Fort Benning, Main Post Handball Courts, Building 305, U.S. Maneuver Center of Excellence Fort Benning Military Reservation, Columbus

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA-2435. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Building 305 (Figures is a contributing resource to the Main Post Historic District eligible under Criteria A (master planning) as part of the Army s first broad attempt to plan permanent installations and C (architecture) for elements of the Greek Revival Style. 1 The handball courts were built with Post labor in as part of Fort Benning s original recreational complex built 35 (Figure 5). 2 Building 305 is part of a coherent complex of indoor recreational facilities that include a gymnasium (Building and a bowling alley (Building Surrounding outdoor recreational facilities include Russ Pool Doughboy Stadium and Gowdy Field A movie theater (Building no longer extant) was located on Ingersoll Avenue north of Buildings 358 and 305 (see Figure 5). Historians: Stacey L.

Griffin, M.A., Senior Architectural Historian, Panamerican Consultants, Inc., Paul W. Bryant Drive, Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Inger Wood, Architectural Historian, LG2 Environmental Solutions, Inc., Fortune Parkway, Suite Jacksonville, Florida Report completed January

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA-2435. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Due to the condition and infeasibility to repair and repurpose Building Fort Benning required a HABS recordation of the facility prior to its demolition. Per the installation s Army Alternate Procedures agreement with the Georgia State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) regarding the stewardship of historic resources, a Level II Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) was completed 1 Kelly Nolte, Main Post Historic District National Register Nomination, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning Military Reservation, Georgia (Tuscaloosa, AL: Panamerican Consultants, Inc., 2 W. Robinson Fischer, Historic Building Survey: Fort Benning, U.S.

Infantry Training Center, Georgia (Athens, GA: Southeastern Archaeological Services, Inc., Building FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 2 with final documentation provided to the installation, the SHPO, and the National Park Service In poor condition, the central section of the roof and interior ceiling has partially collapsed (see Figure 3 and Figure 6). The building was deemed unsafe and could not be entered during field work. Therefore, digital images from an earlier survey were used to produce large format prints and negatives of the building s interior. 3 Field work and research were completed August through December by Stacey Griffin and Inger Wood.

All large format photography, prints, and negatives were produced by Andrew Baugnet through Panamerican Consultants, Inc. Historic installation maps and digital files of measured drawings were provided by Chad Carpenter, Plans and Support, Master Planning, Directorate of Public Works, Fort Benning, Georgia. Historic photographs were accessed through Dr. Chris Hamilton via the MCoE Museum Division, Fort Benning. The HABS narrative was authored by Architectural Historians Stacey Griffin and Inger Wood. The final documentation was prepared by Stacey Griffin; Jelane Wallace, GIS Specialist; and Laura Wood, Editor; all of Panamerican Consultants, Inc., Paul W. Bryant Drive, Tuscaloosa, Alabama Project Manager was Wendy Puckett, LG2 Environmental Solutions, Inc.

The project was sponsored by the Environmental Management Division, Directorate of Public Works, MCoE with the assistance of Cultural Resource Specialists, Dr. Christopher Hamilton, RPA and Susanne Perry, Architectural Historian, as well as the Savannah District, United States Corps of Engineers (USACE). Part I. Historical Information A. Physical History: 1. Date of erection: 2. Architect: Post Constructing Quartermaster, Fort Benning, Georgia. 3. Original and subsequent owners and uses: U.S. Army Infantry Center (presently MCoE), Fort Benning Military Reservation, Georgia. Building 305 served as a recreational facility for the health and welfare of the installation s soldiers, dependent family members, visiting military personnel, as well as the Post s civilian employees.

Originally constructed as handball courts, subsequent uses include conversion to squash courts and racquetball courts and a child care recreational center The building is currently vacant present). 3 Stacey L. Griffin et al., Fort Benning Historic Resources, Surveys and Treatment Plans for the Historic Properties Component: Building 305 Treatment Plan (Tuscaloosa, AL: Panamerican Consultants, Inc., FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 3 4. Builder: Post Constructing Quartermaster Fort Benning. 5.

Original plans and construction: Construction plans were provided most likely by the Army s Quartermaster Corps in Washington, Though no original plans were located, typical procedure was for the QMC to release plans to the installation s CQM to construct. The earliest measured drawing on file for Building 305 dates from for the conversion of two of the four handball courts to squash courts. Construction activity was overseen by Fort Benning s CQM and completed by Post labor consisting of non-commissioned officers. Building 305 is a rectangular building with subtle Greek Revival architectural elements demonstrative by simple, Doric pilasters and porticoes. The facades consist of five bays across the long sides and two bays across the short sides. The building has a gambrel roof.

The exterior walls are masonry (brick) curtain walls with a wood frame structure and a stucco finish (leaving the brick bond pattern unknown), and the building rests on a masonry (brick) pier foundation. Building 305 has two central entrances, one each on the north and south sides. A portico marks each entrance with Doric columns supporting a flat roof. The porticoes include three steps leading into the building. The building originally had three bays of window openings on the upper portion of each long side that allowed natural light into each of the courts and provided ventilation. The original windows were paired, nine-light, horizontal pivot, metal sash windows with simple masonry sills. The side gables originally included paired, louvered vents (Figures 6.

