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Green Island

The Sinking of the Ford Freighter Green Island

November 3, 2021 by Bill Orzell Leave a Comment

Launching Ford Motor Company Ship “Green Island” at Great Lakes Engineering Works,When hostilities in 1939 created a combat situation between allied European nations and Germany, initiating the Second World War, the United States was officially neutral. However, the construction of ships began in America, to aid Great Britain and her allies.

When the events of 1941 pulled the U.S. into the conflict, the Navy and the Wartime Shipping Administration had a very serious need for vessels to transport war materials. This task was the duty of the country’s Merchant Marine, and all possible craft were requisitioned, including those on the Great Lakes and inland waterways. [Read more…] about The Sinking of the Ford Freighter Green Island

Filed Under: Capital-Saratoga, History, New York City Tagged With: Binghamton, Green Island, Maritime History, Military History, New York City, World War Two

Downtown Troy’s First Bridge Over The Hudson: A Short History

September 30, 2020 by John Nehrich Leave a Comment

Green Island Bridge shown in the close-up of a birds eye engraving with the west end already converted to steel trussesIn the 19th century, America had vast forests of virgin timber, unlike Europe, which during the Middle Ages had used up most of its largest trees. (The remaining were saved for ships’ masts.)

One of the first developments of the Industrial Revolution was powered sawmills. Thus was born the covered bridge, made of heavy structural timbers for trusses, and sheathed with easily-replaceable wood sheathing to protect the structure members from rotting. (This was years before creosote was used to protect exposed wood.) [Read more…] about Downtown Troy’s First Bridge Over The Hudson: A Short History

Filed Under: Capital-Saratoga, History, Hudson Valley - Catskills Tagged With: Architecture, Green Island, railroads, Transportation History, Troy

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