Camp Edwards, Building T-1233, Bourne

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS MASS,1-BOUR.V,1-D-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Building is located approximately due north of South Inner road in Block 12 within the south quarter of the Camp Edwards square cantonment, in Barnstable County, Bourne vicinity, Massachusetts.1 USGS, Special Map, series V814SCPEDWARDS, Blocks) Universal Transverse Mercator, Zone 19, SW corner -370440E NW corner -370580E NE corner -370880E SE corner -370740E

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS MASS,1-BOUR.V,1-D-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Building is significant as a relatively unmodified representative of a 700 Series Recreation Building.2 It represents one of twelve 700 Series Recreation Buildings constructed as part of the original Camp Edwards cantonment and is one of 112 remaining World War II structures in the blocks of the cantonment. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION: A. Physical History: 1. Date of Erection: Construction of Building was begun at the same time as the entire Camp Edwards World War II cantonment. Construction at Camp Edwards began on September 12, and all essential facilities were completed by December 1, 2. Architect: Col. Charles D. Hartman Quartermaster Corps, U.S.

Army, (later Brigadier General) and his staff produced and revised the 700 Series plans that were used in the construction of Building The Constructing Quartermasters at Camp Edwards during the construction of Building were Maj. Harold L. Algeo, (C.E. Res.), Sept. 11 to Nov. 12, Capt. Carl M. Patee Nov. 11 to Jan. 30, and Capt. Fred E. Robbins (Inf. Res.) Jan. 30, to completion.5 The plans were used and modified at Camp Edwards by the architectural-engineering firm of Charles T. Main Inc. of Boston, Massachusetts.6 CAMP EDWARDS, BUILDING (RECREATION BUILDING) HABS NO. MA-1290* (page 2) 3. Original and subsequent owners: In the Massachusetts State Legislature established the Massachusetts Military Reservation on Cape Cod as a training area for the National Guard.

The Department of the Army entered a 99-year lease with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and developed the camp into a division training area in In a portion of the camp was transferred to the Department of the Air Force for construction and maintenance of an airfield designated Otis Air Force Base. From to Camp Edwards continued to function under the U.S. Army as a reserve training center under a permit from the U.S. Air Force. In base closures caused the Air Force to transfer Otis Air Force Base to the Massachusetts Air National Guard. The U.S. Coast Guard was issued a lease for portions of the installations, from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in In the U.S. Army licensed its area at Camp Edwards to the Massachusetts Army National Guard.

The World War II temporary structures under consideration in this report are presently under the control of the U.S. Army and the Massachusetts Army National Guard.7 4. Builder, contractor, suppliers: Building was part of Block 12 of the Camp Edwards cantonment. The Walsh Construction Company of Davenport, Iowa was the builder/ contractor. The contracts for the principal construction areas were fixed fee. Cost estimates were prepared which itemized costs for each structures type complete with utilities and the contractors' fees.8 The War Department purchased the lumber used in Building using a bid system. The lumber was inspected independently by the Lumber Inspection Bureau Incorporated.

Concrete was purchased from the Crystal Concrete Company of Braintree, Massachusetts and the Lawrence Plant in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Test engineers were employed through the firm of Thompson and Litchfield Company of Boston.9 Information on individual suppliers of other materials was not available. These were probably purchased from subcontractors in the area. 5.

Original Plans and Construction: Building was built from 700 Series plan number The original plan, Drawing used to construct Building is currently on file in the Facilities Engineers Office at Camp Edwards, Massachusetts.10 The original cost of the building was estimated at $16,130.11.u The original plans called for the inclusion of two dressing rooms and a vestibule behind the stage, two coat rooms on either side, and an altar at the rear of the stage. At the front of the building was a heater room, an office and a projection room above the entrance. No alterations to the original building plan at the time of construction were noted. This structure differs from most World War II facilities at the camp in the use of specified 8" square foundation piers. 6.