Alterations and additions: Building 305 has undergone several alterations in purpose and composition in its history as detailed in the table below. 4 The earliest official documentation of Building 305 found during these investigations is three, construction photographs. The earliest Property Card is dated February 23, and the earliest measured drawing dates from Date Alteration (Drawing Number) Dec14, Originally constructed as Handball Court for an initial cost of Dec 20, Exterior painted. Officially redesignated as Indoor Handball Courts, and changed from Nov 18, Misc Structure to Jan 18, Reroofed (cost Drawing illustrates plan for observation platforms in the central Oct 9, hallway to overlook the squash courts (PE-8344).

Nov 8, Plywood ceiling installed for a capital increase to Drawing illustrates plans for MECEL Installation (IT offices), which was to involve several alterations to the floor plan and doorways on Mar 8, the first level, but the plans were never implemented since no later drawings show them taking effect (PE-8904). May 16, Significant interior renovations included many areas of flooring and 4 In addition to physical evidence, property cards housed in the Real Property Office and measured drawings completed for subsequent modifications in the Master Planning s Plans and Support Office were the sources for this information. FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No.

GA-2435 Page 4 wall cladding being replaced, repaired, sanded, and refinished in the court areas as well as the hallway, dressing area, and storage rooms. Drawing refers to Handball and Squash Court Building and shows two handball courts (NW and SE) and two squash courts (NE and as well as a dressing room in each squash court (FE-12868). New wire screen was installed instead of a solid ceiling in the handball courts. New doors were installed at the front entrance and all interior rooms (FE-12869).

The lighting system was expanded (FE- Bathroom facilities and aluminum weather protection for porticoes installed, cost re-evaluated to Drawings illustrate removal of walls that created dressing rooms in the squash courts, moving the storage room access, installing a stairwell and second floor observation hallway, altering the rear entrance to allow Nov 6, placement of a bathroom behind the stairwell, blocking up the windows and attic vents, installing chain link fencing over observation windows, installing new light fixtures, increasing roof and ceiling frame strength, installing more plywood ceiling, and installing a new heating and ventilation system (FE-20321, FE-20322, FE-20323, FE- FE-20326, FE-20327).

Building name began to be listed as Multi-Purpose Courts, Recreation Circa Building, and Recreation Center. May 20, Reroofed (Drawing DEH-30215). Electrical system upgrades brought value to (FE-20324, Sep 19, FE-20328, FE-20329, FE-20330, and FE-20331). Building served purposes for childcare and storage. B. Historical Context 1. Early History of Camp Benning: Prior to World War I (WWI), the U.S. Army retained several schools throughout the country dedicated to the various skills and training required by the infantry soldier. The most important school for training was the Infantry School of Arms at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Towards the end of WWI, the U.S.

Army recognized the need to change its training of the infantry in preparation for future military actions and organized a committee to oversee the search for a new location for the Infantry School of Arms. The committee selected a site in Columbus, Georgia, where the terrain and climate provided a superior location for the year-round training the Army required. 5 Known as the Wynnton section, the original camp location was sited approximately three miles from downtown Columbus. Named for the Confederate General Henry Benning, Camp Benning was established in as a temporary wartime encampment. Within one year, the Army realized the new camp was not large enough to suit the needs of the Infantry School of Arms.

In 5 Sharyn Kane and Richard Keeton, Fort Benning The Land & The People (Tallahassee, FL: Southeast Archeological Center, National Park Service, FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 5 Camp Benning moved to its present location, an area nine miles south from the center of Columbus, dominated by Arthur Bussey s 1,800-acre plantation, Riverside. The initial layout of the installation is a traditional cantonment plan on a roughly east/west and north/south axis as designed by George Gibbs (Figure George Gibbs, Jr. was a landscape architect born in Riverton, Kentucky.

Gibbs graduated with a from the University of Illinois in and a second in landscape architecture from Harvard University in where he was a student of Frederick Law Olmstead, Jr. 6 Gibbs worked for the Olmstead firm until when he joined the City Planning Board of Boston. Leaving Boston in Gibbs was commissioned as a Captain, and later Major, in the Construction Division of the U.S. Army, in charge of camp planning for Army and National Guard cantonments that would include officers training schools. It was during this period Gibbs would have drawn the initial plan for Camp Benning at its new location. 2. Fort Benning Expands, In Camp Benning was authorized as a permanent military post and became the Army Infantry School and home of the Infantry Board.

The development of the installation was related to the advancement of mechanized modern warfare. Two years later, Camp Benning was officially designated Fort Benning as a permanent installation. As Fort Benning grew into its role as the new home for the Infantry School several post commanders are also recognized for their contributions to the physical development of the installation between and Transitioning from encampment to permanent installation, Fort Benning engaged in a construction program for permanent buildings. Once funding was secured from Congress, the post commandant ordered the preparation of an installation plan for the future location of roads and buildings.

