Hawthorne Naval Ammunition Depot, Babbitt Housing Area, U.S. Highway 95, Hawthorne

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Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant, Hawthorne, Nevada. The planned community of Babbitt was located adjacent to Highway 95, southeast of the Hawthorne plant industrial area and northwest of Hawthorne, county seat of Mineral County. USGS Hawthorne West, Nevada Quadrangle Universal Transverse Mercator Coordinates: (Centered on building Bowling Center) Easting Northing

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS NEV,11-HAWT,3-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Built during the the Babbitt area was a comprehensively planned community constructed to house workers at the Hawthorne ammunition facility in support of the war effort. The Babbitt area was laid out adjacent to Highway 95 southeast of the ammunition plant's "Industrial Area" and northwest of Hawthorne, the seat of Mineral County. The Babbitt area housing consisted of wood-framed, prefabricated, gable- roofed duplexes clad in asbestos composition shingles. Built on concrete perimeter footing walls, the structures were erected as temporary housing. The real significance of the Babbitt Community comes from the fact that the community was a planned, segregated facility which, through the perseverance of the black residents, became an integrated facility during the and

Hawthorne Naval Ammunition Depot

Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 2) Part I. Physical Setting of the Babbitt Housing Area The Babbitt Housing Area, tucked between the far-western Nevada town of Hawthorne and the Industrial and Personnel Area of the sprawling Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant (HAAP), provided shelter and amenities for hundreds of defense employees and their families who came to work at the ammunition plant during World War II. Originally established as Naval Ammunition Depot (NAD) Hawthorne in the depot experienced tremendous expansion in both its mission and its facilities beginning in when the threat of world war prompted the United States to produce and stockpile armaments in earnest.

When its expansion was completed in the early years of World War II, NAD Hawthorne was the largest ammunition depot in the world (The Rocket, August extending over 317 square miles of Nevada desert valley. At the same time, NAD Hawthorne's mission was greatly enhanced from its pre-war charge of storing, servicing and issuing ammunition, to wartime duties that included cast-loading munitions and demilitarizing and renovating rockets, mines, and depth charges (Hawthorne NAD, 8). The enormous tasks of constructing and operating the enlarged facility during the national emergency required hundreds of new workers, most of whom were recruited from outside sparsely-populated Mineral County, Nevada and who therefore needed housing that was not available in the small hamlet of Hawthorne.

Recognizing the housing shortage, the Navy embarked upon a "Low-Cost Defense Housing" project consisting of 425 duplexes flanking a central community complex, named Babbitt Court after an early depot commander. Babbitt HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 3) quickly grew into a self-sustaining residential community with its own retail and grocery stores, personal services, recreation areas and public buildings. Among the thousands of defense workers who came to live in Babbitt during the war were dozens of black families, many of whom were recruited from the rural south to become Hawthorne's first permanent black settlers.

Although they initially endured segregation in housing and community facilities at Babbitt and in restaurants and other social establishments in nearby Hawthorne, many of the early black families persevered through protest and resistance until such strictures were removed and Babbitt was integrated.

Although the first Babbitt duplex units were classed as "semi-permanent" and "demountable" structures that could be moved to new locations as warranted, Babbitt remained in use following the war and throughout the Korean and Vietnam conflicts of the and In the post-Vietnam era, as the depot reverted to an ordnance maintenance and storage facility and as longtime residents moved away, the need for government housing diminished and the complex was declared "surplus." Today, many of the Babbitt houses have been moved to Hawthorne and elsewhere throughout Nevada and only a handful of the dwellings remain scattered amid the dead Cottonwood and Sycamore trees that once shaded its residential streets.

Of the once-bustling commercial center, only the bowling alley is still in use, while the abandoned stores, shops and offices of Babbitt Court fall into greater disrepair with each passing year. In a very real sense, Babbitt has become another Nevada ghost town not unlike the mining towns of an earlier era whose fortunes were tied to a strike that boomed and then played out. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 4) Part II. Historical Context - Babbitt Housing Area. Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant The history of the Babbitt Housing Area is closely linked with the development of the nearby community of Hawthorne, Nevada.

Hawthorne's history was characterized by erratic periods of growth and decline before the establishment of the naval ammunition depot two miles north of town in Originally part of Esmeralda County, Hawthorne was founded in by organizers of the Carson & Colorado Railroad who modeled the one-square mile town after Sacramento, California. Hawthorne was intended as a water stop and repair station for the railroads that serviced mining operations in the general vicinity. The railroad company began selling lots on April 14, but for the most part, town development remained tied to the C&C and most of the initial construction projects were railroad-related.

They included a depot, freight depot, repair shops and other service facilities for what was, at least temporarily, the "southern terminus" of the rail line. Thus, while Hawthorne served as a link between mining areas, it was distinguished from many other Nevada towns of the era whose existence depended solely on mining. When the mines played out in the Esmeralda County seat of Aurora, leaving it a virtual ghost town in Hawthorne became the new center of county government. As county seat, Hawthorne's population grew steadily from 337 in to 436 in The future of the town looked promising until the Southern Pacific Railroad acquired the C&C railroad in and set up a new station called Thome on the east side of Lake Walker, about seven miles northeast of Hawthorne.

At the same time, the Southern Pacific established the town of Mina as its terminal and ail the railroad shops and related facilities were moved to the new terminal. Hawthorne's population and importance declined as a result and in the county seat was transferred from HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area # HABS NO. (Page 5) Hawthorne to the wealthy mining camp of Goldfield.

Although a number of mining strikes were made around Hawthorne, the town continued to decline until the Lucky Boy silver mine strike of Hawthorne became the trading center for the Lucky Boy and as a consequence, its population increased slightly to In the Nevada legislature divided Esmeralda County into two counties and Hawthorne became the seat of newly-created Mineral County, formerly the northern half of Esmeralda County. Little resulted from the designation, however, and by Hawthorne's population had dropped to 244 residents, while Mina's population had increased to In addition to the population decline, a disastrous fire in wiped out most of Hawthorne's business district as well as several residences.

Hawthorne's prospects appeared bleak when another fire in a New Jersey ammunition depot offered the town a new opportunity for life. NAD Hawthorne Ironically, Hawthorne's tiny population and isolated location in the vast Nevada desert appealed to United States naval officials scouting a site for a new ammunition depot prompted by a disaster at the Navy's Lake Denmark, New Jersey facility, in The Lake Denmark ammunition depot was filled to the "absolute limit of safety" with ammunition remaining from World War I when, during an electrical storm, a fire broke out in one of the magazines. The fire triggered a series of explosions, which in turn ignited other fires that ripped through smokeless-powder magazines, shell houses, and service buildings in the week that followed (U.S.

Bureau of Yards and Docks, When the debris settled, more than 50 people were dead, nearly 200 more were injured, and all the buildings at the station were damaged or HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 6) completely destroyed (Hawthorne NAD, Koval The Lake Denmark explosion prompted intense investigations that led the government to exact new safety standards with an emphasis on the wide dispersal of storage sites. Existing ammunition storage facilities were revised according to the new guidelines, but new facilities were needed, as well. As some contemporary newspapers put it, the site for such a hazardous installation should be "hidden somewhere in the wastelands" (Reeser, 8).

In addition, the Navy was determined to establish an ammunition depot to service its west coast activities. Numerous locations in California and Nevada were suggested, but through the efforts of Nevada's U.S. Senator Tasker L. Oddie, tiny Hawthorne, surrounded by an almost unlimited expanse of Nevada desert, was selected in (Reeser, 8). NAD Hawthorne became the first naval ammunition depot designed in accordance with the new safety requirements (U.S.

Bureau of Yards and Docks, The official ground-breaking for United States Naval Ammunition Depot (NAD) Hawthorne, Nevada took place July 24, Although far from complete, the Navy commissioned the depot two years later in September with 72 military personnel and 90 civilian employees to receive the first load of ammunition (Hawthorne NAD, 5) (Figure 1).

Higher-ranking military personnel and a few civilian managers lived in a housing enclave in the industrial and administrative complex, known generally as the "Industrial Area." This initial housing area, which remains intact today, consists of six two-story brick houses for high- ranking naval officers (the Inspector of Ordnance and Charge, Executive Officer, Medical Officer, Supply Officer, USMC Captain (Commanding Officer) and Maintenance Officer) and 16 smaller, one-story brick houses for other depot personnel (Chief Gunner, Chief Pay Clerk, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 7) Figure 1. Raising the flag at NAD Hawthorne, September Courtesy of Otis Gray. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO.

(Page 8) Chief Clerk-Ordnance Officer, Chief Clerk-Supply Officer, three Ordnancemen, Leadingman- Ordnanceman, Foreman of Buildings & Grounds, Power Plant Foreman, Stockman, Electrician, Plumber, Machinist, and Engineman) (Koval 8). In the same area the Navy built a small brick schoolhouse, known as Cotter Grammar School after Lieutenant Commander Cotter, who was in charge of construction at the depot (Mineral County Independent News (MCIN), April 8, Enlisted marines lived in a barracks building (A4), also in the Industrial Area. The majority of the civilians who worked at the depot lived in the town of Hawthorne, only two miles to the south. Throughout the this housing arrangement was adequate for the needs of the depot and gave a boost to the local economy through rents and retail sales.

Hawthorne's population increased to and the town continued to grow slowly throughout the decade (MCIN April 8, 6). Expansion During World War II When the United States inaugurated its emergency program of national defense construction in anticipation of World War II, the Navy embarked upon an enormous expansion of its support establishment, including its ammunition depots. Facilities at the eight older coastal depots were expanded as much as possible, but new construction was limited by space at those more populated and developed sites. The isolated inland depot at Hawthorne had no such limitations and both its mission and its facilities were expanded tremendously.

In the decade preceding the war, NAD Hawthorne's 200 principal buildings included 84 high-explosive magazines, a mine-filling plant, and its administrative and housing components (U.S. Bureau of Yards and Docks, In response to the war demand, the depot expanded to contain HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 9) more than structures upon completion of its defense construction program (Koval, A special appropriation in funded the initial expansion at NAD Hawthorne, with the Los Angeles construction firm of William Neil Company, Limited Neil Co.) receiving the first contract for Early the following year, the Wm. Neil Co. obtained a second, more lucrative contract for to further expand Hawthorne's facilities.

As the war in Europe and the Far East intensified throughout the United States hurried to finance its defense-preparedness projects. By October the Wm. Neil Co. had amassed two additional contracts, one for and another for (MCIHN February 12, 1). The new construction program consisted primarily of additional magazines and industrial facilities to produce and store ammunition, but the scope of the war-driven expansion program far surpassed that of the original facility, requiring the work of hundreds of new contractors and laborers. At the same time that the new projects were being completed and put into production, hundreds of new depot workers arrived to operate them.

The town of Hawthorne, with only a handful of boarding houses, converted garages and a few small hotels, was not at all equipped to house and feed the influx of construction and depot workers who flocked to the plant. Two former Civilian Conservation Corps camps established in the for watershed protection, were refitted to house the single and unaccompanied men who formed the bulk of the construction crews. The Navy also built temporary barracks to augment "Camp Jumbo," as the old CCC camp was called, but these makeshift solutions were entirely inadequate to the task of providing housing for the thousands of defense workers and their families who moved HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 10) to Hawthorne for the duration of the war.

Such a work force required more substantial housing and the Navy requested authorization for the construction of a civilian housing complex at Hawthorne. In February when the Wm. Neil Co. finished its first two contracts and had begun work on the remaining projects, the Navy received funding to begin construction of 25 duplexes at Hawthorne, as part of a nationwide program to provide defense housing in areas of critical need. Navy Low-Cost Defense Housing Program Like other branches of the military, as well as civilian defense contractors during the war, the Navy was challenged to provide housing for the large numbers of civilian and military personnel who had to be moved to defense plants and military reservations.

Housing shortages were particularly acute near the already congested urban facilities along the coasts and in sparsely populated, isolated posts such as NAD Hawthorne. Low-cost housing units had to be constructed in the vicinity of mine and fuel depots, ordnance and powder plants, ship yards and supply bases to induce civilians to work at those facilities (U.S. Bureau of Yards and Docks, In response to the growing war emergency, the Navy, in conjunction with the United States Housing Authority, embarked on an overall program to provide low-cost, defense housing for its various installations.

