Hey there!
Only a true "yardbird" would know that there were three but, very few would remember the name of "that" bar located on the same side of Eastern point road where "Elfies" was located... As for me, I do'nt remember mainly because, I hardly ever went there - spent most of my time @ Elfies trying to get in a game of pool usually an hour before or half an hour before closing time except for fridays...
Eastern point road "pointed" South towards the Long Island Sound if you got on it after getting off the bridge across the Thames river from New London and following it down past EB's main gate.
I used to live in Uncasville and Norwich besides Groton.
I left way before you did so (1982), I could'nt answer, unless - you're talking about all of the locals forming the MTC (Metal Trades Council)... If I remember correctly, EB had both Boilermakers and Pipefitters performing almost all of the welding in the yard and a variety of other craft union locals involved that ultimately made up the MTC... I'm trying to remember what "Nellie" mentioned to me about the sad state of affairs going on there the last time I passed through there in 93 or 94 but, I can only guess that when the "eighty-eight boats" and the Tridents contracts were close to completion there were massive lay-offs, and dues were no longer coming in as usual, BAD THINGS started to happen real quick is what he mentioned. Anywho, If you're asking when the MTC was formed, I honestly ca'nt remember or refer to my old union book because that's long gone... In fact, the only thing I have left is an "Extra" copy of my "red" badge with my dept#, badge# & my mug on it... I do know that the MTC was formed before I started there... If I remember correctly, One of the main reasons it was formed was in order to minimize the possibility of one of the locals independently going on strike on their own.
Are you talking about the "ways" which was north of the 260 bldg, or are you talking about the bldg north of the "wet" docks? Or are you talking about the pipe shop? Do you remember M Costa's Lobster wholesale right off the Thames - just north of EB, on Eastern Point road? Back then, I could go to the conveyor belt and pick my Maine Lobster, and purchase it for a buck a pound!!!
THOSE WERE THE DAYS!!!
Sorry Pal, It's been a long time since I was in the yard so, I can't remember everything that was going on way back when.
Good to know that another yardbird like myself did well after leaving EB :)
Respectfully,
SSBN727
Run Silent... Run Deep!!!