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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: Elco Bayonne Facility 2012
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Well guys I thought there would be a few of you that might like to see what the Elco Plant on Newark Bay in Bayonne, NJ looks like today. These photos were taken last fall during a trip back to where I grew up just a few miles north of this location. Since then, this beautiful location has been the subject of my many "in color" dreams where I hit the lottery, build a full scale Elco then dock it outside my living room window. I hope I'm not the only dreamer out there. The developer of this property also removed the crane, restored it then re-assembled it in a beautiful park just north of where it would gently place all the Elco boats into Newark Bay and into history. Enjoy the photos

Posted By: Roy Forbes | Posted on: Jul 24, 2013 - 9:54am
Total Posts: 371 | Joined: Sep 5, 2012 - 4:57pm

Roy, nice photographs, I had posted these before, and in 1998 I had visited the site, going through Building 21, and getting a chance to operate the Crane. In photo 4, those are the original break water Pylons in the water, one of only a small handful of things that still survive today, including the Crane. I would have loved to see the CITY of BAYONNE do something to keep Building 21, but back in 1998, they could have cared less about the HISTORY of the PT BOATS. Friction existed between the CITY and the owner of Building 21 and the property, who just let the building rot away. It is a long story, too long to write here, but Baker Residential who bought the property did a wonderful thing when they stored the crane, and had it re-painted and erected where she is now, with a nice Plaque. In fact, where those homes are now, there is a very nice plaque talking about the site.

Back in 1998 when I visited, there was a huge Billboard as yu came into Bayonne, that had a nice photo of an Elco boat, that said "Home of PT-109. I wish I had taken the time to snap that photo, which someone might still have. Thanks for sharing these photo's Roy................

Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: Jul 24, 2013 - 10:12am
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am

Now would this be an AWESOME location for a museum or what? That huge lot just south of the Elco Marina where the old wooden railroad bridge over the bay used to be is still empty. OK, my imagination is running wild now. Lets get that full scale boat built and offer excursions around Manhattan and Liberty Island departing from here to pay for the boat. Maybe even arrange for docking at the Battery to pick-up & drop-off some of those millions of tourists that visit NYC every year. The site is only 20 minutes from Newark Airport as you know and about 40 minutes from the CV -11 USS Intrepid. I would even move back east. Going to be hard to get to sleep tonight.........

Posted By: Roy Forbes | Posted on: Jul 24, 2013 - 10:45am
Total Posts: 371 | Joined: Sep 5, 2012 - 4:57pm

A Museum in this area would be something, although unless you and I can hit the lottery this might not happen. A better place would be on the site where the old MTBSTC was. I would love that, you would get better tourist attractions near Narragansett Bay than you would in Bayonne. I gave up these ideas a long time ago because most people in general could care less about a PT BOAT let alone a Museum. I have to laugh sometimes, when you get people who give millions to some art exhibit, that to me makes no sense whatsoever, yet no one leaves a dime for the PT BOATS or a Museum for that matter, concerning WW II. I have to end this now before I say something that might offend someone.

Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: Jul 24, 2013 - 2:32pm
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am

You are right about Bayonne not being a tourist attraction. But you missed my point about the Hudson River Cruises and millions of tourists visiting NYC. Ever seen how full those Circle Line boats are and $15 on a ferry just to cross the Hudson from Weehawken !! One more thought here. For those folks visiting NYC arriving in Newark then taking a cab or train to the city, how many would enjoy a high speed trip to Battery Park on a screaming WWII PT that's only 15 minutes from EWR.
OK, thats all.

Carry on

Posted By: Roy Forbes | Posted on: Jul 24, 2013 - 3:15pm
Total Posts: 371 | Joined: Sep 5, 2012 - 4:57pm

Frank to Stan.

"Hey Stan, want to build a 1-1 scale Elco 80 footer for me?"

Stan to Frank, "Where's my gun?"

Cheers

"Give me a fast boat for we want to get out of harm's way too."

Posted By: PeterTareBuilder2 | Posted on: Jul 24, 2013 - 6:48pm
Total Posts: 204 | Joined: Dec 8, 2012 - 6:03pm

You have described the conversation with me and Stan to the letter. Besides, Stan will only build me one thing at a time now, no more projects laying around like before, STAN is slowing down now................

Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: Jul 24, 2013 - 10:41pm
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am