Fore River Shipyard (Postcard History)

Started in 1884 by Thomas A. Watson, who is best known as the person on the other end of Alexander Graham Bell's first telephone call, Fore River Shipyard employed thousands of South Shore-area residents. It was the largest private employer along the South Shore, providing jobs for over 30,000 workers during World War II. Today, Fore River Shipyard is remembered as having accomplished many shipbuilding firsts, including the construction of the USS Long Beach (CGN-9), the first nuclear guided-missile cruiser, which took four years to complete. Through postcards that include early submarines, battleships, destroyers, and ocean liners, Fore River Shipyard celebrates a shipyard that became an integral part of the South Shore community for over a century.