Crescent Shipyard

An 1899 advertisement for the Crescent Shipyard

Crescent Shipyard, located on Newark Bay in Elizabeth, New Jersey, built a number of ships for the United States Navy and allied nations as well during their production run, which lasted about ten years while under the Crescent name and banner. Production of these ships began before the Spanish–American War and occurred far before the outbreak of World War I. Arthur Leopold Busch, a recent emigre from Great Britain, started the yard with former Navy Lt. Lewis Nixon in January 1895. Both men previously worked for William Cramp & Sons in Philadelphia. Both Nixon and Busch were regarded to be amongst the best in their respected fields - and what they did at this time - as designers and builders of the latest, most advanced types of ships.[1]

Nixon, a cofounder of Crescent Shipyard was also the lead designer of America's first class of battleships at William Cramp & Sons Shipyard, in Philadelphia. He also built the Anstice yacht (1902) that was renamed the Sandy Hook.[2][3]: p90 

Isaac Rice's Electric Launch Company, which was started to build electrically propelled launches and small craft, also began its operations here. 40°38′42.06″N 74°11′18.66″W / 40.6450167°N 74.1885167°W / 40.6450167; -74.1885167.[4]

The Crescent Shipyard was operated by Nixon until 1904. In 1904 Crescent Shipyard was acquired by Bethlehem Steel in 1904. Bethlehem Steel leased the yard to John W. Sullivan and part to New Jersey Dry Dock & Transportation Company. In 1916, Bethlehem Steel took over operation of the shipyard. The yard was closed permanently shortly after the conclusion of World War I in 1921.[5]

  1. ^ "Bethlehem Elizabethport, Crescent Shipyard, Lewis Nixon, Samuel Moore".
  2. ^ "Local Plant Busy. Harlan and Hollingsworth Company has a Number of Important Contracts. Make Steamer into Yacht". The Morning News. Wilmington, Delaware. 12 Feb 1903. p. 1. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  3. ^ Allen, Edward L. (1922). Pilot Lore From sail to Steam. New York: The United New York and New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots Benevolent Associations.
  4. ^ "SS-2 A-1 Plunger". www.globalsecurity.org.
  5. ^ "Bethlehem Elizabethport, Crescent Shipyard, Lewis Nixon, Samuel Moore".