Shipbuilding was one of the major industries in Oswego during the late 1800s, and the Goble Dry Dock was one of the largest and most well known shipbuilding facilities. Having been blasted out of solid rock, it was 160 feet long, 60 feet wide at the top, and was 17 feet deep. It was the only dry dock on the entire southeastern shore of Lake Ontario. The majority of ships built at the Goble Dry Dock were schooners.

In the early 1900s, shipbuilding fell victim to the increased use of the Erie Canal. What was for decades a thriving dry dock fell silent. Over time the dry dock became severely deteriorated. In 1982 the Oswego Maritime Foundation leased the site from the Port of Oswego Authority for use as a private service boating education center.

The foundation has done extensive research into the dry dock's history, revitalization and use, and a four-phase plan has been devised to restore much of the historic integrity of the dry dock site. The first phase involves stabilizing the eroded shoreline and clearing the bottom of old timbers, rock, rubble and debris. Phase II will re-establish the dry dock entrance and refurbish the existing western approach wharf structures. This would create about 285 feet of additional docking. Phase III will introduce a new main service building to be used for OMF offices, library, classroom, resource facility, and public assembly space. The lobby will house a historical display of the Goble Dry Dock and a maritime information center. Phase IV, the ultimate long-term goal, is to reconstruct the gate system and other elements that would put the Goble Dry Dock back into operation as the only functional dry dock on Lake Ontario. Not only would this restore an important era in Oswego's history, it would also provide a unique facility around which to develop new and exciting maritime-related programs. It would also provide the foundation with the capacity to service its own '85 schooner and other Lake Ontario, historical, or transient vessels.

The last schooner built and launched by George Goble was the LEADVILLE in 1879. However, the hull of the schooner OMF Ontario was launched on July 2, 1994 at the Goble site. OMF's Education Through Involvement ship will be used as a floating classroom dedicated to Great Lakes history, resources, heritage and aquatic ecosystem. This ship will be the only gaff-rigged sailing vessel on Lake Ontario dedicated to public service.

The man who was synonymous with ship building on the Great Lakes in the late 1800s was George Goble. Specializing in multi-masted schooners, Goble was responsible for building more than 37 ships. Born on August 1, 1819, in Kinsale Bantry Bay, County Cork, Ireland, Goble moved to Oswego in 1837 at the age of 19, taking up the trade of ship's carpenter. Nineteen years later he started his own shipbuilding business in a slip at the foot of West Fourth Street and, according to records, launched his first ship, the schooner TITAN, on May 6, 1856.

In 1868, Goble leased the just completed Ontario Dry Dock, which had been blasted from solid rock, later becoming known as "the Goble Dry Dock," located at the foot of West First Street. From 1864 to 1912, the Goble shipyard built 30 schooners, two tug boats, two dredges, a launch and a myriad of small sailing craft. Goble's four sons were an important part of the shipyard. Three of them - Nicholas C., Thomas C. and George W. - worked the shipyard. The fourth son, Joseph H., was responsible for the office work after attending school. Goble was very active in community affairs. He served as a City Alderman, a member of the Masonic Order and the Odd Fellows and was a trustee and charter member of the Oswego Hospital Board. George Goble died on October 14, 1906. A portion of his obituary reads, "The story of his life is the story of the City of Oswego. His vessels were among the staunchest ... He was greatly respected by the men in his employ, and many of them were made comfortable in after life because of his aid and advice."

Copyright © 2004 Oswego Maritime Foundation