Ogden Arsenal, Administration Building, 7981 Georgia Street, Layton

Source document Quoted word for word from HAER UTAH,6-LAY.V,1A-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The administration building provides particularly vivid images of the processes involved in the clerical, managerial, and other administrative functions that supported the manufacture and storage of munitions at Ogden Arsenal. This building, along with other structures at the base, renders a unique picture of the U.S. Army build-up which occurred on the eve of and during World War II. History: Ogden Arsenal, which had been laid out to store left-over and obsolete ammunition from World War I, grew dramatically during the as a response to increasing world political tensions. As World War II approached, the Arsenal served as an ammunition storage base for the Air Corps and distributed items of ordnance supply and equipment to all areas and stations in the western United States.

During this period, storage facilities multiplied more than tenfold, and the Arsenal manufactured ammunition. The need for administrative support facilities, such as this Administration Building, accompanied this increasing production at Ogden Arsenal. Building was considered Ogden Arsenal's "new" headquarters, constructed to replace the Hobson House (Building The Hobson House had served as both headquarters and bachelors officers' housing since its construction in but had become too small to serve the needs of the rapidly expanding Arsenal. i Ogden Arsenal, Administration Building HAER No. UT-84-A Page 2 The Headquarters Building was constructed out of red brick in order to maintain the character of a preexisting officers' housing area adjacent to the Administration Building.

The building shows elements of the Colonial Revival Style which are consistent with the adjoining neighborhood. General Description: Building is a three-story Colonial Revival building, constructed of red brick. The building is arranged in a symmetrical composition with a dominant, though simplified, temple-like central block flanked by two identical wings. The central portion projects from the rest of building to receive ceremonious grand entry stairs. This front entrance faces due north, toward the ordnance areas. A wooden cupola sits along the ridge line, on axis with the entrance. The hip roof has four arched dormers on the north side and eight on the south side. The original tile roof has been resurfaced with red asphalt shingles.

The original windows have been replaced with aluminum eight-over-eight double-hung windows. In sieps and a vestibule leading to the basement were added to the building. Inside, various offices, work spaces, and bathrooms have been remodeled to meet the changing needs of the Base. However, the basic configuration and dimensions -8" x have remained relatively unchanged since the building's completion.