Under Public Act approved June 28, the Housing Authority began a program to "construct public housing at or near military or naval posts for married enlisted men and for employees of the Navy and the War Departments who were assigned to duty at naval or military posts" (U.S. Bureau of Yards and Docks, Funding and technical assistance was provided by the Housing Authority, but construction was 4* HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area ^ HABS NO. (Page 11) carried out by the affected services. And, while the Housing Authority retained title to the completed projects, the Navy and War departments operated their own housing complexes with little or no intervention from any other agencies (U.S.

Bureau of Yards and Docks, The Navy housing projects were developed under four classifications, with initial construction at NAD Hawthorne funded under the "Navy low-cost defense housing program". This program was financed primarily with money allocated directly to the Navy Department. The Secretary of the Navy assigned the United States Bureau of Yards and Docks the responsibility for all Navy housing development and operations. The Bureau of Yards and Docks, in turn, delegated the management and operation of Navy housing to the commandant of the naval district or the commanding officer of the naval station at which the housing was located.

Each commandant or commanding officer then set up an organization for the management and operation of the housing compounds for which they were responsible. Under this system, Captain F.A.L. Vossler, who commanded NAD Hawthorne throughout the war, established and directed operations at the depot's low-cost housing complex. By January 1, with a total of allocated for defense housing, the Navy began construction of low-cost housing units approved under provisions of Public Act 781 (September 9, and the Lanham Act (October 14, (U.S.

Bureau of Yards and Docks, The major continental housing projects undertaken by the Navy during the war period included developments at Norfolk, Virginia; San Diego, California; Mare Island, California; Newport News, Virginia; Miami, Florida; Newport, Rhode Island; Washington, South Charleston, West Virginia; Alameda, California; Pascogoula, Mississippi; and Hawthorne, Nevada (U.S. Bureau of Yards and Docks, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 12) Defense Housing at NAD Hawthorne From the time of its commissioning in until the only family housing built to accommodate depot personnel consisted of the 22 brick officers' houses and the marine barracks building (Building A4) in the Industrial Area.

As the United States was drawn into the war and the depot's mission and facilities expanded, hundreds of recently recruited civilian defense workers competed for the limited housing available in Hawthorne. Neither the naval reservation nor the community could accommodate the onslaught of new workers and their families. To support its defense operations at NAD Hawthorne, the Navy was compelled to build between 15 and 20 additional barracks and other housing facilities to accommodate single men (Snow interview, December 8, and fully-equipped housing units suitable for families.

On January 29, the Mineral County Independent and Hawthorne News (MCIHN) announced the opening of bids at the Twelfth Naval District in San Francisco for the first phase of the Navy's low-cost defense housing for civilian workers at NAD Hawthorne. Standardized plans for the first 25 duplexes, drawn by the San Francisco architectural firm of Blanchard & Maher, had already been approved by the Navy Bureau of Yards and Docks (Bureau of Yards & Docks Drawing No. January All that remained was to obtain the services of a contractor to follow the plans. On February 5, the Navy awarded the contract to the Wm. Neil Co., the Los Angeles firm that had successfully completed contracts on the earlier expansion construction at the depot (MCIHN February 5, 1).

The basic lump-sum contract allowed for the construction of 50 low-cost housing units in the form of 25 duplexes (MCIHN February 19, U.S. Bureau of Yards and Docks, Within a week of the formal award, crews had cleared the area immediately south of the Industrial HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 13) Area, and by March 10, construction on the first units commenced (U.S. Bureau of Yards and Docks, Due to conditions of urgency as well as economy, the U.S. Bureau of Yards and Docks prepared the plans and specifications for all the low-cost defense housing units and disseminated them to the various contractors across the country. The Bureau conducted studies to determine a type of unit that could be adapted to a variety of climates and available materials.

Since construction projects could be undertaken immediately and most efficiently by using standard plans and standardized construction materials, the Bureau created a series of floor plans for single-family, two-family and multiple-family housing units. Architects drew plans for two- family units, like those at NAD Hawthorne, so that partitions could be changed to increase or decrease the number of bedrooms per unit, as circumstances changed. Plans also called for standardized equipment and accessories, and all contracts specified the inclusion of cooking ranges, refrigerators, kitchen cabinets, hot-water heaters, and forced-draft hot-air heating units with duct distribution systems (Figures and 5).

In addition, all of the Navy's low-cost defense housing project contracts required the complete construction of all roads, walks, sewer and water systems (U.S. Department of Yards and Docks, In this manner, the Navy created a number of small, self-contained residential communities attached to its shore support facilities throughout the nation. Housing construction at NAD Hawthorne conformed to the general plan set forth by the Bureau of Yards and Docks. Like the 700 units that followed, the first 25 dwellings adhered to a standard two-family floorplan. The Navy described the duplexes as "semi-permanent wood- frame low-cost defense housing units" (U.S.

Bureau of Yards and Docks, Each of the one-story, side-gabled duplexes formed a nearly perfect rectangle - twice as long as it was HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 14) Figure 2. Interiors: Kitchen of Typical Babbitt Housing. Courtesy of the Hawthorne Housing Office. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 15) Figure 3. Interior: Living room of Typical Babbitt Housing. Courtesy of the Hawthorne Housing Office. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 16) Figure 4. Interior: Bathroom of Typical Babbitt Housing. Courtesy of the Hawthorne Housing Office. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 17) Figure 5. Interior: Bedroom of Typical Babbitt Housing.

Courtesy of the Hawthorne Housing Office. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 18) wide x Identical on the exterior, the asbestos-clad duplexes offered two different plan types to accommodate various family sizes. Plan A contained two units, one side with a single bedroom and the other with three bedrooms, while Plan B contained two identical 2- bedroom units. Regardless of plan type, each unit contained a single bathroom and a basic kitchen with standard equipment, including a stove and refrigerator. The units within the duplex mirrored one another. Adjoining front doors faced the street and entered directly into adjoining living rooms that shared a common wall.

A second door opened through the kitchen to the outside from the gable ends of each unit (Bureau of Yards & Docks Drawing No. January The duplexes were plain, undifferentiated rectangles singularly lacking in any decorative detailing or architectural adornment. Through the years, however, they began to develop individual character. During the war and after, awards were given for "Yard of the Month" and residents relieved the monotony of the landscape with individualized gardens and yards. A tree- planting scheme initiated after the war was fairly uniform, but gardens, shrubs, fences and yard furniture reflected the tastes of their occupants. Eventually, the complex began to look much like any civilian tract housing addition.

The first duplexes lined both sides of and streets in the single block bounded by Essex and Lexington avenues, just beyond the southern end of the main industrial and administrative section of the depot. When completed, in the summer of the two rows of houses comprised less than 10% of the eventual complex. The first 50 units were ready for occupancy within three months. However, because the expansion program brought so many additional workers to the depot, the new houses were inadequate to meet the increased demands. At the same time, the Navy was actively recruiting HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 19) even more skilled workers - particularly machinists and ordnancemen - to operate the new facilities at NAD Hawthorne.

The Civil Service District in San Francisco, pressed to solicit hundreds of extra workers, offered wages ranging from to per day for jobs such as "Classified Laborer", and from to per day for "Senior Fireman," to entice men to relocate in Hawthorne (MCIN, February 5, In addition, increased funding was promised for further expansion of the depot's facilities to include more magazines and industrial process buildings. Local newspaper editor Jack McCloskey despaired of accounting for the various appropriations earmarked for the depot. He noted that had already been allotted for expansion at NAD Hawthorne for the current fiscal year and he anticipated an additional three million dollar appropriation in the coming fiscal year (MCIN, Feb.

12, The expansion program was phenomenal and the United States had not yet officially entered the war. By mid-summer Representative James G. Scrugham informed the local newspaper that yet another was requested in the Naval appropriations bill for NAD Hawthorne.

The new amount exceeded all previous expenditures and included the construction of a torpedo storehouse, 50 additional powder projectile magazines and accessories, 28 high explosive magazines, 4 pyrotechnic magazines, 8 fuse and detonator magazines, additional roads and maintenance, 36 inert explosive storehouses, and additional plant facilities, including lockers and lunch rooms, an addition to the boiler plant, and an extension of the Marine barracks (MCIN July 23, There were no provisions, however, for additional civilian housing in the appropriation. The expansion program and its corresponding population boom severely strained HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 20) Hawthorne and Mineral County resources.

Although hundreds of the new workers were single or unaccompanied men, others brought their wives and children to the Nevada desert valley. The local schools noted record enrollments for September and by January just after the United States' entry into World War II, overcrowded classrooms had reached "emergency" conditions and plans were made to construct an addition to the Hawthorne elementary school (MCIN, January 14, Medical and recreational services were taxed to the limit and housing was nonexistent. In addition to the civilian construction crews and depot workers, increasing numbers of naval and marine personnel were assigned to NAD Hawthorne as the United States prepared for war, and they, too, required housing and recreation. A U.S.O.

recreation hall built in Hawthorne during this period, provided some diversion for the men (MCIN, October 15, but such outlets were inadequate to serve the burgeoning population in Hawthorne and its vicinity. Heretofore uncommon social problems surfaced in Hawthorne, as well, and the local newspaper duly noted arrests for theft, assault, illegal gambling, public intoxication and other criminal activity usually associated with a highly transient population (MCIN, various The most persistent and overriding problem facing both Hawthorne and the ammunition depot, though, was simply the lack of adequate housing. Second Phase of Duplexes In January with the United States officially engaged in the war, critical shortages of manpower and materials forced the Navy to curtail its housing program.

Under Executive Order No. the Federal Public Housing Authority, part of the National Housing Agency, relieved the Navy of its responsibility to provide housing for civilian industrial workers, except HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 21) in places of extreme isolation and critical need, like Hawthorne, Nevada. In such cases, the Navy entered into a partnership with the housing authority whereby the Bureau of Yards and Docks developed construction projects with funds transferred from the National Housing Agency. Between February when the National Housing Agency was organized, and the end of the war in August the Navy built an additional housing units under this plan (U.S.

Bureau of Yards and Docks, Late in January the defense housing coordinator for the Twelfth Naval District, O. W. Campbell, visited NAD Hawthorne to determine the exact need for housing (MCIN, January 28, By the first of March Nevada senators Pat McCarran and Berkeley Bunker announced approval by the National Defense Housing Agency for the construction of 400 additional semi-permanent dwelling units. Each of the new duplexes was expected to cost the federal government financed through provisions of the Lanham Act to alleviate crowded conditions in critical defense areas (MCIN, March 4, Work was started under a cost- plus-fixed-fee contract to the Wm. Neil Co. on April 16, (U.S.

Bureau of Yards and Docks, By the time Campbell inspected the area in January Hawthorne easily met the criteria developed by the Navy and the housing authority for civilian housing. Its boarding houses and hotel rooms were filled beyond capacity and some enterprising citizens even rented the same bed to two or three people on rotating shifts according to their work schedules (Group interview, December 8, The housing shortage became even more acute in the spring of when a fire consumed much of downtown Hawthorne, destroying the 24-room Gallo Hotel, which housed nearly 50 Navy construction workers (MCIN, May 13, Facilities HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO.

(Page 22) at Camp Jumbo were enhanced during that period, but they could not keep abreast of the demand for beds. Following the fire, Mike Gallo rebuilt Gallo's Inn on the site of his former hotel but it was not nearly sufficient to meet the housing needs of the defense workers. Gallo appealed to Hawthorne's patriotic citizens with this advertisement in the MCIN: Do You Have a Room for Rent In a Private Home, Rooming House or Hotel By Day, Week or Month? If so, you are invited to notify Gallo's Inn any time you have a vacancy. Every day we are forced to turn away applicants for rooms, many times workers who are seeking to locate in Hawthorne and whose services are badly needed by contractors.

We will be glad to direct those seeking sleeping quarters to anyone in town who will keep us informed of vacancies. There will be no charge for the service. In doing so you will be rendering a community service an indirectly an aid to the war effort (August 19, Although construction at the new housing development progressed on schedule, Hawthorne endured a serious housing crisis throughout the summer of The Navy sought an immediate solution to the problem by constructing a trailer court with th& capacity for 300 dwelling units. Construction crews cleared the land at the far southwest corner of the new housing complex and installed water, sewerage, electricity, wash and shower rooms, toilets, laundry and garbage facilities.

