The Chart Room first opened in 1966 in this building which is a New Jersey Central Railroad Barge built around or before the turn of the century. This covered cargo barge was surveyed out of the railroad fleet and towed along with five other barges to Red Brook Harbor in 1953 where this particular barge was used as a machine shop to aid in the production of vessels for the Army and Navy during the Korean War - 36 foot "J" Class blunt nose patrol boats for the Army and 28' and 40' personnel boats for Navy Carrier and Cruiser service.
Large lathes for turning propeller shafts, struts and shaft logs were located where the bar is now. The piano is in the diesel engine rebuilding area, while drill presses, shears and cutters occupied the rest of the building.
With the development of the Cataumet Marina, the visiting yachtsmen required dining facilities, and the idea of creating a restaurant in the barge was initiated. The sidewalls were replaced and a kitchen added. The roof remains the same with its massive beams and arched structure. The floor is original railroad planking.
The Chart Room is open spring and fall weekends and daily from the last week in June through Labor Day.