Most ROCHESTER sailors of the early to mid 1950s will remember Mare Island Naval Shipyard and liberty in Vallejo, across the channel, as this was home during several major overhauls. Today few would recognize Vallejo, which is now very unlike the navy town they remember, but much of the shipyard remains essentially as it was 50 years ago. This is about to change, however, as the Mare Island Naval Shipyard recently followed ROCHESTER into retirement.
When the public was invited inside the Shipyard gates for the disestablishment ceremony, one ex-ROCHESTER sailor took advantage of the opportunity to visit areas that had been off-limits to civilians. Ignoring the ceremony, he strolled about the base, revisiting places so familiar long ago. Look below for what some of you will recognize as familiar settings.
Pier 21, the regular berth for ROCHESTER during her 1951 overhaul. That’s Vallejo across the channel
View shoreward from Pier 21
Rodman Center, site of the Mare Island Ship’s Store.
Views from the 1950’s
Contemplating liberty in Vallejo, across the Channel
Dinty Moore & Ted Hobson, Fox Div, with Jim Romig, 5th Div, on Liberty in Vallejo,
April, 1951
Men at Work during Mare Island Overhaul. (l-r) Stan Ruelman, Dinty Moore, ?, Jim Romig
Mare Island of the Future
Mare Island in 2010, as predicted by the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce