Jacobson case.We were the same age.I found out later my wife was in her JHS class.Mt Mc Gregor is a country club.I have been there and this ruthless killer should be in the jail a few miles up!RIP Susan

ramairgto: 9th Nov 2012 - 01:57 GMT

The filthy savage should die in jail. End of story!