Roads were repaired, brush was cleared, and a suitable drainage system was installed in preparation for new construction. In at least six warehouses were built in the industrial area and the first permanent housing quarters were also completed. 7 In early provision was made for a few warehouses, a complete pumping station, an ammunition magazine, and a coal pocket . 8 That same year the Post Gymnasium (Building and Main Movie Theater (Building were constructed. In the new commandant General Briant H. Wells to launched an organized landscape plan and approved the construction of permanent structures.

Under Wells command, a formal document now referred to as the Well s Plan was created emphasizing family housing and the outdoor environment (Figure During this period, academic and civic areas were combined into one large campus with construction of the first Cuartel (Spanish for barracks) and many of the installation s early recreational 6 Charles A. Birnbaum and Robin Karson, Pioneers of American Landscape Design (New York, NY: McGraw- Hill, Inc., 7 General Plan Map, Fort Benning, Georgia, (Fort Benning, GA: Plans and Support, Fort Benning Master Planning). 8 The Interesting Story of Construction at Benning, Industrial Index (30 November FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No.

GA-2435 Page 6 facilities including Russ Pool and Bathhouse (Buildings and Building no longer extant), the Post Gymnasium (Building Doughboy Stadium (Building Gowdy Field (Building and the Post Theater (Building no longer extant). Building 305 would be added to the growing list of recreational facilities in A article in the Industrial Index describes the building as an active part of Fort Benning s recreational facilities. 9 The installation s physical appearance changed again under Brigadier General Edgar T. Collins. During Collins tenure to much of the installation s infrastructure was completed and construction of additional Cuartels and housing was ongoing.

In response to the intensity of construction occurring at Fort Benning during the mid-to late the Army requisitioned the services of George B. Ford as part of its funding received in Ford was an internationally known architect, engineer, and urban planner. 10 As part of the building campaign funded Fort Benning developed a master plan for new construction. Under the direction of the the Army hired the well-known city planner, George B. Ford of the Technical Advisory Corporation of New York (TAC). Ford formed TAC with engineer Ernest P. Goodrich and was the first private urban planning consulting firm in the United States. 11 Ford and his partners had previously worked with the Army planning cantonments during WWI.

This early phase of base planning was seen as one of the fruits of the city planning movement. 12 Under the command of Brigadier General Campbell King to Fort Benning and Ford formalized a master plan for new construction in based on the earlier plans by Gibbs, Wells, and Collins (Figure This period saw the renovation of the Post Gymnasium and the construction of the Handball Courts Ford s restudy continued to follow the precedence of dividing the installation into distinct use areas separating the industrial, residential, training, civic, recreational, and academic areas. Aside from the that was appropriated for housing, money for miscellaneous projects (roads, hospitals, magazines, hangars, warehouses, barns, theaters, clubs, school buildings, etc), was also appropriated.

13 The Army was making a substantial investment and was using the latest planning and architectural theories to insure that their investment would have proper and long-lasting returns. The 9 Recreational Facilities at Fort Benning Varied and Extensive, Industrial Index Vol. XLVI no. 26 (December 5. 10 The Interesting Story of Construction at Benning, Industrial Index 11 Donald A. Krueckeberg, ed., The American Planner: Biographies and Recollections (Methuen, NY: 12 Paul Chattey, et al., Context Study of the United States Quartermaster General Standardized Plans (Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD: U.S. Army Environmental Center, 13 William E. Horton, The Work of the Construction Service, Quartermaster Corp, The Quartermaster Review Vol. VIII, no.

2 (September October FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 7 combination of the Gibbs, Wells, Collins, and Ford revisions remain evident throughout the Main Post today, which includes the recreational complex and Building As a consultant to the QM General between and Ford revised the Fort Benning plan to include elements of The City Beautiful movement and the Garden City Movement.

The City Beautiful movement s ideals for planning and construction were envisioned by Frederick Law Olmsted for Central Park in New York City in and by Daniel Burnham for the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in Sir Ebenezer Howard created the Garden City Movement in the last quarter of the nineteenth century and presented in his book To-Morrow: A Peaceful Path to Real Reform in 14 In the book, Howard presented ideas about self-contained communities surrounded by greenbelts and containing carefully balanced areas of residences, industry, and agriculture. When the book was reprinted in the title was changed to Garden Cities of Tomorrow, and the Garden City Movement was officially born.

15 Howard s purpose was to improve the quality of life in cities, towns, and suburbs through urban planning as his planned communities combined cities with nature. However, Ford s improvements at Fort Benning were more closely aligned with the City Beautiful school of thought, to bring aesthetic improvement where it did not impair the functionality of the landscape [implementing] the use of city planning in an effort to improve social order. 16 Ford s work continued to follow the earlier established zones where soldiers lived, studied, or trained separating the industrial and housing areas to maintain a higher level of a residential environment that enabled Fort Benning to implement components of both the Garden City Movement and The City Beautiful movement.

