West Point Foundry Association, Cold Spring NY


The West Point Foundry Association was founded in 1817, across the Hudson River from West Point itself.  It was one of the earliest iron shipbuilders in the U.S. and is claimed by many to be the first U.S. builder of an iron ship, although some say that this was the appropriately named "United States" and others that it was the revenue cutter "Spencer", built six years later.  The foundry closed in 1911 and the site is now in ruins, but is the subject of archeological exploration.  If anyone can provide any information about this shipyard, or about the ships it built, please e-mail me at tim@coltoncompany.com.

Hull # Original Name Original Owner Type Tons Delivery Disposition
  United States   Steamboat 222 1838 First iron ship built in the U.S.
  Rebecca   Steamboat 60 1843 Sold foreign 1844
  Margaret Kemble Myers and Myers and Co. Tug 107 1844 Abandoned 1857
  Spencer U.S. Coast Guard Revenue Cutter 398 1844 Converted to lightship 1848