Alterations and additions: The interior of the structure has been modified to accommodate Army Reserve administrative functions. The interior, which once comprised one major space, has been divided into ten office areas with accompanying circulation. This space currently has two general functions- command level offices and general troop operation areas. Alterations to the structure's interior noted during the time of inspection included the removal of the stage and placement of partition walls to create office spaces. The partition CAMP EDWARDS, BUILDING T-I233 (RECREATION BUILDING) HABS NO. MA-1390-B (page 3) walls are in height and do not extend to the ceiling. The partitions are covered with fiber board with a photo-woodgrain finish and a x chair rail.

New 4" rubber cove base boards has been installed throught out the structure. The original store-room and office have been removed and replaced with lavatory facilities. The interior lighting has been upgraded to two-bulb fluorescent fixtures. The electrical system has been upgraded to include circuit breaker panels, grounded receptacles and two- and three-way lighting switches. Electrical conduit for supply has been surface mounted to the walls. The flooring has been replaced with new underlayment consisting of plywood covered with 9" lineoleum squares. New gas-fired ceiling blower units have replaced the original heating.

Exterior modifications include the removal of the chimney stack (plinth remains intact), the door and window canopies have been universally removed, the rear stage door (north wall) has been covered over and the space re-sided, luminaires over the doorways have been upgraded, the exterior skirting has been covered with bituminous fabric and the original double doors to the entry (south wall) have been replaced with a single-leaf doorway. B. Historical Context: The construction of Building was part of a massive, nationwide mobilization program designed to build cantonments to house and train the expanded World War II Army. The 700 Series, and the 800 Series mat followed, was a comprehensive set of drawings which could be used interchangeably in creating the various building types.

Through the construction of temporary wood frame-buildings such as the housing capacity of was increased to by the close of the mobilization program in the fall of Camp Edwards was the first of the mobilization camps constructed. The plans were so successful that fifty sets of duplicate prints were commissioned for use by other camp builders.'2 In addition, war mobilization buildings are significant for their construction and technological innovation. Techniques such as the standardization of plans, prefabrication of units and assembly-line approach to construction were largely developed in the construction of these mobilization structures.

Building is a 700 Series Recreation Building constructed in the main cantonment area of Camp Edwards mobilization cantonment built by the War Department in the fall and winter of Mobilization cantonments were constructed to house and serve as training bases for approximately men drafted for Army service after the declaration of war. The post was named in honor of Major General Clarence Edwards, World War I commander of the Infantry Division. The camp was leased by the Department of the Army in and developed into a division training area. It was here that the famous "Yankee Division" Infantry was first assembled and trained for overseas duty in Europe and the South Pacific. CAMP EDWARDS, BUILDING (RECREATION BUILDING) HABS NO.

MA-1399-B (page 4) When fully occupied, over people lived in the cantonment area. The main cantonment area was organized as a square with a total of twenty-nine regimental blocks for infantry and artillery regiments. Outside the main cantonment additional blocks were constructed for the hospital, logistics, quartermaster depots, "colored" infantry, and service commands. In its basically unaltered condition Building illustrates the setting in which the basic infantry unit lived and trained before transfer to the combat arena. The original large open bay area, the unfinished flooring and walls, and the purely functional heating, ventilation, electrical systems all illustrate the utilitarian function of this structure made necessary by the massive nationwide mobilization effort. PART II.

ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION: A. General Statement: 1. Architectural Character: Building is an example of a typical 700 Series, Recreation Building. The structure was built according to standard War Department plans and is an example of World War II mobilization construction and was a prototype for plans used nationwide. Built according to standard War Department 700 Series plans, Camp Edwards was the first of the mobilization camps constructed. The plans were so successful that fifty sets of duplicate prints were commissioned for use by other camp builders.13 2. Condition of Fabric: The general condition of Building at the time of inspection was good.

The structural members are in good condition, the flooring is serviceable, the exterior sheathing is not maintained and shows damage from weathering. The roof was recently shingled and appears in good condition. The original exterior cream paint and gray trim are peeling. B. Description of the Exterior: 1. Overall Dimensions: Building is a rectangular building with three entries. The main structure measures long x wide. The height from grade to the roof ridge is approximately 2. Foundations: The main area of building rests on a system of square concrete outside piers and round secondary (interior) piers. All piers retain the stove-pipe casings used as concrete forms. The structure has copper termite shields between the foundation skirting and siding.15 3.