Ford s approach continued in the Cities Beautiful approach that stressed planning from the perspective of beauty above all else. The Army and Ford agreed on several planning concepts: buildings should be grouped according to their uses, there should be large open areas, there should be hierarchies of streets, topography should determine building placement and type, there should be recreation areas, and public buildings (administrative, post headquarters, chapel, theaters, etc.) should be units of a larger composition. 17 In the planning lexicon, warehouses, industrial facilities, railroads, and stables were relegated to the edges of the city, small neighborhoods were built around parks, with the multiple neighborhoods anchored by public buildings and shopping areas.

Fort Benning s work areas warehouses, industrial facilities and stables- remained on the edge of the plan, 14 Ebenezer Howard, Cornell University Library, accessed November 15 Ibid. 16 Cultural Site Research and Management, Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plan (Baltimore, MD, 17 Nurse, The Planning of Army Posts, The Quartermaster Review Vol. VIII, no. 2 (September October FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No.

GA-2435 Page 8 which focused the most attention on the living and public administration areas of the installation s cantonment (Figures Since the plans were funded as part of the Army Housing Program, they concentrated on the housing and public building aspects of the installation those buildings most associated with morale. This concept is reflected in the coherent complex of indoor recreational facilities, Buildings and 359 located in the midst of the outdoor recreational complex (see Figure 5). During the Great Depression of the money for construction was budgeted under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a New Deal program created during the first administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt with a mission to put unemployed people across the country to work.

As a result of the expansion of military posts and the enlistment of more men into the services after WWI, the need for facilities to train officers and enlistees grew, and military installations became a perfect place to put both skilled and unskilled men to work in the The post s CQM was in charge of all work performed with the appropriated funds and all workers were hired in Columbus at the National Re-employment Agency office located on Broadway. 18 QMC activities between and reflect the general development of Fort Benning during the interwar period. The construction of the bowling alley (Building was completed in and was the last recreational facility built within the original recreational complex. 3.

The Quartermaster Corps: Established in by the Continental Congress, the Quartermaster Corps served as the Army s supply agency by transporting troops, constructing buildings and roads, storing and issuing supplies, and supporting armies in the field. 19 Evolving several times, the QMC was divided into five divisions by Administrative, Finance and Accounting, Construction and Repair, Transportation, and Supplies. Distribution of supplies from the national level was coordinated through regional depots that in turn supplied the installations. At this level, a post quartermaster office distributed the supplies received from regional QMC depots. In the National Defense Act re-organized the QMC as a separate service less the finance and accounting division.

Most significant of the reorganization was the establishment of the construction and transportation services as self-contained, independent agencies so they could adapt to future national emergencies. 20 One of the duties of the QMC was the constructing and maintaining the buildings of the Army and to The Quartermaster General fell the task of carrying out the new building program authorized by Congress and the President in Since the beginning of the Army, the government had looked at ways of streamlining efficiency and realized by 18 Many Improvements Expected Under Appropriated Fund, Benning Herald 19 Paul Chattey, et al. 20 Paul Chattey, et al.

21 Housing the Army, The Quartermaster Review FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 9 creating standardized plans for widely used building types would save the Army on construction costs. 4. Quartermaster Standardized Plans: The Office of the Quartermaster Corps constructed thousands of buildings located on Army installations throughout the United States and Panama, often using standardized plans. 22 As such, the buildings can be categorized by use type such as hangars, housing, motor pools, recreational facilities, etc.

The Army s attempts at standardizing plans and effecting policies of standardization are generally grouped in periods; the period of standardization affecting Fort Benning s early recreational facilities is the Third Period During the Third Period of Standardized Plans, the QMC s newly created Construction Service was in charge of all construction activities for the Army. This included: all construction; maintenance and repairs of buildings, structures and utilities other than fortifications; the operation of utilities; the acquisition and disposal of all real estate; and the keeping of adequate records of storage space and office space except in the District of Columbia. 23 The Construction Service did not exist in a vacuum; it hired professionals like George B.

Ford to assist them in their activities and was aware of changes and innovations in the field. In addition, many of the Construction Service members had impressive credentials like its first Construction Service Chief, Lieutenant Colonel Francis B. Wheaton who had worked at McKim, Mead, and White and the Supervising Architect in Luther M. Leisenring, who had worked with Cass Gilbert. 24 In an effort to improve living conditions on posts, the theory behind providing recreational facilities was to improve the health, morale, and well-being of troops.

During the late nineteenth century to encourage athletic activities and exercise on military installations the Army began to include gymnasiums, bowling alleys, swimming pools, golf courses, playing fields, and stadiums in its building campaigns. 25 An early standardized plan for a combined gymnasium, bowling alley, and post exchange was released in A separate gymnasium plan was produced in and bowling alley plans in 26 Though the Army wanted to improve the life of the troops, Quartermaster regulations stated that places of amusement (gymnasiums, post exchanges, bowling alleys, etc.) could be constructed only with materials at hand incurring no cost to the government and must utilize the labor of troops. 27 This was evident in the 22 Paul Chattey, et al. 23 Bethany C. Grashof.

