The massive labor needs at the yard had profound local social effects. Many local men and women entered the workforce, shifting Jacksonville’s economy. The yard drew workers from across Florida and the Southeast; housing, transportation and community services expanded accordingly. The presence of 20,000 workers in 1944 made the yard one of the la

With the United States’ entry into World War II in late 1941, the Maritime Commission accelerated shipyard construction across the country. In April 1942 the St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company was founded in Jacksonville under contract from the U.S. Maritime Commission.   An investment of about US$17 million (by the Maritime Commission) an

Introduction: Steel, Riverfront, and Urgency In the heart of Jacksonville, Florida, along the banks of the St. Johns River, lies the legacy of one of America’s great shipbuilding efforts of World War II: the St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company. Though its active period was brief — from 1942 to 1945 — the yard’s impact was enormous. In jus

1982: Schooner Freedom constructed in Norfolk, Virginia by Rover Marine under naval architect Merritt Walters.   2000-2001: John and Sarah Zaruba purchase the vessel, conduct refit, and launch it in St. Augustine as charter operation.   2001 onward: Daily sails and charters commence—day sails, sunset sails, moonlight sails become regul