Walls: The exterior walls of Building consist of three layers: wooden sheathing laid diagonally, black construction paper, and horizontal interlocking wooden cove-lap siding, the standard system used throughout the cantonment16. The exterior has a wooden skirting covered with bituminous fabric surrounding the crawl space. CAMP EDWARDS, BUILDING (RECREATION BUILDING) HABS NO. MA-129Q-B (page 5) 4. Structural System, framing: Building is of typical World War II platform- frame construction consisting of 2" x 8" joists, 16"-center, primary piers on a 9*- 0" x grid and secondaries on a x grid. The structure has a gable roof with a 5 to 12 slope and is covered by 3-tab asphalt shingles with gray aggregate. 5.

Porches, stoops: The original wooden stoops at all entries have been replaced by concrete planks 11" wide x 4" thick x long, 6. Chimneys: Only the chimney plinth remains. The brickwork is comprised of seven stretched courses with the eight being a header. 7. Openings: a. Doorways and Doors: The design of all original wooden exterior doors at Building is similar consisting of standard design of four lights over three recessed panels. The double door on the south wall has been replaced with a single entry door with single light over three recessed panels. One double-door entry on the east wall is present. On the west, there is a double-door entry to the boiler room. The double-door entry to the stage on the north has been removed and covered. b.

Windows: The east and west walls each have fourteen six-over-six light double-hung sash windows, which include four paired sets on each side. On the north, there are two, six-over-six-light double-hung sash windows. On the south, there is a single, six-over-six-light double-hung window. Some of the windows have the original screens in place. On the interior, locks have been installed to the sides of the windows. 8. Roof: a. Shape, covering: Building is covered by a gable roof with a slope of 5 to 12. Roofing materials consist of 3-tab asphalt roofing shingles with gray aggregate laid on 1" thick sheathing supported by 2" x 8" rafters at on center. C. Description of the Interior: 1. Floor Plans: a. Basement: The basement under Building consist of a crawl space. b.

Main Floor: Building as constructed in had a gross area of square feet. The main floor consisted of a single bay containing the auditorium/recreation area and a stage. The original plans called for the inclusion of two dressing rooms and a vestibule behind the stage, two coat rooms on either side, and an altar at the rear of the stage. At the CAMP EDWARDS, BUILDING (RECREATION BUILDING) HABS NO. MA-1390^ (page 6) front of the building was a heater room, an office and a projection room above the entrance. All these rooms have been removed with exception of the heater room, office (now a washroom) and the projection room, now inaccessible. c. Attic: The attic contains the roof trusses and served primarily to enhance ventilation. The ceiling is covered with fiberboard.

The attic area was not accessible at the time of inspection. 2. Stairways: None are now present. Formerly, a stairway led from the office to the projection room. 3. Flooring: The flooring has been covered with plywood laminate and linoleum. No areas of the original flooring were visible at the time of inspection. 4. Wall and Ceiling finishes: The ceiling and walls are unfinished and painted white. The original fiberboard finish is present along exterior wall and the ceiling. 5. Openings: a. Doorways and Doors: There are twelve interior doors constructed of hollow frame monolithic sheets. None are original. b. Windows: There are no interior windows. 6. Decorative Trim: Due to the austere nature of the construction there was no decorative trim. 7.

Hardware: The original knob and lock sets in some of the doors, and the window dead-bolt locks are present. The doors have butt hinges with three screws in each plate. No special hardware was observed. 8. Mechanical Equipment: a. Heating: The orginal Lennox "Torid Zone Air Blast" coal-fired furnace (Serial No. AC735B) has been disabled and replaced by ceiling hung, gas- fired blowers. An electric heater is installed in the lavatory. b. Ventilation: The structure is vented through ceiling ducts. The original return air vent is present in the ceiling. Five metal rooftop ventilators vent the attic space. c. Lighting: Two original triangular, red-glass exit globes are at the exits of (he transverse corridor (east and west walls).