A Study of United States Army Family Housing Standardized Plans Vol. 1 (Atlanta, GA: Center for Architectural Conservation, College of Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology, 55. 24 Ibid. 25 Paul Chattey, et al. 26 Ibid. 27 Ibid. FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 10 construction of Fort Benning s Main Movie Theater (Building and the Post Gymnasium (Building Receiving little funding for new construction in the recreational facilities were funded through private means or non-appropriated funds. At Fort Benning, the Secretary of War authorized the establishment of a Recreational Center Board whom raised funds and oversaw the planning and construction of athletic and recreational facilities.

28 The Board oversaw the construction of the Doughboy Stadium, outdoor playing fields (Gowdy Field and multiple polo fields), and a swimming pool. 29 By the recreational facilities were common on installations, but did not necessarily follow standardized plans. The facilities varied from installation to installation and reflected a style similar to the installation s other buildings. 30 As of construction activity was directed by the USACE. 5. Recreation in the military: In the Manual of Physical Training for Use in the United States Army was issued outlining physical training for all enlisted men.

31 Along with the assigned physical fitness activities, soldiers were expected to participate in extracurricular athletic activities, hence implementing time for sports and athletic competitions outside of general military training. 32 Smith, et al. states that organized athletic activities were designed to train enlisted men with the necessary survival skills for life on the front lines. Wrestling trained recruits for hand-to-hand combat and baseball throwing fundamentals were emphasized in grenade tossing exercises.

Scaling, jumping, and vaulting exercises incorporated gymnastics for daily trench maneuvers and basic survival skills on front-line combat and boxing training for bayonet fighting (Figures 33 During World War I, several volunteer agencies offered education and recreational services to the soldiers to combat homesickness, liquor, discipline, and morale issues. These organizations included the YMCA, YWCA, Knights of Columbus, Jewish Welfare Board, the Salvation Army, War Camp Community Services, and the American Library 28 Ibid. 29 W. Robinson Fisher. 30 Paul Chattey, et al. 31 Adam Smith et al, A History of Recreation in the Military (Champaign, IL: Construction Engineering Research Laboratories, 32 Ibid. 33 Smith et al.

FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 11 Association. 34 When possible, the YMCA assigned physical directors to military camps to lead sport programs as a way to establish common bonds between men through team sport competitions. Sports also served as a past time that occupied troops during inter-war years. Competitive military sports culminated in with the United States hosting 18 nations for the Inter-Allied Games in France at Pershing Stadium as troops waited to be sent home. 35 Throughout its history, Fort Benning included recreational facilities in each area of the installation.

As stated in a brochure, the object of athletics at The Infantry School is threefold: first to develop athletic teams of collegiate caliber to fittingly represent the Infantry and the Army in Southern intercollegiate sports; second to afford those stationed at Camp Benning recreation and amusement and to foster in them pride in this, the newest and biggest Infantry School in the world; and third, to develop officers of Infantry capable of becoming instructors in all branches of athletics who, upon graduation, will carry with them into all organizations of the Army the spirit of clean sportsmanship, courage, and unflinching determination, for which the Infantry and its School is and must always be known.

36 During the and baseball and football exploded in popularity as did the momentum for sporting events and outdoor activities. Parks and recreational facilities further expanded with a million building campaign for parks and recreational facilities constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the depression era. As post depression era funding dictated inexpensive recreation, miniature golf was introduced on installations. Fort Benning s course was located off Anderson Avenue. The World War II era of recreational facilities saw the construction of modern, permanent gymnasiums, bowling alleys, and pools in each of the cantonment areas at Fort Benning.

During the military sports were integrated with civilian sports with soldiers participating in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) for boxing, softball, swimming, and golf. Fort Benning sporting events included football, baseball, basketball, boxing, horse shows, and marksmanship competitions to name just a few. 37 6. Recreational facilities at Fort Benning: With growing popularity of outdoor sports after the Civil War, large military installations like Fort Benning were able to support many different recreational activities, as more people were likely to participate. 38 34 Ibid. 35 Steve Pope, An Army of Athletes: Playing Fields, Battlefields, and the American Military Sporting Experience, The Journal of Military History no.

59 (July) 36 Central of Georgia Railway, The Infantry School: Camp Benning, Georgia (Georgia: Central of Georgia Railway, 37 Smith et al. 38 Ibid. FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 12 Sporting activities at Fort Benning spurred on the construction of facilities for horse shows and stables, polo fields, tennis courts, swimming pools, handball courts, gymnasiums for basketball and boxing, as well as fields and stadiums for football, baseball, and softball. Recognizing the importance of organized sport on military installations, the War Department created the Moral Division that later became the Special Services.

