Norton's Shipyard & Marina Celebrates 70 Years of Determination, Perseverance and Friendship
Norton's Shipyard & Marina Celebrates 70 Years of Determination, Perseverance and Friendship
Seventy years ago in Newport, RI, Frank H. Norton opened a marina with $500 in his pocket, a sense of determination and a will to work. Today Norton's Shipyard & Marina at the foot of Division Street in East Greenwich is a preeminent destination for boaters from all over the eastern seaboard. More than a place to simply dock your boat, Norton's Shipyard & Marina is a community of painters, waxers, canvas makers, maids, mechanics, deck hands and others who love to be out on Greenwich Cove and definitely not behind a desk or surrounded by four walls. Customers are treated like friends and family because they often are. Boaters and marina workers have been pulled in by the congenial orbit of Norton's Shipyard & Marina for seven decades.
After establishing the original Norton's Shipyard & Marina in 1945 which mainly serviced fishing vessels, Frank H. Norton was forced out of his location by developers in 1966 who sought to add restaurants, hotels and condos to his piece of Newport waterfront. Undeterred, Norton sought out a new location for his marina. He discovered an old ship building facility that had recently gone up in flames in East Greenwich and set up shop. In 1979 second generation owner Pat Norton took over. Pat was a contrast from her father “I was 18 years old when I first saw my father smile” Norton jokingly said. The younger Norton sought to create a more fun, familial atmosphere. Two qualities that were certainly transferred to the younger Norton were Frank's determination and perseverance. Next to Pat's computer in her office hangs the famous Calvin Coolidge Quote:
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
Upon taking over, Norton immediately became a member of the Rhode Island Marine Trade Association and the American Boat Builders and Repairers Association and ended up on the Board of Directors of both organizations within her first year. It was there that Pat Norton was able to meet and network with her contemporaries who she could share ideas with and seek advice from. She met John Nahigan who at the time was the owner of Wickford Cove Marina. Despite having a similarly sized marina with identical services less than 10 miles away, Nahigan, drawn to Norton's passion and positive disposition mentored Norton and provided some different perspectives and lessons on running a marina.
Today, the fishing vessels have been replaced by sailboats and powerboats. Boaters from all over the country come to Norton's to dock their boat. If they make it past the restaurant on site, McKinley's, the activities of the West Bay Yacht Club (which Norton is quick to tell you is not “hoity-toity”) or the parties she throws for her customers, they go up to stroll East Greenwich’s beautiful Main Street. It's all these elements that make the gravitational pull of Norton's Shipyard & Marina so strong. “We once had a couple who was only supposed to be here two weeks, they ended up staying the whole summer and then stored their boat for the winter” says Norton. The environment at Norton's Shipyard & Marina is so enjoyable Norton says she often get owners of other Marinas that come to dock their boat with her every weekend.
Besides the recreational amenities Norton boasts, boaters are also treated to the convenience of one stop shopping for all of their boating needs. Painting, waxing, electronics, shrink wrapping, mechanics, repair, maid service, canvas making, pump out services, paddle boat rentals and more are all on site for their customers. Norton's also features a discount marine shop with prices so competitive they can beat the chain stores.
Norton Shipyard & Marina celebrated their anniversary with a party at their facility with almost 400 of their customers, friends, family and employees. Not a sale or a promotion, but a thank you. This is easy to understand because when asked her secret to seven decades of business success, Norton replied “Perseverance, determination and a lot of help from friends”. After 70 years in business Norton's Shipyard & Marina certainly has a lot of friends.
