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MAY x JUN, 1984 Page 61 The Goble Shipyard buildings in Oswego. With the exception of numerous boat yards existing primarily to service and build canal boats, the Goble shipyard had a virtual mono- poly on the construction of large schooners until the end of that era. The last schooner built at this yard was the Leadville, launched on July 2, 1879. She was owned by Michael J. Cummings and was commanded by Captain Daniel Hourigan. She registered at 343 tons and was a three-and after, spreading 9,357 feet of canvas. From then on, the Goble yard was primarily for repair of vessels, and smaller craft such as yachts and skiffs. The last major project was the construction of the dredge Sodus for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1912. Mr. Goble's sons were also very much involved in activities at the shipyard. These included Nicholson C., Thomas C., George W. and Joseph. Nicholson or Nicholas died on June 6, 1909. Thomas C. died February 4, 1931, and Joseph H. died November 14, 1934. Joseph was responsible for the office work after attending Oswego schools while his brothers worked in the yard. The Oswego Palladium of November 15, 1934 said concerning this shipyard: "In addition to ways, the concern had one of the drydocks in the port, in the days of sailing vessels, that served a wide clientele, and eventually, it became the only, as it was the last shipyard in the city. The drydock was excavated from solid rock, and was of the then full Welland Canal size, but as shipping lessened on Lake Ontario, the drydock and shipyard found less and less business, and when the Barge Canal Terminal Act was passed, the Goble property, with several terminals in the vicinity was acquired by the state of New York for the west side barge canal and approaches. The remains of the old drydock may still be seen to the west of the elevator terminal approach." Frederick W. Barnes, an old Oswego yachts- man said: "I remember the late George Goble, who more than anyone else who has ever lived here, was associated with Oswego's shipbuilding industry. When I knew him, he was already far advanced in years; ap- proaching the end. of his career, but in his younger days, not he alone, but others were responsible for the activities of our lake front Author's Collection