A training course was established at Fort Meade in Anne Arundel County, Maryland that taught planning, organizing, and supervising recreation and welfare activities for troops. 39 By military recreation programs were well established on military installations and were directed by military personnel and civilians. The military recreational program continues today as the Family Moral, Welfare, and Recreation Command Part II. Architectural Information A. General Statement 1. Architectural character: Building 305 was constructed as Handball Courts in The building is rectangular in plan, with square feet, and is oriented east-west.

The building has masonry walls, a gambrel roof, two central entrances with porticoes, and subtle Greek Revival architectural elements (see Figures The facility has five bays across the long sides and two bays across the short sides. The interior layout of the building consists of four evenly divided court spaces, two on either side of a central hallway, a bathroom, and second story observation hallway. 2. Condition of fabric: The overall condition of the building is poor. Holes in the roof have allowed rainwater to enter for some time, causing the ceiling of the central hallway to fall in near the front entrance. The exterior doors are in ruinous condition, and the back door was not accessible. The exterior masonry walls are in fair condition. B. Description of Exterior 1.

Overall Dimensions: 95 -0 x 42 -0 for a total square feet. 2. Foundation: Masonry (brick) pier foundation with a system of 0 -2 x 0 -8 wood joists sitting 0 -8 above grade. 3. Walls: Masonry (brick) walls with unknown bond pattern and a painted stucco finish. 4. Structural system, framing: Wood frame structure with brick curtain walls, wood truss framed roof. 39 Ibid. FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 13 5. Porticos: Two, one each at the north and south entrances. Composed of square, Doric columns that are chamfered and stuccoed, and support a flat roof. The porticos cover three steps leading up into the building on each side. 6. Chimneys: None. 7. Openings a.

Doorways and doors: The building has two entrances, one each on the north and south sides, connected by the central hallway. While the locations and surrounds of the doorways are original, the doors are not. The north (rear) side currently has two metal doors separated by a wide metal post, with the left door providing access to the heating and cooling unit. The south side entrance has a set of double wood doors (replacement). The doorways are simple openings in the masonry walls with no trim or molding on the exterior. b. Windows: None. Original window openings have been infilled. 8. Roof a. Shape, covering: Side-gabled gambrel roof. The original cladding was composite shingles, and real property records show the current shingle roof is likely the third one installed on the building. b.

Cornice, eaves: Plank sheathing is visible in the soffits. The building has open soffits in the eaves and rake ends with wooden rafters and supports exposed. The outer ends of the rafters and supports are covered with simple wood fascia boards, and the building has no gutter system. The roof extends approximately 0 -18 beyond the building s walls. The building has no chimneys, but the roof is perforated by several vents. c. Dormers, cupolas, towers: None. C. Description of Interior 1. Floor plan: The building is rectangular in plan, with the main, first floor divided into four court spaces, two on either side of a central hallway. One door leads into each court from the hallway. A second floor exists just above the central hallway, serving as an observation area for all four courts.

A stairway leading to the second floor is on the north side of the central hallway, and a bathroom is located behind the stairway (Figure 2. Stairway: Single run, stairwell located in the northeast corner of the central hallway leads to the second floor observation hallway. 3. Flooring: Courts are largely the original tongue-and-groove hardwood. The floorboards run north-south in the central hallway on both levels, and they run east-west in the courts. The floorboards in the courts are narrower than those in the hallway, and they match the wood wall cladding the courts. Wooden subfloor boards laid diagonally are visible in a section of the ceiling collapse near the south entrance. The bathroom has tile flooring.

FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 14 4. Wall and ceiling finish: Painted dry wall in the central hallways and painted tongue- and-groove hardwood, masonry, and drywall in the court areas. The bathroom has both painted dry wall and tile. 5. Openings a. Doorways and doors: Single-leaf wood doors provide entrance into each court. Two of the original interior doors remain leading from the central hallway into the northern courts. These doors were designed to be short in order to minimize interruption of the smooth court walls. The doorways for the two southern courts were altered at some point in the building s history to accommodate full size doors. b.

Windows: Fixed, single-light windows are located along both sides of the observation hallway above each court. 6. Decorative features and trim: None. 7. Hardware: Replacement hardware on all interior doors. 8. Mechanical equipment a. Heating, air-conditioning, ventilations: It is unclear if the building had electricity when constructed, but it did have a 220 V service by the time the first Property Card on file was completed in Other mechanical and utility systems like plumbing, gas, and heating and ventilation were later additions. Service for all systems is largely housed in the attic and crawlspace. The heating and air-conditioning furnace is located in an exterior closet on the north facade. Vents are located along the raised foundation.

Replacement louvered, metal vents and a turbine vent are located in the gables. b. Lighting: All replacement fluorescent light fixtures. D. Site 1. Historic landscape design: Building 305 is located east of Building 358 and north of Building The site does not include any planned landscape. A paved parking lot is located along the front (south) fa ade (Figure A graveled drive leads to the east from the parking lot providing access to the housing area located just north of the building. The north side of the building is a grassy lawn (Figure The west side of the site is a chain link fence separating Building 358 from 2. Outbuildings: None. Part III. Sources of Information A.