According to contemporary newspaper accounts, tenants who rented space in the court paid between and per month and were expected to supply their own trailers (MCIN August 12, While the HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 23) trailer court was intended to bridge the housing gap until the additional duplexes could be completed, it remained at full occupancy throughout the war (Group interview, December 8, Babbitt Court From its inception, the housing project was called simply the "Low-Cost Defense Housing Project" (Depot Log, June 8, MCIN, various).

By April however, when the first 25 duplexes (Figure 6) were occupied and the second group of units were under construction, the housing development had taken on an identity of its own and was dubbed "Babbitt Court" or "Babbitt Housing Area," later merely "Babbitt", after Captain Babbitt, the second Inspector of Ordnance and Charge at NAD Hawthorne (Koval, The first six units in the second phase of Babbitt construction were completed and occupied on June (Depot Log, June 19, On that same date, construction began on yet another 300 demountable-type defense housing units (U.S.

Bureau of Yards and Docks, Demountable houses differed from the "semi-permanent" houses in their capacity to be quickly disassembled for service elsewhere, as demand warranted (McCarran papers, The demountable houses had floorplans and dimensions similar to the earlier duplexes but they were made of less durable, partially pre-fabricated materials and had a somewhat different exterior appearance. Construction continued throughout the summer and fall of to fill in more than 40 square blocks of housing between the original 25 duplexes, located at the northern end of the complex, and the trailer court, at its southern tip. Both projects were completed by December 13, (U.S.

Bureau of Yards and Docks, While the first 25 duplexes appeared to be merely an appendage of the industrial and HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 24) Figure 6. Typical Babbitt Duplex, ca. Photo courtesy of the Hawthorne Housing Office. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 25) administrative complex, the construction of 700 additional housing units transformed the desert valley into a residential community almost overnight. Streets were laid out in a grid pattern around a central community center, with the numbered streets, through running roughly northeast to southwest, intersected by the main thoroughfares of Essex and Lexington avenues and smaller arterials, running parallel to U.S.

95, the main highway that connects the depot with the town of Hawthorne. According to the guidelines established by the Bureau of Yards and Docks, the contractor was responsible for the installation of all roads, walkways, water and sewer lines and other streetscape and infrastructural features of the complex (U.S. Bureau of Yards and Docks, In the planned design for Babbitt, a central section of land for a community building divided the northern and southern residential sections neatly in half. In addition to more than new housing units (trailers and duplexes), a central block named Babbitt Court divided the residential complex into two equal halves. The block contained a retail shopping and service center designed to make the residential complex self-sufficient.

Among the fust buildings completed in the community center were a large grocery store, post office, pharmacy, theater, dispensary, library, U.S.O. club building and the region's first bank (MCIN, April 8, Once completed, Babbitt Court offered its residents greater amenities than those available in nearby Hawthorne. Transportation was provided by the depot, which obtained and operated 15 busses to ferry Civil Service and contractor employees between their work stations and the housing development (Depot Log, May 27, When fully occupied, Babbitt was a self-sufficient community, and was regarded as such for census and postal purposes, both during and after the war. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO.

(Page 26) Babbitt's internal organization followed guidelines established by the Bureau of Yards and Docks, whereby the commanding officer, Captain Vossler, was directly responsible for the construction and operation of the housing complex (U.S. Bureau of Yards and Docks, As commanding officer throughout the construction of the first 750 housing units, Vossler initiated most of the policies that governed the complex. When the first 25 duplexes were open for tenants, Captain Vossler assigned Sergeant A. B. Chambers to one of the units as "assistant manager in the supervision and maintenance of the housing project" (MCIN, In practice, Babbitt's management was a sort of joint military-civilian and public-private consortium.

Law enforcement was shared by a civilian Babbitt police force and depot Marines who regularly patrolled the area. Major crimes committed at Babbitt were prosecuted by the state in district court, while other crimes, such as property theft, came under the jurisdiction of the federal government (MCIN, The Babbitt Community Council, composed of residents and depot liaisons, was established to set rules, sponsor recreational and educational activities, and operate facilities such as the library.

In general, retail operations such as Hanson's Grocery Store and Johnson's Pharmacy were leased to private concessionaires who operated under regulations set up by the depot commander (Group interview, December 8, In exchange for low rental and utility rates, the retailers at Babbitt contributed funds to the community council for its various programs "to enhance the morale of the residents" (MCIN, The Work Force The effect of the depot expansion and its attendant population growth on Mineral County was tremendous. In September the county boasted one of the nation's largest population HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 27) gains since the census.

The census showed only residents in the entire county, but by mid-1942 the town of Hawthorne alone counted more than residents "according to conservative estimates" (MCIN, September 9, Indeed, it was difficult to obtain an accurate figure due to the constantly changing numbers of defense workers and military personnel during wartime. Despite Mineral County's population increase, the depot faced constant recruitment challenges. Construction and depot workers who were drafted into military service had to be replaced and, as the war progressed, the supply of able-bodied men available for defense industry work diminished. In November nearly a year after the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, defense plants began hiring women for occupations previously reserved for men.

In its first effort to attract women to the depot, NAD Hawthorne offered the position of "Female Trainee" to 50 women at a starting rate of per hour, with time-and-a-half for overtime beyond a forty hour week. Women were expected to learn the basics of "overhaul, handling, storage and shipment of various types of ordnance material and in various mechanical operations in connection with maintenance overhaul and repair of depot equipment". Upon completion of two months satisfactory training, women could be promoted to the intermediate level at per hour with a raise to per hour after four months.

Promotions and advancement to Ordnanceman, Journeyman or other more skilled occupations were also possible, but it was clearly stated that jobs for women were "War Service appointments," intended only for the duration of the war (MCIN, November 18, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 28) Black Residents at Babbitt The demand for defense workers remained critical for the duration of the war. Despite efforts to recruit local women as ordnance workers, the Mineral County Independent News reported that the jobs recently advertised for women remained open because there were not enough local workers to fill the vacancies (MCIN, December 16, Ultimately the openings attracted workers from outside the region.

By notices at post offices and other governmental agencies throughout the country, particularly in the South, attracted the first black workers to the defense plant at Hawthorne. Oral accounts indicate that many black workers in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas learned of jobs at Hawthorne through family members or friends who were already employed at the depot (Group interview, December 8, Regardless of the recruitment method, the promise of good-paying defense jobs brought black workers to NAD Hawthorne by the hundreds (Figure 7). They would become the first permanent black residents in the Hawthorne area (McCloskey interview, December 9, According to the census, blacks constituted a very small percentage of Nevada's total population.

Before the war, a few blacks were reputed to have passed through Hawthorne while engaged in railroad work, but none remained as residents. According to some residents, blacks were made unwelcome prior to their recruitment for defense work and consequently Hawthorne had no black citizens before the war (Gray interview, December 8, The arrival of Hawthorne's first black residents during World War II is undocumented, but they were undoubtedly at Babbitt by the close of when the second phase of duplexes was completed, because 110 of the housing units were reserved for blacks only. About the same time, the Mineral County Independent News, whose temporary editor indicated black newsmakers by race, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 29) ^^? Figure 7.

Integrated work forces, ca. Courtesy of Otis Gray. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 30) began documenting local events involving blacks.

One of the first references to blacks in the Hawthorne newspaper involved the murder of a black woman by a black man who was a resident of Camp Jumbo and, most likely, a construction or ammunition depot worker (Mineral County Independent-News, January 20, More frequently, however, violence was perpetrated against black residents by depot Marines who appeared to exercise their authority to maintain order more in response to race than to the nature of the infraction (Gray interview, December 8, Blacks perceived as trouble-makers or undesirables were commonly "floated out of town", (that is, they were deposited on the far side of Lake Walker and warned not to return).

The custom was so common that the term became a local euphemism and the newspaper regularly reported court cases in which judges "issued floaters" to troublesome characters (MCIN, various). It was the equivalent of being run out of town "on a rail," or at the very least, being told to leave town and not come back. Despite Hawthorne's early attempts to discourage black settlement in the area, the ammunition depot was desperate for defense workers regardless of race. Accommodations for black families were incorporated into the master plan for Babbitt by April when construction began on the second round of 400 duplexes and the layout of the housing complex took its permanent form.

The "Colored Section" encompassed the far southeastern limits of the residential area, with houses lining both sides of and streets and Lexington Avenue, and the west side of Essex Avenue (Gray and Group interviews, December 8, Molyneaux maps, There were no physical characteristics that distinguished black units from white ones, but the entire black section of the complex was separated from the larger white residential area by a block-wide swath of undeveloped desert, later planted in alfalfa and HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 31) gardens.

Since there was no similar gap in construction between residential segments in the northern half of the residential section - the analogous block was entirely developed with houses facing both sides of Street - it appears evident that the deviation in pattern was intended to create a buffer zone between the races in the southern half (Molyneaux, Black residents shopped unrestricted at the central grocery and pharmacy and they conducted business at the post office, but recreational and social activities were usually segregated. For instance, the Babbitt theater had a section designated for black patrons cordoned off by ropes. The community center pharmacy indicated its seating policy with a black hand pointing to one side of its lunch counter and a white hand pointing to the other.

The bowling alley reputedly was built with two separate wings, one for black bowlers and the other for whites (Group Interview, December 8, Although these aspects of segregation were generally perpetrated by private citizens operating concessions on the military reservation, such activities functioned under the auspices of the government and were therefore tacitly sanctioned. The inequality inherent in a segregated system exacted a toll on the black community.

For instance, black groups used the recreation buildings for special events but their activities were often "bumped" if a white group wanted to use the building on the same date (Group interview, December 8, After the war, when it was determined that Babbitt would remain in operation, the government resolved to provide more facilities for the black population. The solution - the conversion of a house in the black residential section for use as a recreation center - while it guaranteed blacks a consistent meeting space, further removed them from the Babbitt mainstream . The new recreation center formally opened on January 9, with a ceremony presided over by Reverend William Clayton. The Navy appointed a committee HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO.

(Page 32) comprised of members of the "Colored (Bethel Baptist) Church" to govern the center, but Captain Vossler's representatives emphasized that the center was intended "for the use of all the colored residents of Babbitt Court." They also explained that it was "built and furnished by the Navy for the pleasure, convenience and recreation of all the depot's Colored workers," including those living in Hawthorne and elsewhere (MCIN, January 9, In the late the Navy upgraded a small barbecue shack on Street, in the same block as the new community center, to a permanent structure.

The barbecue became a special gathering place for the black community, particularly for young people (Group Interview, December 8, While providing some better amenities to the black community, the Navy's actions further consolidated black social and beneficent activities within the designated black residential neighborhood and the practice of segregation at Babbitt became more deeply entrenched. Meanwhile, blacks in Hawthorne contended with other aspects of racial prejudice. Blacks in Hawthorne There is little documented evidence of the effect the influx of black workers exerted on the local population, but it is apparent that the town went through a period of adjustment that persisted long after the war was over.

Because Hawthorne had no black residents before the expansion program commenced at the depot, the town had no established social canons against them. For instance, Hawthorne's public institutions such as schools, hospitals, and funeral homes were not segregated. Hawthorne simply had no black citizens before so it did not have a tradition of institutional segregation. Further, there was never a serious attempt to impose segregation in the public domain (McCloskey interview, December 9, On the HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO.

(Page 33) other hand, many private businesses, particularly those of a social nature such as restaurants, theaters and taverns, refused black patronage (Group interview, December 8, In a town without an established black community, such prohibitions put blacks at a particular disadvantage. Ironically, although Hawthorne had a number of casinos during the war, it appeared that a disproportionate number of blacks were arrested for illegal gambling (MCIN, various). This may have been due to the prohibition against blacks in most legal gaming establishments. The Mineral County liquor board recognized and addressed the lack of recreational facilities for blacks when it voted to amend the liquor ordinance to provide for the issuance of licenses for "colored" saloons.

