Fore River Shipyard

Located about 10 miles south of Boston, straddling the towns of Braintree and Quincy, the Fore River Shipyard was founded in the late part of the nineteenth century by Thomas Watson, famous for his role as Alexander Graham Bell’s assistant. (Remember, “Watson, come here.  I need you?”)  It would eventually become one of the largest and most prolific shipyards in the United States, supporting the country through both world wars and beyond.

Around the turn of the century, the shipyard got its first military contract, constructing 2 gunboat destroyers for the Navy.  Eventually, Fore River Shipyard would build more than 500 military ships during its illustrious tenure, including aircraft carriers, cruisers, huge battleships, and state-of-the-art submarines.

Purchased by Bethlehem Steel in 1913, Fore River played a major role in The Great War (World War I), producing 71 destroyers – with a little help from an additional shipyard that was built by Bethlehem Steel in the nearby Squantum section of the city of Quincy.

By the height of World War II, Fore River Shipyard employed 50,000 military and civilian workers and was dubbed part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Arsenal of Democracy”, producing some of the war’s greatest ships, including the USS Lexington and USS Salem. 

After the 2nd World War, Fore River continued building ships for the military, including the construction of the USS Long Beach, the world's first nuclear-powered surface combatant.  During this time, construction of commercial vehicles also kept the shipyard busy.

However, by 1963, work had dried up and Fore River Shipyard closed its gates.  General Dynamics purchased the property in 1964 and operated the shipyard until it closed in 1986.  During that era, the shipyard was modernized and used a highly-automated production process, including pre-outfitted construction techniques.

Currently, a revitalization program is attempting to turn the site of the former shipyard into a pedestrian “village”, which will include retail space, offices, entertainment, and some marine-related uses.

The thousands upon thousands of employees that worked at this very productive shipyard during the years prior to the warnings about the dangers of asbestos may have been exposed to dangerous airborne fibers.  Shipyard workers during that era wore no safety gear that would have provided protection against inhalation of fibers.  Employees that may have been exposed include plumbers, electricians, insulators, pipe fitters, steamfitters, boilermen, inspectors, and a host of other workers.

If you or a loved one were exposed to asbestos while employed at Fore River Shipyard, you have legal recourse, especially if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma.  Take a moment to read more about the disease and your rights to compensation by ordering our free Mesothelioma Information Kit.