Architectural drawings: Digital files of Building 305 s measured drawings are available in the Plans and Support Office, Master Planning, Directorate of Public Works, Building No. 6, Fort Benning, Georgia. See the table in Section I.A.6 for descriptions and numbers of existing drawings. FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 15 B. Early views: Research revealed three1929 construction photos (see Figures The complex can also be seen in aerial photos as shown in Figures All photos on file at the National Infantry Museum. C. Selected

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA-2435. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

1. Primary sources Fort Benning Master Planning General Plan Map, Fort Benning, Georgia. November 5, On file in Plans and Support, Master Planning Department, Directorate of Public Works, Building No. 6, Fort Benning, Georgia. Revised General Layout, Fort Benning, Georgia. April 5, Map showing proposed permanent buildings, railroad extensions, etc. On file in Plans and Support, Master Planning Department, Directorate of Public Works, Building No. 6, Fort Benning, Georgia. Restudy for New Construction, Fort Benning, Georgia. Dec. 13, Drawn by George B. Ford. On file in Plans and Support, Master Planning Department, Directorate of Public Works, Building No. 6, Fort Benning, Georgia. Office of the Constructing Quartermaster (OCQ).

Completion Reports, Books Completion reports available at the Cultural Resources Office, Environmental Management Division, Directorate of Public Works, Building No. 6, Fort Benning, Georgia. Plans and Support, Master Planning, Directorate of Public Works, Fort Benning, Georgia. Real Property Office, Fort Benning. Real Property File for Building No. various dates. On file at Master Planning Department, Directorate of Public Works, Building No. 6, Fort Benning, Georgia. 2. Secondary sources: Chattey, Paul, Horace Foxhall, Flossie McQueen, Cynthia Nielsen, Mary Shipe, Terri Taylor, and Jamie Tippet. Context Study of the United States Quartermaster General Standardized Plans Seattle, WA: U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, Technical Center of Expertise for Preservation of Structures and Buildings, Cultural Site Research and Management. Integrated Cultural Resource Management Plan-Draft. Baltimore, MD: Cultural Site Research and Management, FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 16 C.W.A. Work Expected to Begin In Few Days. Benning Herald (December Available at Donovan Technical Library, Fort Benning, Georgia. Ebenezer Howard. Cornell University Library. Accessed November Fine, Lenore and Jesse A. Remington. U.S. Army in World War II, the Technical Services. The Corps of Engineers: Construction in the United States. Washington, U.S. Army, Fisher, W.

Robinson, assisted by Christine Johnson. Historic Building Survey Fort Benning, Georgia. Athens, GA: Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc., Ford, George B. New Army Posts for Old. The Quartermaster Review Vol. IX, no. 1 (November December Available at Donovan Technical Library, Fort Benning, Georgia. City of Columbus, Georgia. Fort Benning, Georgia. Columbus, GA: City of Columbus, Available at Donovan Technical Library, Fort Benning, Georgia. Grashof, Bethany C. A Study of United States Army Family Housing Standardized Plans Volumes 1 and 5. Atlanta, GA: Center for Architectural Conservation, College of Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology, Griffin, Stacey L., Kelly Nolte, Jeanette Knowles, and Christine M. Longiaru.

Surveys and Treatment Plans for the Historic Properties Component Fort Benning Military Reservation, Georgia, Volumes Tuscaloosa, AL: Panamerican Consultants, Horton, William E., BG, The Work of the Construction Service, Quartermaster Corps. The Quartermaster Review Vol. VIII, no. 2 (September October, Available in the Donovan Technical Library, Fort Benning, Georgia. The Interesting Story of Construction at Benning. Industrial Index (30 November Available in the Donovan Technical Library, Fort Benning, Georgia. Kane, Sharyn and Richard Keeton. Fort Benning The Land & The People. Tallahassee, FL: Southeast Archeological Center, National Park Service, Krueckeberg, Donald A., ed. The American Planner: Biographies and Recollections.

Methuen, New York and London, FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 17 Many Improvements Expected Under Appropriated Fund. Benning Herald (6 October Available in the Donovan Technical Library, Fort Benning, Georgia. Nolte, Kelly. Main Post Historic District National Register of Historic Places Nomination. Tuscaloosa, AL: Panamerican Consultants, Inc., Nurse, The Planning of Army Posts. The Quartermaster Review Vol. VIII, no. 2, (September October Available in the Donovan Technical Library, Fort Benning, Georgia. Pope, Steve. An Army of Athletes: Playing Fields, Battlefields, and the American Military Sporting Experience, The Journal of Military History 59 (July Housing the Army.

The Quartermaster Review Vol. X, no. 5 (March-April Available at Donovan Technical Library, Fort Benning, Georgia. Recreational Facilities at Fort Benning Varied and Extensive. Industrial Index Vol. XLVI, no. 26 (5 December Available at Donovan Technical Library, Fort Benning, Georgia. Tilden, Richard, A., and Rosalind Roulston. A History of The Infantry School, Vols. I and II. Fort Benning, GA: Available in the Donovan Technical Library, Fort Benning, Georgia. United States Corps of Engineers, Seattle District (USACE). Context Study of the United States Quartermaster General Standardized Plans, Seattle, WA: USACE, Wheaton, Francis B. The Architecture of the Army Post. The Quartermaster Review Vol. VIII, no.

