Cohoes in Albany County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Matton Shipyard
The Matton Shipyard
John E. Matton built his shipyard here on Van Schaick Island in 1916, shortly after the new Barge Canal opened. Besides building barges and tugboats, the shipyard serviced and repaired the boats that travelled both the Erie and Champlain canals.
During World War II, the shipyard worked round-the-clock building submarine chasers for the Navy and tugboats for the Army. The fenced-in configuration of the shipyard today reflects those hectic years.
The Mattons continued in business until 1964, after which the Turecamo family carried on the ship building and boat repair tradition under the name of Matton Shipyard Company, Inc. The last of their line of sleek ocean-going tugboats was lanched in 1982, and the shipyard closed forever in 1983.
New York State purchased the Matton Shipyard in 1989. It will be developed in the future as part of the Peebles Island State Park complex.
Erected by New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1916.
Location. 42° 46.747′ N, 73° 40.867′ W. Marker is in Cohoes, New York, in Albany County. Marker is on Delaware Ave., on the right when traveling north. The Matton Shipyard sign was attached to one of the shipyard buildings. Flooding after Hurricane Irene in late September 2011 pushed this building off of its foundation and damaged the sign. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cohoes NY 12047, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. View of Van Schaick Island (approx. 0.3 miles away); Cluett, Peabody & Company (approx. 0.4 miles away); Herman Melville (approx. 0.4 miles away); Water Ford (approx. 0.4 miles away); An Urban Refuge (approx. 0.4 miles away); Native American & 17th-century History of Peebles Island (approx. 0.4 miles away); Peebles Island in the 18th-20th Centuries (approx. 0.4 miles away); Breastworks (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cohoes.
Also see . . . Matton Shipyard - National Archives. National Register of Historic Places documentation (Submitted on November 14, 2023, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 14, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 13, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 1,072 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 13, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 5. submitted on November 8, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 6. submitted on October 13, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 7. submitted on November 16, 2019, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.