The remaining interior lighting has been replaced by fluorescent fixtures. Original green and white porcelain enameled reflectors are present in the boiler room. CAMP EDWARDS, BUILDING (RECREATION BUILDING) HABS NO. MA-359e-E> (page 7) d. Plumbing: Two water coolers (non-original) are present in the interior. A ten-gallon electric water heater is present in the washroom. The washroom is a modification and contains two lavatories, two urinals, two stools and a slop sink. D. Site: 1. General Setting and orientation: Building and the other buildings of Block 12, are located within the south quarter of the Camp Edwards square cantonment area. The building is located within a complex also containing additional barracks, day rooms, mess halls and administrative structures.17 2.

Historic Landscape Design: Asphalt walkways and roadways which serve as access for pedestrians and motorized traffic are still in existance. The remainder of the building lot is relatively flat and planted in grasses. PART III. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: A. Architectural Drawings: Building was built from 700 Series plan number The original plan used to construct Building is currently on file in the Facilities Engineers Office at Camp Edwards, Massachusetts. Duplicates of the 700 Series plans for Recreation Building Type are currently on file at the United States Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (USA-CERL). B. Early Views: No construction photographs of Building were located.

Historical photographic views of Camp Edwards including construction photographs were located at the Office of History, Fort Belvoir, VA. C.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS MASS,1-BOUR.V,1-D-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

1. Primary and unpublished sources: Standard Mobilization Drawings 700 Series Plan numbers Real Property Records. Building and Structures, Facilities Engineers Building, Camp Edwards, Massachusetts. Base Layout Plan, Otis Air National Guard, Camp Edwards, U.S. Coast Guard, Scale revised January Camp Edwards Facilities Engineers Office. Report on the Activities of the Construction Division. War Department, Office of the Quartermaster General, Construction Division, July 1, to November 1, pp. Manuscript on file Office of the Corps of Engineers, Engineer Historical Division, Fort Belvoir, Va. Architect-Engineer's Report on Camp Edwards, Falmouth, Massachusetts. June 4, Charles T. Main Inc. Engineers. Manuscript on file, Facilities CAMP EDWARDS, BUILDING (RECREATION BUILDING) HABS NO.

MA-i39Q^ (page 8) Engineers Building, Camp Edwards, Massachusetts. Camp Edwards Military Reservation, Bourne, Massachusetts. Master Plan, January Revised February Massachusetts Army National Guard, Directorate of Facilities Engineering, Boston, Massachusetts. Camp Edwards, Falmouth Massachusetts, Walsh Construction Co., General Contractors. Estimated Cost As Of September 5, For Recreation Building - Drawing No. page, 47 from Construction Costs Report, on file Building, Camp Edwards, Massachusetts. Letter dated August 13, from Aronberg of the Walsh Construction Company to Mr. August G. Sperl concerning a review of Lenore Fine and Jesse A. Remington's, The Corps of Engineers: Construction in the United States. United States Army in World War II, The Technical Services.

Center of Military History. Office of the Chief of Military History, United States Army, Washington, 2. Secondary and Published sources: Lenoir Fine and Jesse Remington. The Corps of Engineers: Construction in the United States. United States Army in World War II, The Technical Services. Center of Military History. Office of the Chief of Military History, United States Army, Washington, K. Alan Snyder. A Guide to Archival Sources for the Study of World War II Temporary Buildings. Office of the Corps of Engineers, History Division, Washington, Diane Wasch and Perry Bush. "The Historical Context of World War II Mobilization Construction." Unpublished paper. National Park Service Historic American Buildings Survey, Washington, DC, D. Likely Sources Not Investigated: 1.

Documentary: Additional information on the firms of Charles T. Main (architect engineers) and the Walsh Construction Company (contractors) may be available. Additional data may be available in the National Archives on Col. Charles D. Hartman (Later Brigadier General) and his staff who produced and revised the 700 Series Standard Drawings. 2. Oral History: Interviews could be conducted with personnel involved in the construction at Camp Edwards and the military records and local area could be searched for civilian and military personnel who may have worked at the installation. CAMP EDWARDS, BUILDING (RECREATION BUILDING) HABS NO. MA-&90- (page 9) Prepared by: Keith Landreth, Richard Hayes, Daniel R.