Jack Rosemont, who operated a tavern for blacks near Reno, testified before the board that a number of local black residents asked him to open a combined restaurant and saloon in Hawthorne because they were "denied service in practically all similar establishments in town" (MCIN, June 9, The board amended the ordinance but was careful to stipulate that no license would be issued without careful consideration of the application and without gauging the reaction of property owners in the proposed vicinity.

Although unstated, the tone of the report indicated that the board considered this a temporary situation created by the war in "providing recreation for colored people employed in war work locally" (MCIN, June 9, The implication was clear that blacks were not regarded as permanent residents, but were merely transient workers for the duration of the war. By the end of World War II, however, many of the black workers who came to NAD Hawthorne for defense jobs had begun to regard Mineral County as home. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 34) Post-World War II Period At the conclusion of World War II, NAD Hawthorne remained in operation, unlike the hundreds of wartime ordnance plants built solely in response to the emergency.

One of the major, immediate responsibilities of the depot was the destruction of thousands of tons of munitions, a job requiring a substantial workforce. Nevertheless, once the immediate crisis had passed, production was greatly reduced at the depot and scores of workers were laid off. Without jobs or roots in the community, many families returned to their pre-war homes or set out for new locations. Thus, although the Babbitt Housing area was not abandoned, many of its houses were left vacant with windows and doors boarded shut in the years immediately following World War II. The eruption of hostilities in Korea in launched NAD Hawthorne on a new production program requiring more workers who again turned to Babbitt for housing.

Recently vacated Babbitt duplexes were renovated for more modern use and by removing the center wall, many were converted to single-family houses with four bedrooms apiece (Molyneaux, At the same time, a new section of single-family dwellings known as Title 3 Housing was erected at the western edge of Babbitt to alleviate the renewed housing shortage (Figures 8 and 9). Babbitt's total building count surpassed its World War II levels, and the census recorded more residents in Babbitt than in the town of Hawthorne (MCIN, April 8, 6).

In elections from through Babbitt voters outnumbered those in Hawthorne (MCIN, Although the Korean conflict was of relatively short duration and some of the housing units were sold after its conclusion in the depot remained in production and Babbitt remained occupied. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 35) . * . ft* . ; 55fe^ Figure 8. Title III Housing. Very low cost housing during the Korean Conflict. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 36) ,. ^.. .^< - Figure 9. Title III Housing. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO.

(Page 37) While Babbitt's population declined after the Korean War, it remained a viable community throughout the (Figures 10, 11 and Many defense workers chose to remain in permanent positions at the plant and, although rents had increased from $25 a month to $45 a month in Babbitt housing was inexpensive by all standards (Snow interview, December 7, Babbitt offered other incentives, as well. The community buildings constructed during and immediately after the war offered Babbitt residents similar and, in some cases, better amenities than the town of Hawthorne.

For instance, the Security National Bank of Nevada established the area's first banking facility at Babbitt rather than in Hawthorne (MCIN, April 8, and the grocery store was the only major supermarket in Mineral County (Group interview, December 8, In addition, Babbitt had its own shopping center, complete with a post office, drug store, bowling alley, dress shop, shoe repair shop, beauty and barber shops, library, theater, hobby shops and meeting facilities. A community dispensary provided medical and dental services for Babbitt residents. After the war, a new elementary school was constructed at Babbitt and playing fields, tennis courts and baseball diamonds were added to the grounds.

In the black section of Babbitt, the barbecue restaurant was a popular gathering spot for young people and different interest groups held meetings in the special community center building. Several black congregations, including Greater St. Paul's Baptist Church and the Calvary Baptist Church, formed in Babbitt and for awhile, Bethel Baptist Church met in the community center (Group interview, December 8, In the words of one resident, Babbitt was "a beehive of activity" (Gray interview, December 8, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 38) Figure 10. Babbitt Community showing mature landscaping, ca. Courtesy of the Hawthorne Housing Office. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 39) Figure 11.

Babbitt Community Housing showing mature landscaping, ca. Courtesy of the Hawthorne Housing Office. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 40) Figure 12. Babbitt Community Housing showing playground facilities, ca. Courtesy of the Hawthorne Housing Office. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 41) and Beginning of Racial Integration Babbitt also endured its share of social and racial problems in the post-war period. In the many of the black residents whose family members served in the armed forces or worked in the defense plants during the recent wars began to protest against racial segregation at Babbitt and discrimination in the work place at NAD Hawthorne. During the war, blacks endured overt discrimination on the job.

At first, blacks were not allowed to work in the bomb production lines and later, when they were assigned assembly line jobs, blacks and whites were separated into work gangs by race (Gray interview, December 8, Certain areas of the depot were off-limits to blacks and separate toilet and shower facilities were the rule (Snow interview, December 7, Black women encountered even deeper prejudice.

When they first arrived at NAD Hawthorne, black women found employment only as domestic workers and many went on the government payroll as maids for depot officers (Group interview, December 8, When they were finally permitted to work in ordnance, many black women were assigned jobs on the "Candy Wagon" sweeping magazines, or performing other kinds of menial chores (Group interview, December 8, Although blacks received the same pay as whites for the same work level, whites appeared to be promoted earlier and faster than blacks (Gray interview, December 8, As a result, many blacks were bitterly disappointed that working conditions and racial attitudes at NAD Hawthorne were little better than what they experienced in their former homes (Group interview, December 8, (Figures 13, 14 , 15 and During the post-war period in which depot employment was substantially curtailed, blacks found they were the "last hired, first fired." Reductions in Force (RIFs) were disproportionately HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO.

(Page 42) Figure 13. Integrated work force, Photograph courtesy of Otis Gray. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 43) Figure 14. Integrated work force, Photograph courtesy of Otis Gray. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 44) Figure 15. Integrated work force, Photograph courtesy of Otis Gray. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 45) Figure 16. Integrated work force, Photograph courtesy of Otis Gray. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO.

(Page 46) levied against black workers and in one instance, nearly 100 black women were laid off while only two white women lost their jobs (Group interview, December 8, Furthermore, many of the white women who retained their jobs had less seniority than the black women who were let go (Group interview, December 8, Blacks also faced resistance to their promotion above the level of unskilled labor. Otis Gray took and passed the exam for a supervisory job three times before he was finally granted the position. In denying his first applications for promotion, management informed Gray that whites would not work for a black supervisor.

Gray disproved the theory when he became the first black ordnance foreman in (Gray and Group interviews, December 8, Discrimination persisted in Babbitt throughout the as well. Although the military, was officially integrated by Executive Order under President Truman, in practice, change at Babbitt occurred only after lengthy negotiations. In the late a committee of black Babbitt residents petitioned the depot housing director, Cary Loflin to end segregation within the residential complex.

Loflin opposed the idea because he believed the system placed people where they would be most happy, but the committee persevered (Gray interview, December 8, About Irene Parker became the first black tenant in what was formerly the "whites only" section of Babbitt (Group interview, December 8, In the early the "Colored Section" of Babbitt was declared "excess", and the housing office began reassigning black residents to houses within the former white section.

Some of Babbitt's former residents agree that the action may have been part of a deliberate plan to ease the integration of the housing complex (Snow and Gray interviews, December 7 and 8, Between and all of the houses and the community center in the black section were demolished and the barbecue HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 47) was moved from the military reservation (Molyneaux map "Color Town", Group interview, December 8, The town of Hawthorne experienced dramatic changes in race relations during the and early too. To attract tourist dollars, local businessmen developed the El Capitan, a major casino that included a restaurant and hotel.

Barred from patronizing the establishment, local blacks vigorously protested the policy and called upon the NAACP for legal assistance in their battle. Major sit-ins, protests, and demonstrations ensued and Hawthorne gained statewide notoriety over the situation (Wanniski, 4). By the time the owners of the El Capitan reversed their policy, Hawthorne had one of the largest chapters of the NAACP in the state, with nearly 80% membership among the area's black citizens (Gray interview, December 8, Although the El Capitan's discrimination policy was deplorable, it galvanized Hawthorne's black citizens to active resistance, and by doing so, they forged a strong sense of identification as a community in their adopted home.

to the Present The United States' deepening involvement in Vietnam during the necessitated continued use of the Babbitt Housing area throughout the and early After the war, however, the diminished demand for ammunition led to "Reductions in Force" at the depot, and the decision was made to close Babbitt. By that time, too, although rent was still cheap - about $90 per month - many longtime Babbitt families had decided to buy their own homes in Hawthorne or elsewhere. Vacant duplexes were boarded shut as more and more people abandoned the complex (Figure The government sold many of the units with the condition HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 48) Figure 17. Vacant and deteriorating duplex. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO.

(Page 49) that they be moved off the reservation and a number of Hawthorne's current residents live in the renovated former defense houses. Under a consolidation program, NAD Hawthorne was transferred from the Navy to the Army in and then to a private contractor in Throughout the transition period, more and more of the Babbitt houses disappeared until the last occupants, members of a group home for disabled persons, vacated the complex in (MCIN, In although most of the central community buildings of the world war period are extant, they have fallen into disrepair. The only one that remains open is the bowling alley. During the height of its occupancy, though, Babbitt was a bustling community whose population and amenities, for a time, surpassed all other Mineral County communities.

A product of its time, Babbitt also reflected the standards and conventions of a segregated military with its separation of black and white residential areas within the complex. While the military was integrated under President Truman, segregation persisted at Babbitt until residents successfully challenged the system in the late and early The same resolve united area blacks to resist discrimination in the town of Hawthorne and ultimately, many blacks who came to live at Babbitt during the war, moved into the town of Hawthorne where they obtained work and raised families along with white former defense workers. Today, although Babbitt is no longer occupied, its legacy survives in the town of Hawthorne through its former residents, both white and black.

HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 50) Part III. Architectural Data Part A. General Statement Historic American Buildings Survey documentation was initiated on November 15, by a site visit by the Project Historical Architect, Joe C. Freeman, AIA. The work was accomplished according to project requirements and included building assessments and photographic documentation. While individual buildings were examined to determine their character, significance, and condition, the complex of buildings was examined for its configuration and relationship to the larger Babbitt housing area. Built during the the Babbitt area was a comprehensively planned community constructed to house workers at the Hawthorne ammunition facility in support of the war effort.

The Babbitt area was laid out adjacent to Highway 95 southeast of the ammunition plant's "Industrial Area" and northwest of Hawthorne, the seat of Mineral County. The Babbitt area housing consisted of wood-framed, prefabricated, gable-roofed duplexes clad in asbestos composition shingles. Built on concrete perimeter footing walls, the structures were erected as temporary housing. Although designated as temporary, the duplexes were well-built, and in an area of scarce wood for construction, salvaged duplexes from the Babbitt area have been moved into Hawthorne and remain in use. | HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area '^ HABS NO. (Page 51) As a planned community, Babbitt was laid out in a rectangular fashion parallel to Highway 95.

The public facilities of the housing area were located on four blocks in the center of the complex. Nearest the highway, was an open block with flagpoles and a low rock fountain. Facing the open block was the principal facade of the public portion of the complex which consisted of a grocery store flanked by a post office and a union hall. Behind the post office was a bank and a craft shop was behind the union hall. The next block contained a bowling alley while the next contained a recreation facility, a craft shop, a workshop, and a library. Streets were paved, had curbs and gutters, underground sewer, water, and natural gas utilities. Electrical lines were overhead.

The streets were lined with Cottonwood trees, lawns were planted with grass, and an irrigation system had been installed to keep the area green. In its prime period of use, the Babbitt housing area stood in sharp contrast to the high desert geographical context around Lake Walker. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 52) INDEX TO BUILDINGS BUILDING NO. BUILDING NAME/

Function Year Built

Bank Post Office/Barber Shop Grocery Store/Meat Market Drug Store/Union Hall Thrift Shop Bowling Center Library Entertainment Shop Recreation Hall Entertainment Shop HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 53) PART B.

Architectural Information

Building No. (Bank) A. General Statement 1. Building No. is a one-story concrete structure of small scale and stature having little architectural character or integrity. Built in from drawings submitted November 10, the bank building was designed by the San Francisco architectural firm of Blanchard & Maher for the Bureau of Yards and Docks, Twelfth Naval District, for the Hawthorne Naval Ammunition Depot. The building is indicated on Y & D drawing no. 2. The condition of the architectural fabric is fair. While the structure is structurally sound, lack of maintenance, alterations, and vandalism have brought about loss of original historic fabric and damage. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 54) B. Description of Exterior: 1.

