Once There Was a Town: The Port Chicago Story

A photo-documentary with over 400 historic images showing the history of a nearly-forgotten town in Northern California. The once company-town of Bay Point, founded in 1907 by the C.A. Smith Lumber Company became the town of Port Chicago, site of the worst domestic wartime accident in US History when an ammo ship blew up, killing 320 sailors and civilians. Over the next 24 years the US Navy gained control of the town, finally forcing a buy-out of its 4000 occupants in 1969 to create a "buffer zone" for the Port Chicago Naval Magazine.

[@jzuniga999]

Gone but never forgotten

[@huntersmommavee4509]

Port Chicago and Bay point have a deep black History that wasn't even touched on in this, sad. They deserve recognition just as much In my opinion

[@jeffreybmckinnon2028]

That history has been well documented and is all over KZbin if you look. This documentary honors the town itself, that predates the navy & ammo explosion by 35 years, and whose history as an independent town is generally ignored. Sad.

[@larrynorton6470]

I really enjoyed the musical background. This work should be awarded as a great documentary of a time and place that should never be forgotten. Jeff, thank you for your hard work and that of your crew. For me this was the original "wake up America" story.

[@jeffreybmckinnon2028]

Wow, thank you so much! Good to know that it works. It really was a labor of love. Once I get the docudrama staged, rehearsed and aired out a few times, I'll film record that as well. They will be great companion pieces and should give anybody a good idea about Port Chicago and what was lost.

[@gmahoney6185]

Love it 🥰 makes me homesick for the good ole days especially now 🥰🥺😷

[@joanbullock5498]

Thank you so much! A trip down memory lane that I have been craving. So long ago, I forgot I took my doll to school on picture day. Dr. Joan Pullen Bullock

[@michaelmulcahy5847]

Great job, Jeff! It took me well over an hour to watch it because I was on the pause button so often.

[@jeffreybmckinnon2028]

Thanks for your contributions!

[@sharonlefebvre7292]

I lived at 301 West Lind Street. I was 7 years old when the Navy forced us all out of our beautiful little town. Both sets of Grand parents, Aunts and Uncles, cousins, friends all got pushed out of our homes by the government. I wonder what my life would have been had we all got to stay. I have very fond memories of my time there. ❤❤

[@markm.9458]

My mother worked as a civilian for the navy from 1945 to 1974. The last eight years at Port Chicago. I spent many summer days there having little adventures, or just hanging out out as a pre-teen (we could). Tooling around the base and hills with security. Anybody remember Captain Kinney, or Commander Sam from O.E.D.?

[@gregmckinnon2169]

FINE JOB CUZ

[@jenniferhenry1119]

Thank you for this!!! Both sides of My great grandparents raised my grandparents in port chicago durrinf the 40s. After the explosion the familys were forced to sell their land and Virgin Bird Henry wasnt going to leave the house he built... So the home was Relocated to Antioch paid for by the US Goverment... Browns and the Henrys

[@jeffreybmckinnon2028]

This film is living history. Stay tuned for the staged docudrama of the same title on KZbin, to be recorded sometime this fall featuring actors voicing the words of residents to images of the town.

[@jenniferhenry1119]

@@jeffreybmckinnon2028 awsome! If your interested the house im refering to is located on the corner of D st and W. 20th in Antioch. Just around the corner from Antioch Jr High. You can't miss it... Sits on the corner with a detached garage and a picket fence(last I saw it)

[@jenniferhenry1119]

@@jeffreybmckinnon2028 the house was owned by Vigin Bird Henry and Flora (Beard) Henry... Out of 13 children only 4 remain alive today, all were taken by various Cancers

[@jenniferhenry1119]

@@jeffreybmckinnon2028 if you wish I can put you into contact my aunts and uncles who have memories of their childhood homes

[@fonzworth6757]

My uncle was killed in that explosion. I have ZERO respect for the militants of that day and time. How convenient it was for them to sweep 320 African American sailors under a rug is beyond me. All this YT shit with a few sprinkles of black. America is still to this day sickening as hell smh.