Lapp, James Bowman, and Steve Turner United States Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory August PART IV. PROJECT INFORMATION: The documentation of Camp Edwards, Massachusetts, was undertaken as mitigation documentation by the United States Army, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (USACERL), Champaign, Illinois. The documentation was done to the standards of the Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record (HABS/HAER), Robert J. Kapsch, Chief, the National Park Service. The research was underaken by Keith Landreth, Daniel R. Lapp, James Bowman, and Steve Turner of USACERL on site at Camp Edwards during the summer of The large-format photography was done by Martin Stupich. NOTES: 1. Base Layout Plan, Otis Air National Guard, Camp Edwards, U.S.

Coast Guard, Scale revised January Camp Edwards Facilities Engineers Office. 2. Camp Edwards, Falmouth Massachusetts, Walsh Construction Co., General Contractors. Estimated Cost As Of September 5, For Recreation Building Type Drawing No. p. 41. from Construction Costs Report, on file Facilities Engineers Building, Camp Edwards, Massachusetts. 3. Report on the Activities of the Construction Division. War Department, Office of the Quartermaster General, Construction Division, July 1, to November 1, Manuscript on file Office of the Corps of Engineers, Engineer Historical Division, Fort Belvoir, Va. 4. Lenoir Fine and Jesse Remington. The Corps of Engineers: Construction in the United States. United States Army in World War II, The Technical Services. Center of Military History.

Office of the Chief of Military History, United States Army, Washington, pg. 69. 5. Architect-Engineer's Report on Camp Edwards, Falmouth, Massachusetts. June 4, Charles T. Main Inc. Engineers. Manuscript on file, Facilities and Engineers Building Camp Edwards, Massachusetts. 6. Report on the Activities of the Construction Division. War Department, Office of the Quartermaster General, Construction Division, July 1, to November 1, Manuscript on file Office of the Corps of Engineers, Engineer Historical Division, Fort Belvoir, VA. 7. Camp Edwards Military Reservation, Bourne, Massachusetts. Master Plan, January Revised February Massachusetts Army National Guard, Directorate of Facilities Engineering, Boston, Massachusetts. 8.

Architect-Engineer's Report on Camp Edwards, Falmouth, Massachusetts. June 4, pg. 6. Charles T. Main Inc. Engineers. Manuscript on file, Facilities Engineers Building, Camp Edwards, Massachusetts. CAMP EDWARDS, BUILDING (RECREATION BUILDING) HABS NO. MA-ISOO-D (page 10) 9. Architect-Engineer's Report on Camp Edwards, Falmouth, Massachusetts. June 4, Charles T. Main Inc. Engineers. Manuscript on file, Facilities Engineers Building, Camp Edwards, Massachusetts, and 90. 10. A minor discrepancy exist between the Walsh Construction report and the Camp Edwards Real Property records in regard to the structure drawing numbers.

The Real Property records note the structure as having been constructed with plan (Day Room Type A-5), however these plans are for a much smaller structure type (see report on Building this report.) The Walsh report states correctly that the plan number used was (Recreation Building Type 11. Camp Edwards, Falmouth Massachusetts, Walsh Construction Co., General Contractors. Estimated Cost As Of September 5, For Recreation Building Type Drawing No. from Construction Costs Report, on file Facilities Engineers Building, Camp Edwards, Massachusetts. 12. Letter dated August from Aronberg of the Walsh Construction Company to Mr. August G. Sperl concerning a review of Lenore Fine and Jesse A. Remington's, The Corps of Engineers: Construction in the United Stales.

United States Army in World War II, The Technical Services. Center of Military History. Office of the Chief of Military History, United States Army, Washington, 13. Letter dated August 13, from Aronberg of the Walsh Construction Company to Mr. August G. Sperl concerning a review of Lenore Fine and Jesse A. Remington's, The Corps of Engineers: Construction in the United Stales. United States Army in World War II, The Technical Services. Center of Military History. Office of the Chief of Military History, United States Army, Washington, 14. From "Standard 700-Series Drawing Verified during field inspection. 15. From "Standard 700-Series Drawing Standard Details, Termite Shields." 16. This differs from Drawing specifications which call for vertical lap siding. 17.

Base Layout Plan, Otis Air National Guard, Camp Edwards, U.S. Coast Guard, Scale revised January Camp Edwards Facilities Engineers Office.