Overall Dimensions: x with a x porch across the building's front. 2. Foundation: Integral concrete slab and footings with the slab being 6" thick and the footings deep and wide. 3. Walls: 8" thick cast-in-place concrete exterior walls and 2x4 wood stud interior walls. 4. Structural System: Concrete foundation, load-bearing concrete perimeter walls, and wood-framed roof. 5. Porches: Shed roofed front porch supported by paired 3x6 wood columns spaced at lO'-O" o.c. 6. Chimneys: Venting flue through roof. 7. Openings: Original wood single-light x pair of doors with wood handles and bars replaced by clear finished aluminum storefront entrance doors. Original wood divided and single-light window sash remain intact. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 55) 8.

Roof: in 12 pitch gable roof clad in asbestos composition shingles and with wood fascia, trim, and soffit. The porch roof is flat. Both the porch roof and the main roof are decked with diagonal shiplap. C. Description of Interior: 1. Floor Plan: The floor plan includes a lobby, behind-counter work area, vault, safe-deposit room, private viewing room, offices, and rest rooms. 2. Stairways: None. 3. Flooring: Original flooring was asphaltic tile, however, original flooring has been covered with carpet. 4. Walls and Ceiling Finishes: Walls were generally of painted cement plaster and gypsum board. Ceilings were of 12" square acoustical tile and gypsum board. Original wall finishes have been covered with paneling and a suspended acoustical panel ceiling has been installed in the public spaces.

5. Openings: Original interior doors were wood panel doors, some of which were louvered. No interior windows were found. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABSNO. (Page 56) 6. Decorative Features and Trim: The interior is simply detailed with no decorative trim. However, an ornate safe door unit manufactured by the Dibold Company remains. Built-in cabinets and counters remain, although in an altered form. 7. Hardware: Standard mortise locks. 8. Mechanical Systems: The building was not air-conditioned although it was heated with natural gas. Lighting includes surface mounted incandescent and fluorescent fixtures. Plumbing fixtures include porcelain toilets and lavatories. 9. Original Furnishings: No original furnishings remain. D. Site: 1.

General Setting and Orientation: The bank building faces a side street adjacent to the other public buildings of the complex. Its porch aligns with the porches of adjacent buildings. 2. Historic Landscape Design: Not applicable. 3. Outbuildings: None. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 57) Building No. (Post Office/Barber Shop) A. General Statement: 1. Building No. is a one-story wood framed structure designed for use as a post office and barber shop. Built in from drawings submitted August 12, the structure is in fair condition with active exterior surface deterioration. The structure was designed by the San Francisco architectural firm or Blanchard & Maher for the Bureau of Yards & Docks, Twelfth Naval District, for the Hawthorne Naval Ammunition Depot.

The building is indicated on Y & D drawings nos. and 2. The building is fair condition with active exterior deterioration. The structure is vacant and boarded-up. B. Description of Exterior: 1. Overall Dimensions: x with a x "L" and a 0" covered porch on 2 sides. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 58) 2. Foundation; Integral concrete slab and footings. 3. Walls: Wood studs with diagonal sheathing clad in asbestos shingles. 4. Structural System: Concrete foundation, wood frame walls, and wood rafter and joist roof. 5. Porches: Flat-roofed wood-framed porch with doubled wood columns mounted on steel channels. 6. Chimneys: None. 7. Openings: Original wood sash, fixed glass, and louvered window openings. Wood panel doors with glazed lights. 8.

Roof: Offset gable roof with in 12 pitch, clad in roll roofing. The deck is wood. C. Description of Interior: 1. Floor Plan: The original post office space has been altered by the removal of postal service equipment. The post office space included rest rooms and offices. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 59) The barber shop and an addition used as a beauty shop occupy the northwest end of the structure. 2. Stairways: None. 3. Flooring: 8x8 asbestos tile on concrete slab. 4. Walls and Ceiling Finishes: Walls are covered with painted gypsum wallboard and "Beaver board." Ceilings are finished in 12" square acoustical tiles and masonite panels. A number of layers of ceiling materials have been added over the years. 5.

Openings: Interior wood panel doors, painted. 6. Decorative Features and Trim: Alternating colored tiles on the floor. 7. Hardware: Standard mortise locks. 8. Mechanical Systems: The building was not air-conditioned although it was heated with natural gas. The electrical system utilized both normal wiring and surface- mounted conduit. Lighting fixtures included surface-mounted incandescent and fluorescent units. Plumbing fixtures were standard porcelain and cast iron units. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 60) 9. Original Furnishings: None. D. Site 1. General Setting and Orientation: The building occupies the northwest corner of a complex of public buildings and faces onto a large public open space.

The porch which faces to the front of the building, is linked to other adjacent porches by similar design. Services were provided at the rear of the building. 2. Historic Landscape Design: None. 3. Outbuildings: None. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 61) Building No. (Grocery Store/Meat Market) A. General Statement 1. Building No. is a one-story wood framed structure designed for use as a grocery store and meat market. Built in from drawings developed by the San Francisco architectural firm of Blanchard & Maher for the Bureau of Yards & Docks, Twelfth Naval District, the building is indicated on Y & D drawings nos.

and The building is rectangular in shape and is the central structure in the three-building principal facade of the "commercial center" of the Babbitt Area. The roof of the Grocery Store and Meat Market is a broken gable with a central portion raised above flanking shed roofs. Clearstory windows extend along the sides of the raised, gable-ended part of the roof. The building is in fair condition with active exterior deterioration. The structure is vacant and has been boarded-up. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 62) B. Description of Exterior: 1. Overall Dimensions: x with a lO'-O" deep porch across the building's front. 2. Foundation: Splayed perimeter footings, bell-shaped piers, and infill concrete slab.

The perimeter footings have a total depth of with 6" above the 6' thick slab and below the slab. The piers have a 6" high stem which extends above the slab. 3. Walls: Exterior walls are constructed of 2x4 wood studs set atop the perimeter footings. A 2x4 base plate is anchored to the footing and a double top wall plate sits atop the studs. The walls are sheathed with diagonal shiplap siding and are clad on the exterior in asbestos composition shingles. 4. Structural System: Reinforced concrete footings, piers, and infill concrete slab; wood frame exterior walls, a double row of 6x6 wood columns set on the piers and anchored with metal straps; and 2x6 built-up box trusses supported at the column rows and exterior walls.

Plywood plates fasten and reinforce connections between the columns and wood beams which support the roof trusses. The flanking shed roofs, which are located outside of the column lines, are supported by 3x6 rafters at on centers. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 63) 5. Porches: A lO'-O" deep porch extends across the front of the building. The porch is flat-roofed and utilizes doubled wooden columns. 6. Chimneys: A brick incinerator and chimney is located near the rear of the structure. The incinerator has cast iron doors and draft fittings marked: "Kernerator, Pat # Kerner Incinerator Co., Milwaukee JA and Aug. - Pat. May 18, Kerner San Francisco". 7.

Openings: All doors are wood panel doors with the exception of a single overhead door which is not a part of the original construction. Windows are one- over-one wood sash and fixed glass at the front of the building and 4-light, square hopper windows along the sides of the building. Small hopper windows are located at the clearstory and wood louvers are located at the gable ends of the building. 8. Roof: The original drawings indicate a roof material designated as "composition roof." This may have indicated either a mineral surfaced roll roofing or a built- up roof. The present roofing material is built-up. The roof is of a broken gable configuration with a in 12 pitch. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 64) C. Description of Interior: 1.

Floor Plan: The building is divided across its length with three cross walls. Along its length the building has a wall that runs along one of interior column lines. To the rear of the structure is a mezzanine office located within the clearstory. Along one side of the building, and extending along about 1/2 its length, is a partial basement. 2. Stairways: Simple wood stairs lead up to the mezzanine at the rear of the building and cast-in-place concrete stairs lead down to the basement level. 3. Flooring: Exposed concrete and 8x8 asbestos composition tile. 4. Walls and Ceiling Finishes: The walls are finished in painted plywood and gypsum wallboards and the ceiling is finished in painted plywood. 5. Openings: Interior doors are simple wood panel doors. 6.

Decorative Features and Trim: Interior trim is of common lumber in stock shapes. Of interest are the structural connections, the Teak wood cold storage cabinets and the free-standing meat locker, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 65) 7. Hardware: Standard mortise door hardware. 8. Mechanical Systems: No heating equipment remains although remnants of gas piping and fittings indicate that natural gas may have been used. The building's electrical system consists of surface mounted conduit and standard wiring. Lighting fixtures included surface mounted incandescent and suspended fluorescent units. Plumbing fixtures were cast iron and porcelain. 9. Original Furnishings: No original furnishings remain. D. Site: 1.

General Setting and Orientation: The Grocery Store and Meat Market is the central building in a three-building arrangement fronting on a large public open space. The porch of the building is linked to the other buildings by design. 2. Historic Landscape Design: Not applicable. 3. Outbuildings: None. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 66) Building No. (Drugstore/Union Hall) A. General Statement: 1. Building No. is a one-story wood framed structure designed for use as a drugstore and future unassigned space. Built from drawings dated August 2, January 27, and March 9, the building is vacant and in poor condition with active exterior deterioration.

The structure was designed by the San Francisco architectural firm of Blanchard & Maher for the Bureau of Yards & Docks, Twelfth Naval District, for the Hawthorne Naval Ammunition Depot. The building is indicated on Y&D drawings nos. 217706A, and In design and configuration the building mirrors building no. Building Nos. and symmetrically flank Building No. Building No. has a low-pitched offset gable roof. 2. The condition of the architectural fabric is poor although the building is structurally sound. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 67) B. Description of Exterior: 1. Overall Dimensions; x with a x A lO'-O" deep porch extends along the building's front and around the corner. 2. Foundation: Splayed perimeter footings and infill concrete slab.

The perimeter footings have a total depth of with 6' above the 6" thick slab and below the slab. 3. Walls: Exterior walls are constructed of 2x4 wood studs set atop the perimeter footings. A 2x4 base plate is anchored to the footing and a double top wall plate sits atop the studs. The walls are sheathed with diagonal shiplap siding and are clad on the exterior in asbestos composition shingles. 4. Structural System: Reinforced concrete footings and slab, wood frame exterior walls, and 2x wood joists and rafters. 5. Porches: A deep porch extends across the front of the building and around the corner. The porch is flat roofed and is supported by doubled wood columns anchored with steel channels. The porches match the detailing of those on Building Nos. andC194.

HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 68) 6. Chimneys: None. 7. Openings: All doors are wood panel doors, some with glazed upper panels. Windows are one-over-one wood sash and strips of single-pane awning windows. 8. Roof: The offset gable roof is pitched at in 12 and is covered with mineral- surfaced composition roll roofing. C. Description of Interior: 1. Floor Plans: The floor plan is laid out to include a typical drugstore arrangement and unassigned future office space. The drug store includes a soda fountain, retail casework and shelving, a pharmacist's work space, rest rooms and a store room. 2. Stairways: None. 3. Flooring: 8x8 asbestos composition tile. 4.

Walls and Ceiling Finishes: Walls are finished in painted gypsum board, beaver board, and plywood. The ceiling is finished in painted fiberboard panels. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 69) 5. Openings: Interior doors are wood panel doors. 6. Decorative Features and Trim: Various stock moldings and closure trim and built-in casework. 7. Hardware: Standard mortise door hardware. 8. Mechanical Systems: The building was originally heated with natural gas although no equipment remains. The building's electrical system consists or normal wiring and exposed conduits. Lighting fixtures include both surface mounted incandescent and fluorescent fixtures and suspended fluorescent fixtures. 9. Original Furnishings: Original built-in casework remains intact.

Nonfixed display cases remain inside the drug store, although in a scattered fashion. D. Site: 1. General Setting and Orientation: The building occupies the southwest corner of a complex of public buildings and faces onto a large open space. The porch which faces to the front of the building is linked to other adjacent porches by similar design. Services are provided at the rear of the building. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 70) 2. Historic Landscape Design; None. 3. Outbuildings: None. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 71) Building No. (Thrift Shop) A. General Statement: 1. Building No built in is a one-story wood framed structure with a simple gabled roof and utilitarian detailing.

