Once a Wilmington powerhouse, Babcock & Wilcox employees to reunite 43 years later

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — More than seven decades after Babcock & Wilcox established a major operation in Wilmington, former employees are continuing a tradition of remembering the company and the people who helped make it a local powerhouse.

Former Babcock & Wilcox Boiler Division employees will gather Aug. 29 for their 43rd annual reunion. The event begins at 4 p.m. at Golden Corral in Wilmington.

Babcock & Wilcox located its Wilmington operation in 1951, taking advantage of facilities that became available after the shipyard closed.

Roland Register, who has studied the company’s history, said the former shipyard property offered several advantages, including enclosed facilities, cranes and rail access. The shipyard’s closure also left behind a pool of highly skilled workers in the area.

“When the shipyard closed, enclosed facilities with cranes and rail access became available. It left many highly-skilled workers in the area,” Register said. “In 1951, B & W seized the opportunity to use the property for corporate expansion.”

The company eventually employed more than 1,200 people in Wilmington.

Babcock & Wilcox produced boilers and steam-generating equipment used by industrial and utility companies, as well as for military ships. Its Wilmington operation remained part of the community for decades before closing in 1983.

For former employees, the annual reunion provides an opportunity to reconnect with longtime friends and colleagues and remember a company that played a significant role in Wilmington’s industrial history.

The 43rd annual Babcock & Wilcox Boiler Division Wilmington reunion will be held Aug. 29 at 4 p.m. at Golden Corral in Wilmington.