The shipyard was founded in 1890 by the W. & A. Fletcher Company. In 1928 Fletcher sold the yard to United Dry Dock Company, called the Fletcher Plant. W. & A. Fletcher Co. merged with five other New York-based shipbuilding/ship repair companies to form United Dry Docks, Inc. in February 1929.[1][2][3] The yard had United States Navy contracts for ship repair.
In November 1982 Eliot Braswell, with Hoboken Shipyard, purchased the yard. The shipyard had been running at a loss when sold. Braswell was able to make cuts and keep the yard open. Braswell kept 103 workers and let the others go. Braswell also hired new workers. In 1999 the yard was closed and sold for 45 acres of land and waterfront development, including residences, retail space, a public promenade and a waterfront park. The waterfront development is between 12th Street, 16th Street and the Hudson River at 40°45′07″N74°01′25″W / 40.752029°N 74.0235°W / 40.752029; -74.0235.[4]