Originally designated as a Shoe Repair Shop, the structure is represented by a single small drawing numbered 40- 627 and dated No designers or military agencies are credited on the drawing. A small addition was made to the structure in March 2. The building is in poor condition and is vacant. B. Description of Exterior: 1. Overall Dimensions: The original building was lO'-O" x and the addition was 2. Foundation: Concrete footing. 3. Walls: Wood Frame clad in both wood drop-siding and asbestos shingles. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 72) 4. Structural System: Concrete footings, wood frame walls and roof. 5. Porches: None. 6. Chimneys: None. 7. Openings: Original wood divided-light window sash, louvered gable vents, and flush wood doors. 8.

Roof: 1 in 3 (4 in 12) sloped gable roof covered in mineral surfaced roll roofing. Description of Interior: 1. Floor Plan: "T"-shaped plan forming three wings, each opening into the adjacent space. A bathroom is located at the end of the south wing. 2. Stairways: None. 3. Flooring: Not known. 4. Walls and Ceiling Finishes: Not known. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 73) 5. Openings: A single wood panel door. 6. Decorative Features and Trim: Not known. 7. Hardware: Standard mortise locks. 8. Mechanical Systems: Not known. Site: 1. General Setting and Orientation: The building is located to the rear of the three- building main group of public buildings. 2. Historic Landscape Design: None. 3. Outbuildings: None.

HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 74) Building No. (Bowling Center) A. General Statement: 1. Building No. is a one-story wood framed structure designed as a bowling center. Built in from drawings dated April 7, the Bowling Alley was designed by the San Francisco architectural firm of Blanchard & Maher for the Bureau of Yards & Docks, Twelfth Naval District, for the Hawthorne Naval Ammunition Depot. The building is indicated on Y & D drawings nos. and The building was designed as a racially segregated facility. 2. The building is in fair-to-good condition and is still in active use. The exterior of the building is experiencing moderate deterioration through limited maintenance. B. Description of Exterior: 1.

Overall Dimensions: Two x wings connected by a x 0" linking structure. The structure is in a "U" shape. 2. Foundation: Reinforced concrete slab on grade and fill with perimeter footing beams and interior beams. The slab is 5" thick. Bell-shaped concrete piers are HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 75) centered along the length of the two wings and support rows of columns. 3. Walls: 2x wood studs sheathed on the exterior with diagonal lx shiplap siding. 4. Structural System: Concrete foundation including slab on grade, footings, beams, and piers; wood frame exterior walls; 6x6 wood columns; built-up girders and various 2x joists and rafters. 5. Porches: Two raised concrete-floored inset porches with metal handrails. 6.

Chimneys: Metal roof-mounted mechanical vents. 7. Openings: Windows include fixed glass, two-over-two double hung wood sash, and wood hopper windows. 8. Roof: Low sloped composition roofing on a wooden deck. Description of Interior: 1. Floor Plan: The building is "U"-shaped with each arm a six-lane bowling alley. A connecting corridor joins the two arms and houses rest rooms, concessions, and staged seating, and mechanical equipment. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 76) 2. Stairways: None. 3. Flooring: Maple strip bowling surface, concrete covered with contemporary tile and carpeting. 4. Walls and Ceiling Finishes: The walls are finished with painted gypsum board and a hardboard wainscot.

The ceiling is covered with acoustical tile mounted on gypsum board. 5. Openings: Interior doors are 2-panel wood doors. 6. Decorative Features and Trim: Normal stock lx wood trim. A bar has been added and the interior is decorated with the usual lighted bar signs, bowling promotional signs and posters. 7. Hardware: Standard mortise locks and door hardware. 8. Mechanical Systems: The gas heating system equipment was mounted in a partial upper level of the building. Ceiling fans have been mounted throughout the interior. Electricity is supplied through standard wiring and through surface mounted conduit. Lighting is surface- mounted incandescent and fluorescent fixtures. Plumbing fixtures are porcelain and cast iron units. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO.

(Page 77) 9. Original Furnishings: No original furnishings remain. Original benches, configured to view the bowling activities, have recently been replaced. D. Site: 1. General Setting and Orientation: The building is oriented to a cross street directly behind the primary grouping of buildings of Babbitt's commercial center. The front of the bowling alley faces toward the rear of building The area formed by the building's "U"-shape has been fenced in and is used as a service area. 2. Historic Landscape Design: Not applicable. 3. Outbuildings: None. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 78) Building No. (Library) A. General Statement: 1. Building No. is a one-story wood-framed gable-roofed structure built in a utilitarian Bungalow style.

Completed in June from Bureau of Yard & Docks drawings dated August and numbered and 272512-A, the building was originally dedicated as a Community Building for U.S.O. activities. In October a kitchen was added in the same style as the original structure. The building's last use was as a library. Notes on original drawings suggest that the original building was converted from a previously fabricated standardized structure. 2. The building is in fair condition. While the building is structurally sound, active deterioration is evident on the exterior. B. Description of Exterior: 1. Overall Dimensions: x 3O'-0" with a x addition. 2. Foundation: Concrete perimeter footing wall and piers. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 79) 3.

Walls: Exterior walls are wood studs clad in wood sheathing. 4. Structural System: Concrete footings and piers, wood framed walls, and wood truss roof. 5. Porches: Raised concrete porches are located at each of the 3 gable ends of the building. The porches have simple shed roofs supported by 6 well-detailed columns and a pair of pilasters attached to the wall. 6. Chimneys: None. 7. Openings: Original 2-panel wood doors have been replaced with contemporary flush wood doors. Windows are one-over-one double hung wood sash. 8. Roof: Asbestos shingles. C. Description of Interior: 1. Floor Plan: The building consists of a large open room with a corner partitioned off to accommodate a pair of rest rooms.

The kitchen addition was added along the side of the building with a single door opening into the large room. The kitchen was a single room with cabinets and counters along 2 walls. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 80) 2. Stairways: None. 3. Flooring: 8x8 asbestos tile throughout. 4. Walls and Ceiling Finishes: The walls are finished with gypsum board and painted plywood. The ceiling is finished with Beaver Board panels with wood battens covering the joints. 5. Openings: Interior doors are 2-panel wood doors. 6. Decorative Features and Trim: All interior trim is 1x4 painted wood trim. 7. Hardware: Standard mortise locks and door hardware. 8. Mechanical Systems: The building was heated with gas space heaters.

Standard concealed wiring distributed electrical service to surface-mounted incandescent light fixtures. Plumbing fixtures were porcelain and cast iron. 9. Original Furnishing: No original furnishings remain with the exception of the kitchen cabinets. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 81) D. Site: 1. General Setting and Orientation: Building is of a more residential character than the other institutional buildings located nearby. It is set back further from the street and was oriented more to the adjacent housing area. 2. Historic Landscape Design: Some ornamental planting was done adjacent to the building, however lack of maintenance and water has caused them to die. No leaves were available for identification. 3. Outbuildings: None.

HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 82) Building No, (Entertainment Shop) A. General Statement: 1. Building No. is a one-story wood-framed structure built for use as an entertainment shop. Constructed from drawings dated the drawing is numbered 40-831-Revised. Originally designed as a hobby center, the building is utilitarian in character with a shallow gable roof. 2. The building is in fair condition and has been little altered. However, general deterioration is active at the exterior skin of the building. B. Description of Exterior: 1. Overall Dimensions: x 2. Foundation: Perimeter exterior wall footings extend approximately above the finish floor and adjacent grade outside the building. A 6" thick concrete slab has been poured inside the footing wall.

HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 83) 3. Walls: The lower part of the exterior walls are made up of the concrete footings. A 4x4 plate sits atop the footing wall and supports short studs which in-turn support a 4x4 top wall plate. The exterior walls are sheathed with shiplap siding. 4. Structural System: Extended concrete perimeter footings, wood framed walls, infill concrete slab, 6x8 interior wood columns, and 2x4 rafters at 22" o.c. 5. Porches: x concrete slab with no cover. 6. Chimneys: None. 7. Openings: Doors are 3-panel wood doors with glazed upper lights. Windows are six-over-six double-hung wood sash. 8. Roof: The roof is a shallow pitched gable roof with overhanging eaves and gable ends.

The slope is in The roof structure is supported by exterior walls and 2 rows of interior columns. The interior columns support 2 rows of beams which are set above the plate height of the exterior walls to provide adequate slope for drainage. The deck is diagonal wood siding and is clad in asbestos shingles. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 84) C. Description of Interior: 1. Floor Plan: The building is laid out for shop and craft activities with built-in work benches along the perimeter walls. At the rear of the structure, on either side of the rear door, are 2 pairs of toilets. 2. Stairways: None. 3. Flooring: Bare exposed smooth-finished concrete. 4. Walls and Ceiling Finishes: Both interior wall and ceiling finishes are of painted plywood. 5.

Openings: Interior doors are 3-paneI wood doors set in wood frames. 6. Decorative Features and Trim: None on the interior, although the exterior is painted pink with a dark green trim color. 7. Hardware: Brass mortise locks and hinges. 8. Mechanical Systems: Heat for the building is supplied by a suspended unit gas heater located at the rear of the building and ducted to the rest of the building. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 85) The electrical distribution system utilizes both conventional wiring and conduit. Lighting is provided by suspended fluorescent fixtures. Plumbing fixtures are the usual porcelain and cast iron units. 9. Original Furnishings: Original work counters are built-in along the exterior walls of the building and remain intact. D.

Site: 1. General Setting and Orientation: The building is set along a residential scaled street along with three other buildings. 2. Historic Landscape Design: None. 3. Outbuildings: None. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 86) Building No. (Recreation Hall) A. General Statement: 1. Building No. is a one-story wood-framed structure designed for use as a dance hall. Built in from drawings dated April 17, the building was designed by the San Francisco architectural firm of Blanchard & Maher for the Bureau of Yards and Docks, Twelfth Naval District, for the Hawthorne Naval Ammunition Depot. The building is indicated on Y & D drawing no. The buildings is perhaps the most complex and expressive of the public buildings of the Babbitt Area. 2.

The building is in poor condition, abandoned, and is experiencing rapid deterioration. B. Description of Exterior: 1. Overall Dimensions: x 2. Foundation: Continuous concrete perimeter footing with interior footings under walls and infill concrete slab. The slab is about 6" thick and is placed over compacted fill. The perimeter footings extend about below grade. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 87) 3. Walls: 2x6 stud walls sheathed diagonally with wood siding. The walls are clad in asbestos shingles that are each about 12" x 24" and have a 10 exposure. 4. Structural System: Concrete perimeter footings with infill slab, wood stud walls, and wood-framed roof. 5.

Porches: The building has an inset front porch with a concrete slab and extended concrete flatwork at grade projecting from the large dance floor. 6. Chimneys: None. 7. Openings: Doors are single and double wood panel doors with glazed lights. Windows are strip awning windows, single double hung sash, and various combinations of doors and windows to create "window walls." 8. Roof: The roof is a very shallow pitched gable roof with a wood deck and a mineral-surfaced rolled roofing surface. The roof is supported by boxed wood trusses, 2x6 joist purlins and 2x6 ceiling joists. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 88) C. Description of Interior: 1. Floor Plan: The floor plan is built around a large dance floor with a raised stage, or band platform at one end.

The dance floor opens to the outdoors through walls with glazed doors and stacked and stripped windows. Concrete patios extend outward for outdoor dancing. Flanking the dance floor are coat rooms, rest rooms, a ticket office, kitchen, and storage room. 2. Stairways: None. 3. Flooring: 2 wide exposure wood strip floor on 2x3 sleepers at 16" ox. The wood is either Oak or Maple and had a varnish finish. The wood floor was limited to the dance floor and the stage. Other flooring surfaces include asbestos tile and smooth finished concrete. 4. Walls and Ceiling Finishes: Walls are of painted gypsum board with a beaver board wainscot and wood trim. The ceilings are made up of exposed boxed wood trusses and masonite panels with battens covering the joints. 5.