2 (September October Available in the Donovan Technical Library, Fort Benning, Georgia. Yarborough, Leroy W. in collaboration with Truman Smith. A History of The Infantry School Fort Benning Georgia. Fort Benning, GA: The Infantry School, Available in the Donovan Technical Library, Fort Benning, Georgia. FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 18 F. Supplemental Material: Figure 1. Location of Building Fort Benning Military Reservation, Maneuver Center of Excellence, Muscogee County, Georgia. 40 40 Prepared by Panamerican Consultants, Inc. November FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 19 Figure 2.

Location of Building Fort Benning Military Reservation installation map, Maneuver Center of Excellence, Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia. 41 41 Map courtesy of Environmental Management Division, Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning Military Reservation, Georgia. Graphic prepared by Panamerican Consultants, Inc., November FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 20 Figure 3. Building front (south) facade looking north. 42 Note infilled window openings. 42 Photo by Panamerican Consultants, Inc., August FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 21 Figure 4.

Building rear (north) and west facades looking southeast. 43 Note infilled window and vent openings on both facades. 43 Photo by Panamerican Consultants, Inc, August FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 22 Figure 5. Location of Building 305 within the installation s recreational facilities. 44 44 Map courtesy of Environmental Management Division, Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning Military Reservation, Georgia. Graphic prepared by Panamerican Consultants, Inc., November FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 23 Figure 6. survey photograph of collapsed interior ceiling.

45 45 Photo by Panamerican Consultants, Inc., August FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 24 Figure 7. construction photo of Building front (south) facade looking north. 46 Note original windows and Building 380 behind. 46 Photo on file at the National Infantry Museum, Columbus Georgia. FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 25 Figure 8. construction photo of Building east and north (rear) facades, looking southwest. 47 Note original windows and vents and Building 358 in right frame. 47 Photo on file at the National Infantry Museum, Columbus Georgia.

FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 26 Figure photo of Building 380 the Main Movie Theater (frame left, not extant), Building 357 (original gymnasium), and the corner of Building 305 (frame right) looking northeast from Ingersoll Street. 48 48 Photo on file at the National Infantry Museum, Columbus Georgia. FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 27 Figure 10. Gibbs Plan, Fort Benning, 49 49 Electronic map on file in the Plans and Support Office, Master Planning Division, Directorate of Public Works, Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning Military Reservation, Georgia.

FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 28 Figure 11. Well s Plan, Fort Benning, 50 50 Electronic map on file in the Plans and Support Office, Master Planning Division, Directorate of Public Works, Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning Military Reservation, Georgia. FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 29 Figure 12. Ford Plan, Fort Benning . 51 51 Electronic map on file in the Plans and Support Office, Master Planning Division, Directorate of Public Works, Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning Military Reservation, Georgia.

FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 30 Figure 13. aerial view of Gowdy Baseball Field Doughboy Stadium Building 357 (original gymnasium, Building 305 (handball courts, and Building 380 (movie theater, 52 52 Photo on file at the National Infantry Museum, Columbus Georgia. FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 31 Figure 14. February aerial view with recreational facilities indicated. 53 53 Photo on file at the National Infantry Museum, Columbus Georgia. FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 32 Figure 15.

Russ Pool and Bathhouse 54 Figure 16. Gymnastic style physical training 55 54 Photo on file at the National Infantry Museum, Columbus Georgia. 55 Ibid. FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 33 Figure 17. WAC softball player (date unknown). 56 Figure 18. Tank Battalion Football Team Champions 57 56 Photo on file at the National Infantry Museum, Columbus Georgia. 57 Photo on file at the National Infantry Museum, Columbus Georgia. FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 34 Figure 19. Receiving blessings for the hunt at Campbell King Horse Show Bowl 58 Figure 20.

Infantry Baseball Team 59 58 Photo on file at the National Infantry Museum, Columbus Georgia. 59 Ibid. FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 35 Figure 21. Post boxing team 60 60 Ibid. FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 36 Figure 22. Building 305 floor plan (Drawing FE20321, 61 61 Electronic map on file in the Plans and Support Office, Master Planning Division, Directorate of Public Works, Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning Military Reservation, Georgia. FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 37 Figure 23.

Proximity of Building 357 (original gymnasium on left) to Building 305 (original handball courts), looking north. 62 62 Photo by Panamerican Consultants, Inc., August FORT BENNING, MAIN POST HANDBALL COURTS, BUILDING 305 (Squash Courts, Racquetball Courts, Day Care Center) HABS No. GA-2435 Page 38 Figure 24. View of Building 305 s north (rear) yard, looking west. 63 63 Photo by Panamerican Consultants, Inc., August