Ramberg Iron Works buys property from failed Atlantic Dock Company, 1918

Ramberg Iron Works paid $650,000 to the receivers of the Atlantic Dock Company for eight and three quarter acres fronting the Buttermilk Channel at the foot of Coffey, Dykman, Sullivan and Wolcott Streets in 1918. The site was within the free lighterage limits of the New York Harbor, meaning that cargo shipped to New York City could be brought there without incurring an extra fee.


The new owners, however, planned to remake the property for drydocking, ship repairing and shipbuilding expanding their existing business at Imlay and Pioneer Streets.

Hakon W Ramberg, a native of Christiana, Norway, had just established the Ramberg Iron works in 1917 after years working after years of working for other Red Hook area shipyards, such as A. Olsen on Union Street.  There are two wonderful photos of the shop in 1947 in the collection below.

Ramberg retired and returned to Norway in the 1950s, passing the business to his son Oscar.  Tragically, Oscar and his wife were murdered in their home in 1958.

The Atlantic Dock Company, founded by Daniel Richards, was established in 1840. It offered both a large commercial port and also warehousing for cargo. The company survived for half a century before going bankrupt around 1917.

The Ramberg business stayed in Red Hook until shortly after the news that an IKEA was going to be built in the former Todd Shipyard in the early 2000s. One of the Ramberg owners told PortSide staff that they believed the anti-IKEA protests that said Red Hook would be clogged with traffic, and they sold their buildings opposite the shipyard, partly because they thought their trucks would not be able to get in and out of the neighborhood.

Images

Ramberg carpenter shop, Rosenfeld Collection, 1942

Ramberg carpenter shop, Rosenfeld Collection, 1942

Image of carpenter shop at H.W. Ramberg, Inc. Plant at 37 Van Dyke Street, Brooklyn, NY. Visible in image: men in overalls and work clothes sawing and building products out of wood. | Source: CREDIT LINE: Mystic Seaport, Rosenfeld Collection. Stamped on back in rectangular box: “MORRIS ROSENFELD / PHOTOGRAPHIC ILLUSTRATOR / 116 NASSAU ST., N.Y. / Phone Beekman 3-4970” and “58019”. Accession Number: 1984.187.58019.1 Title: Carpenter Shop, H.W. Ramberg, Inc., Brooklyn, NY, 1942 Category: PHOTOGRAPHS Overall Size: 8 x 10 x 0 in. Date Created: 1942-12-28 Photographer: Rosenfeld and Sons Description: 8x10 gelatin silver print from 8x10 safety negative photographed by Rosenfeld and Sons on December 28, 1942. View File Details Page

Employees at H.W. Ramberg Company Plant, Brooklyn, NY, 1947

Employees at H.W. Ramberg Company Plant, Brooklyn, NY, 1947

Image of employees at H.W. Ramberg Company Plant in Brooklyn, NY. Visible in image: men posed for group picture inside factory with wreath and "MERRY CHRISTMAS / 1947" poster hanging on supervisor's office with Christmas tree mounted on roof, men are wearing work clothes, pieces of machinery and lofts in background. | Source: CREDIT LINE: Mystic Seaport, Rosenfeld Collection. Stamped on back in rectangular box: “MORRIS ROSENFELD / PHOTOGRAPHIC ILLUSTRATOR / 116 NASSAU ST., N.Y. / Phone Beekman 3-4970” and "62264".1984.187.62264.1Title: Employees at H.W. Ramberg Company Plant, Brooklyn, NY, 1947Category: PHOTOGRAPHSOverall Size: 10 x 8 x 0 in.Date Created: 1947-12-19Photographer: Rosenfeld and Sons | Creator: 1947 View File Details Page

Date:

1918

Item Relations

Item: Todd Shipyards is related to This Item
Item: Todd Shipyards is related to This Item

Sources:

  • Real Estate Record and Guide, v 101, no. 21, May 25, 1918, p. 676.  Columbia University Libraries Digital Collections: Real Estate Record and Builders Guide.
    http://rerecord.cul.columbia.edu/rerecord/document.php?vol=ldpd_7031148_061&page=ldpd_7031148_061_00000954&no=2
    (accessed 2016)

    George Weiss. America's Maritime Progress,
    The New York Marine News Company, New York, 1920

    Ramberg advertisment,  Standard Union, December 29, 1930

    "Ramberg Iron Works," Maggieblanck.com (accessed 2018)

    "Shipyard Owner, Wife Slain In B'klyn Home; Quiz Kin" New York Post, January 31, 1958.

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