Openings: Interior doors are wood panel doors and a slide-up pass-through window is located at the ticket office. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 89) 6. Decorative Features and Trim: A wainscot extends around the interior walls and, with the "window walls" for a distinctive interior architectural treatment. The kitchen sink has distinctive lower cabinet doors. 7. Hardware: Undistinguished mortise locks and door hardware. 8. Mechanical Systems: The building was heated with natural gas and windows were placed for natural ventilation. The building was wired using surface- mounted conduit and lighting included both surface-mounted, recessed, and suspended incandescent and fluorescent fixtures. 9. Original Furnishings: None. D. Site: 1.

General Setting and Orientation: The building faces a residential street and is among a group of 4 such buildings. The entrance to the building faces directly onto the street. 2. Historic Landscape Design: None. 3. Outbuildings: None. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 90) Building No. (Entertainment Shop) A. General Statement: 1. Building No. is a one-story wood-framed "T"-shaped structure designed in a utilitarian Bungalow style. The structure had a gabled roof. Built in the structure was designed as an "entertainment shop" or craft center and is noted on the drawing as the "Cotter Annex." The title block of the drawing indicates that the building was a project. 2.

The building is in a ruinous condition having been mostly destroyed by fire and subsequent collapse. Information about this structure is limited due to its condition and limited drawings. B. Description of Exterior: 1. Overall Dimensions: One wing of the building is x and one wing is33'-0"x89'-8". 2. Foundation: Concrete perimeter footings, concrete infill slab, and wood floor joists. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 91) 3. Walls: 2x4 wood stud framing with diagonal shiplap siding. The exterior cladding is asbestos shingles. 4. Structural System: Wood frame on concrete foundation. 5. Porches: Inset on concrete foundation. 6. Chimneys: Various roof vents. 7. Openings: Wood panel doors and two-over-two double-hung wood sash with screens. 8.

Roof: Wood trusses with 2x4 ceiling joists and 2x6 rafters at ox. with a solid wood deck. The roof is a gable roof and is clad in asbestos shingles. C. Description of Interior: 1. Floor Plan: The plan is basically "T"-shaped with various interior partitions. Further information was not available due to the collapsed roof. 2. Stairways: None. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 92) 3. Flooring: 8x8 asbestos composition tile. 4. Walls and Ceiling Finishes: Gypsum board, beaver board, and masonite. 5. Openings: Wood panel doors. 6. Decorative Features and Trim: 1x2 wainscot trim and chair rail. 7. Hardware: Mortise locks. 8. Mechanical Systems: Remains of ducts indicate an air distribution system, probably heating fueled by natural gas.

The electrical system consists of both conventional wiring and exposed conduit. Lighting fixtures and plumbing fixtures were not accessible to view. 9. Original Furnishings: A free standing metal vent hood assembly remains intact among the debris. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 93) D. Site: 1. General Setting and Orientation: The building is located on a corner of a residential-scaled street adjacent to the Dance Hall, Building No. 2. Historic Landscape Design: None. 3. Outbuildings: None. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 94) Part IV. Sources of Information A.

Architectural Drawings: All copies of plans of the buildings in the HABS documentation list as well as the plans and elevations of the housing units courtesy of the Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant, Building 39, Engineering Division. B. Early Views: Figure 1. - Raising the flag at NAD Hawthorne, September Courtesy of Otis Gray. Figure 2. - Interiors: Kitchen of Typical Babbitt Housing. Courtesy of the Hawthorne Housing Office. Figure 3. - Interior: Living room of Typical Babbitt Housing. Courtesy of the Hawthorne Housing Office. Figure 4. - Interior: Bathroom of Typical Babbitt Housing. Courtesy of the Hawthorne Housing Office. Figure 5. - Interior: Bedroom of Typical Babbitt Housing. Courtesy of the Hawthorne Office. Figure6. - Typical Babbitt Duplex, ca.

Photo courtesy of the Hawthorne Housing Office. Figure 7. - Integrated work forces, ca. Courtesy of Otis Gray. Figure 8. - Title III Housing. Very low cost housing during the Korean Conflict. Figure 9. - Title III Housing. Figure 10. - Babbitt Community showing mature landscaping, ca. Courtesy of the Hawthorne Housing Office. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 95) Figure 11. - Babbitt Community Housing showing mature landscaping, ca. Courtesy of the Hawthorne Housing Office. Figure 12. - Babbitt Community Housing showing playground facilities, ca. Courtesy of the Hawthorne Housing Office. Figure 13. - Integrated work force, Photograph courtesy of Otis Gray. Figure 14. - Integrated work force, Photograph courtesy of Otis Gray. Figure 15.

- Integrated work force, Photograph courtesy of Otis Gray. Figure 16. - Integrated work force, Photograph courtesy of Otis Gray. Figure 17. - Vacant and deteriorating duplex. Courtesy of the Hawthorne Housing Office. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 96) C.

Interviews: Snow, Max - Engineer, Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant, Interview with Terri Myers, December 7, McCloskey, Jack - Editor, Mineral County Independent-News, Interview with Terri Myers, December 9, Gray, Otis - retired Ordnance worker and former resident of Babbitt, Individual interview with Terri Myers, December 8, Group interviews December 8 and 10, Gray, Irene - retired Ordnance worker and former resident of Babbitt, Group interview with Terri Myers, December 8 and 10, McNeal, Odessa - retired plant worker and former resident of Babbitt, Group Interview with Terri Myers, December 8 and 10, Holmes, Lula Mae - retired plant worker and former resident of Babbitt, Group interview with Terri Myers, December 8, Holmes, - retired plant worker and former resident of Babbitt, Interview with Terri Myers, December 8, William, Clayton - retired plant worker and former resident of Camp Jumbo and Babbitt, Group interview with Terri Myers, December 8, Wert, Clydell - former resident of Babbitt, Group interview with Terri Myers, December 8, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO.

(Page 97) D. Secondary and Published

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS NEV,11-HAWT,3-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Newspapers Mineral County Independent and Hawthorne News, various Mineral County Independent-News Mineral County Independent-News, Centennial Edition, April 8, Vertical Files and Papers Mineral County Public Library, Hawthorne, Nevada. Mineral County Museum, Hawthorne, Nevada. Nevada Historical Society, Reno Nevada. Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant, Hawthorne University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada Historic Photographs Day and Zimmermann/Basil Corporation and United States Army AMCCOM, Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant. Used by permission of the Housing Office, Hawthorne, Nevada. Gray, Otis and Irene. Personal collection. Hawthorne, Nevada. Used by their permission. Mineral County Museum. Photocopies of file photographs. Maps and Figures Area Development Plan: Utilities - Sanitary Sewerage System.

Department of the Navy, U.S. Naval Ammunition Depot, Hawthorne, Nevada. Submitted February 12, On file Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant, Real Estate Office. Babbitt, Nevada: In Use Housing Areas and Totals Covering the Period of the Community's Life Version ca. December, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. rBabbittl Construction Phases. Version ca. December, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. fBabbitt] Color Town. Version ca. December, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission.

Hawthorne Naval Ammunition Depot

Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 98) Naval Ammunition Depot. Hawthorne, Nevada: Elevations and Details of 300 Units Demountable Low Cost Defense Housing. Naval Ammunition Depot. Hawthorne, Nevada: Foundation and Floor Plans Units Low Cost Housing Units. Naval Operating Base San Francisco, California. Submitted January 9, On file Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant, Real Estate Office. Reconstruction Map of Babbitt (Composite'). Version December 13, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. Reconstruction Map of Babbitt. Version July 26, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. Reconstruction of Map of Babbitt Version December 17, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission.

Books and Publications Building the Navy's Bases in World War II: History of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and the Civil Engineer Corns Volume I. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, Davis, Sam P., editor. History of Nevada. Nevada Publications, Las Vegas, Nevada: Depot Log [Officer of the Day Report], United States Naval Ammunition Depot, Hawthorne, Nevada: April 2, - June 19, On file Mineral County Museum. The Case of the "Missing" Babbitt Duplex. Anon. (Mineral County Museum, Hawthorne, Nevada). Fairchild, Bryan and Jonathan Grossman. The War Department: The Army and Industrial Manpower. Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army. Washington, "Ferry Boat at Lake in in The Rocket. January (Article on file Mineral County Museum).

"Hawthorne naval Ammunition depot is Largest in World" in The Rocket. August (Article on file Mineral County Museum). "Hawthorne" Nevada Historical Society. Reno, Nevada newspaper files. "Hawthorne Ammunition Depot" Nevada Historical Society. Reno, Nevada newspaper files. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 99) "Hawthorne and the Naval Ammunition Depot" in Nevada Highways and Parks. May-August (Mineral County Library, Hawthorne, Nevada). Hawthorne NAD United States Navy publication. (Mineral County Library files, Hawthorne, Nevada). Koval, Ana Beth. National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hawthorne Naval Ammunition Depot (Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant). Rainshadow Associates, Carson, Nevada: April McCloskey, John R.

Seventy Years of Griping: Newspapers. Politics. Government. Oral History, University of Nevada Library, Reno, Nevada. Interviews Molyneaux, Maurice. Reconstruction Man of Babbitt (Composite). Version December 13, In possession of the cartographer. Molyneaux, Maurice. Reconstruction of Map of Babbitt Version December 17, "Papers of Senator Pat McClarran" Nevada Historical Society files. Reno, Nevada. Population of Nevada Counties and Communities. Nevada Historical Society, Reno, Nevada. Compiled Real Property Cards, Babbitt Housing Area 1941-present. Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant, Property Office. Welcome to Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant. Day and Zimmermarm/Basil Corporation and United States Army AmCCOM, Pamphlet. Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant files, Hawthorne, Nevada. York, editor.

Rocket Review of NAD Hawthorne, Nevada. Pictorial spanning December to January (Mineral County Museum, Hawthorne, Nevada). HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page E. Supplemental Material: 1. Index to Site Maps: Map No. 1: Area Development Plan: Utilities - Sanitary Sewerage System. Department of the Navy, U.S. Naval Ammunition Depot, Hawthorne, Nevada. Submitted February 12, On file Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant, Real Estate Office. Page4& -. Map No. 2: Babbitt. Nevada: In Use Housing Areas and Totals Covering the Period of the Community's Life (Periods ending and Version ca. December, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. Page | ^ -^ Map No. 3: Babbitt.

Nevada: In Use Housing Areas and Totals Covering the Period of the Community's Life (Periods ending and Version ca. December, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. Page -iQ v i o^ Map No. 4: Babbitt. Nevada: In Use Housing Areas and Totals Covering the Period of the Community's Life (Periods ending and Version ca. December, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. Page icS Map No. 5: Babbitt. Nevada: In Use Housing Areas and Totals Covering the Period of the Community's Life (Periods ending and Version ca. December, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. Page fofc> Map No. 6: Babbitt. Nevada: In Use Housing Areas and Totals Covering the Period of the Community's Life (Periods ending and the period - Version ca.

December, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. Page ISS. lo7 Map No. 7: Babbitt. Nevada: In Use Housing Areas and Totals Covering the Period of the Community's Life (Period ending with notes for this series of maps) Version ca. December, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. Page (o\ Map No. 8: [Babbittl Construction Phases. Version ca. December, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. Page44<0r- Map No 9: [Babbittl Color Town. Version ca. December, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. Page | \Q HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page Map No. 10: General Development Map, Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant, Haw. Nev. Day and Zimmermann/Basil Corporation .

Updated July 1, On file Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant, Real Estate Office. Page 42. \\\ Map No. 11: Detail area from General Development Map . Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant ( Map No. 10) showing structures listed on the HABS Documentation Index to Building on page 52. Map onPage^45, \YU Map No. 12: Reconstruction Map of Babbitt (Composite-). Version December 13, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. Page \ Kb Map No. 13: Reconstruction Map of Babbitt. Version July 26, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. Page Map No. 14: Reconstruction of Map of Babbitt Version December 17, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. Page Ji-&T \\^ HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page Map No.

1: Area Development Plan: Utilities - Sanitary Sewerage System. Department of the Navy, U.S. Naval Ammunition Depot, Hawthorne, Nevada. Submitted February 12, On file Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant, Real Estate Office. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page IH USE HOUSING AHEAS AHE> TOTALS COVERING THE PERIOD OF THE COMMUNITVS LIFE - i=H Occ upi ed S^ Housing Garages h Paved Road I i Gravel or Dirt Road 25 Duplexes B Garages 488 Duplexes 5 Garages s* Map No. 2: Babbitt. Nevada: In Use Housing Areas and Totals Covering the Period of the Community's Life Version ca. December, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 487 Duplexes 5 Garages 585 D uplexes 5 G arages Map No.

3: Babbitl, Nevada: In Use Housing Areas and Totals Covering the Period of the Community's Life Version ca. December, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 579 Duplexes 180 Single Fanily Units 5 Garages 579 Duplexes 49 Single Fanily Units 5 Garages Map No. 4; Babbitt. Nevada: In Use Housing Areas and Totals Covering the Period of the Community's Life Version ca. December, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 488 Duplexes V SA 49 Single Faniiy Units 294 Duplexes 49 Single Fanily Units Map No.

5: Babbitt, Nevada: In Use Housing Areas and Totals Covering the Period of the Community's Life Version ca, December, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page swassmaw hiiinimiiititiiiiaaa; t&ti Duplexes 49 Single Fartily Units 145 Duplexes MapNo.6: Babbitt, Nevada: In Use Housing Areas and Totals Covering the Period of the Community's Life Version ca. December, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page Only in-use facilities are the Bowling Alley and Babbitt School -The "occupied housing'1 is indicated by areas, uwv not on a uni t by unit basis, on the nap in order to keep L things simple.

Areas "unoccupied' nay or nay not have contained housing ~ -i-._^__ the during -.. _ period indicated, Sone housing was sold off as sections of Babbitt were closed, and others were sinply boarded up and "nothballed" for a tine. The housing totals are approxinate. Thus far research has not uncovered a list of units destroyed by fire or other catastrophe. A thorough scouring of the local newspapers for the entire period of Babbitt's existence should turn up nost of this infornation. -Occupied sections of the NAD/Babbitt Trailer Court Clover right-hand corner of nost diagransJ are not indicated at this tine, as infornation pertaining to such data has yet to be discovered. -Only years where generally reliable data have been included in this "occupied housing" chart.

The pattern and distribution of occupied units has been based upon aerial photography, infornation provided by the U.S. Amy, as well as a on-site study of the renains of the community. The study of existing buildings and foundation renains clearly shows at least four stages of development, with variations in foundations and unit construction in each phase. Map No. 7: Babbitt, Nevada: In Use Housing Areas and Totals Covering the Period of the Community's Life Version ca. December, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page z w o _l _t 1- <E Ul Z Will 1- ft! \D > lilU) wat r, til 0 ( t-z M UJn >-i H a IlL zw t' Ml 2 z?w O 1- M 0. Ul s QZ a. _i win UJ=) -i a.

zz h- w s OO lElil o MM Ull) -*Uj a: u HH D <E<E t*I 1L Ui OO can Vi zz <E M (E =J^U1 u-iuo; U X ooi- woe <r a. u.u. - 0 X at M) w 111 111 -1Z r M HXUt Id M X Al lilHX - til K HI h- MIL a: ift III uz t-oo 01 . 10 ZME <L VI AC O O Zli. -I Ul X UHOB: 3-JU1 W X a. MIL CX Ul 03 Ul >IH- III _l z <E Q _l H a. -lUiUI MI n; lil ~i wa:> X -HI a: D w MHO IMH u (T 3CI U.-1UL z H OUJ 1 <E<E o 1- W iiih- u MI >_ Ul s. (a n t-OUl OC-i cam 2 ZDh Z a:<3 Z> z MUJtU wc t&fti 3QO MHO UIU _i U1H X X 1- ^ cc T I H Mill 1/1 W-J UK UJ JWi MH _iw o MOUJ "lilO to tim Ml iifliX 0! lil -1 wr h- U til U1U1D- D_i <nui M) -JIJO ui ->^ a irtZ! "JO a ZfiZtL. HZI 0*U1=J t-iOtil MU. J: Z <n : zo l-UQi 1 t H CM W m LU LU LU m m 05 Cfl tfl w to <E <x <r <E X X X X X a. a. D_ a. CL Map [Babbitt! Construction Phases.

Version ca. December, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page L i k<= nucii of the U.S. our ins that period.. practically fropi the inn in a of its existence. Babbitt was a segregated connun ity. "Col oretl" people wer; housed only in the easternnost section of the community, which was divided fron the "white" residences by a wide, ewpty strip that acted as a sort of "buffer zone" between blacks and whites. "WHITE" -ESSENCES ^"COLORED" RESIDENCES The total nurtber of duplexes in the original "Calortown" never exceeded eighty-two and, in the i-iid-48's, accounted for aporox inately fourteen-percent of the total housing units in Babbitt.

Interestinglu, as late as the early Babbitt was still More or "split", although in a different fashion due to renoval of large sections of the connunitu. Up until the nid-7fl's the Majority of non-white residents lived "east" of the centra I shopping couplex, and few 1ived in the "west" half. Whether or not this segregation was intentional is not currently known. Map No 9; FBabbittl Color Town. Version ca. December, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page Map No. 10: General Development Map, Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant, Haw. Nev. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page J M V V 7E o ^ tJENNlS 'COURTS UJ [53 428 UJ cr ^ -? ^,- BASKETBAt COURT .' o Map No.

11: Detail area from General Development Map. Hawthorne Armv Ammunition Plant. Haw. Nev. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page Map No. 12: Reconstruction Map of Babbitt (Composite). Version December 13, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page T * Id ^d ti t- A SIX w otJ g T O OH C x -H e-o u S U1 111 VI.- 3i. 0* u ** o -'MRU 3 0>3 oiera n 5 1. C <l_ US H ^ OCOSO C C 1 onnft uenii F.H o= o - . * * VUU)U -O.C.E = aa' ca; to Cdi f ** mi .f vi t *. 3 $& . 1. B u VI n IM - I - _* .ee <t 1 I * '- && l| 1 ;-^ 1; t m ; c If IS t n as * il i rjruv. h - il I W M 8 tH 1 f i i I3f 0 VI V C-H m 3 R fl" - -* i? I 1 1 fV Q at * JC i-. - . i* IS 1 1 t t * - i ia * u. a u E.

<c (-sen v> i R S 1 m IDOUC " .C >4 * wo vu *: S Cfl EH" MO- Hi I CMIlLHUt. O It KD O 0^ i. u*. o_o> L auauuHLisauiie Map No. H: Reconstruction Map of Babbitt. Version July 26, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page Map No. 14: Reconstruction of Map of Babbitt Version December 17, Compiled by Maurice Molyneaux and used with his permission. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page 3. Index to Building Plans: (Plans courtesy of Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant, Building 39, Engineering Division) Plan No. l:Building Floor plan, elevations and miscellaneous details. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. submitted November 10, Page Plan No.

2:Building C 192 - Floor plan and exterior elevations. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. submitted August 12, Page Plan No. 3:Building C 193 - Foundation plan, site plan and details. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. submitted 4 August, Page Plan No. 4:Building C 193 - Floor plan. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. Submitted 4 August Page Plan No. 5:Building C 193 - Exterior elevations and details. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. submitted 4 August, Page Plan No. 6:Building C 194 - Floor plan and exterior elevation. Earliest date noted May 18, Page Plan No. 7:Building C 195 - Floor plan, exterior elevations. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. submitted August 20, Page Plan No. 8;Building C 195 - Revised floor plan showing addition, foundation plan and details.

Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. submitted March 9, Page Plan No. 9:BuildingC 357 - Floor plan and schedules. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. submitted April 17, Page Plan No. 10:Building C 357 - Exterior elevations, building sections and details. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. submitted April 17, Page Plan No. ll:Building C 425 - Floor plan, exterior elevation, building section and details; schematic services plot plan. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. approved August 30, Page Plan No. 12:Building C 425 - Floor plan and elevation showing addition of the library wing, dated October 3, Page Plan No. 13:Building C 426 - Plot plan, plumbing plan details. Public works drawing no. 40- 831 (no Y&D no.), approved January 29, Page Plan No.

14:Building C 426 - Floor plan, building section, exterior elevations. Public works drawing no. (no Y&D no.), approved November 1, Page HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page Plan No. 15:Building C 427 - Floor plan, footing plan, exterior elevations, details. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. submitted April 17, Page Plan No. 16:Building C 428 - Floor plan. Public works sketch no. no date. Page Plan No. 17:Floor plans, foundation plan and details for Low Cost Housing - 50 Units. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. submitted January 9, Page Plan No. 18:Elevations and details for Low Cost Defense Housing, Demountable Type - 300 Units. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. Page HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page Plan No.

1:Building Floor plan, elevations and miscellaneous details. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. submitted November 10, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page Plan No. 2:Building C 192 - Floor plan and exterior elevations. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. submitted August 12, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page Plan No. 3:Building C 193 - Foundation plan, site plan and details. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. submitted 4 August, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page H * ILV. -s 'r 11 . -i all f I 1 ! " .. : U) Sill "IB H ! 3 , h'';:':l";;->i'-i--"'tJ ; i 11 ' -< .It ?? 1 . . ' 1 * ?.. . V \\ 1? 5 ^ *f~ % ': 1 * -^ - S1 ; is* -I M ! V3 i!

: i$J ; &\ L <J4 ;: si I" li'3 ;: L I t ill I I ; *J P.- H 1 t J o . ,.* ' 'T-^i-- "-O 9 "1 > a Ik; -^l I..1" * * ay - J-.I.;.. V'i.i.l., ;' - n> ' 3 **= r,:,~'-f-i" i- -t \ -' i*^ - -t-:-.r->-r-ci T -~ - -* -J Plan No. 4:Building C 193 - Floor plan. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. Submitted 4 August HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page Plan No. 5:Building C 193 - Exterior elevations and details. Bureau of Yards and pocks Drawing No. submitted 4 August, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page v. a 1^ ^ 1 Q > k 0 v * 5 \ kl -t ,-4 -- Ul TfTifi "" IZ ~-~A**!*?l?'-<rJ'-**'T?^_~ T *-, 1 P , >l z -4 te a. ^ ' > T^JWZ^JlO^X ' Z . 2> "I* if Li..: i-l +- 7T 0 a i ev/f*fv Plan No.

6:Building C 194 - Floor plan and exterior elevation. Earliest date noted May 18, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page Plan No. 7:BuildingC 195 - Floor plan, exterior elevations. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. submitted August 20, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page Plan No. 8:Building C 195 - Revised floor plan showing addition, foundation plan and details. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. submitted March 9, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page ! i II Mil: ; ' :l iifl . : - B. '. Plan No. 9:Building C 357 - Floor plan and schedules. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. submitted April 17, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABSNO. (Page Plan No.

lO:Building C 357 - Exterior elevations, building sections and details. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. submitted April 17, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page -fiSl'rlT/OJV- (WIAU Of 4 HOC' l.iDb.14111 jkssiSf' - riOOjS /> COMMV/VITY ws, ,. & ./>bb^(AU/ri. Plan No. ll:Building C 425 - Floor plan, exterior elevation, building section and details; schematic services plot plan. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. approved August 30, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page Plan No. 12:Building C 425 - Floor plan and elevation showing addition of the library wing, dated October 3, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page -p* 4- ~~i ^ Plan No. 13:Building C 426 - Plot plan, plumbing plan details.

Public works drawing no. (no Y&D no.), approved January 29, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page .if -& n. \ 1 liY "r~ *" " f VitL ^r J m A Plan No. 14:Building C 426 - Floor plan, building section, exterior elevations. Public works drawing no. (no Y&D no.), approved November 1, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page i Plan No. 15:Building C 427 - Floor plan, footing plan, exterior elevations, details. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. submitted April 17, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page M-- ;;* Plan No. I6:Building C 428 - Floor plan. Public works sketch no. no date. HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO, (Page Plan No.

17:Floor plans , foundation plan and details for Low Cost Housing - 50 Units. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No. submitted January 9, HAWTHORNE NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT Babbitt Housing Area HABS NO. (Page Plan No. l8:Elevations and details for Low Cost Defense Housing, Demountable Type - 300 Units. Bureau of Yards and Docks Drawing No.