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The Coast Star |
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The Infoage Science-History Center at Camp Evans in Wall Township recently
welcomed the first busload of visitors, a group of third- and fourth-graders from
Fort Monmouth's Math, Science and Technology Camps [above].
Infoage welcomes first
visitors to Camp Evans
| By Fred Carl
On July 12, 1912 the Marconi Wireless Corporation purchased the first of many farms in Wall Township to develop the world's largest wireless station. On July 12, 2002, 90 years later to the day, the first bus from the Fort Monmouth Math, Science and Technology Camps arrived for a tour of the campus. The 24 third- and fourth-grade students came to learn about the technology and famous inventors who also visited the old Marconi Station, now known as Camp Evans. The summer camps are offered by the Fort Monmouth Integrated Community Outreach Network [ICON], directed by Dr. Constella Hines-Zimmerman. This past February, Gen. William Russ, the commanding general of Fort Monmouth, appointed Dr. Hines-Zimmerman to the position of Fort Monmouth liaison to the Infoage Science-History Center at Camp Evans. In the old station manager's cottage, now home to the Infoage Concept Center, in rooms filled with historic photographs and artifacts, the students saw antique radios, parts of ENIAC, the world's first computer, and a model of a World War II V2 rocket. The students also listened to a portion of Orson Welles' 1938 radio broadcast of "War of the Worlds." The students were welcomed to Camp Evans by Robert Judge, a member of the Garden State Model Railroad Club and the assistant director of Infoage. Infoage Director Fred Carl |
spoke on the history of communications technology and how Fort Monmouth
personnel working at Camp Evans helped win World War II with radar.
The students saw examples of how persons who were once third-and fourth-graders, just like them, worked at Camp Evans for Marconi, then the Navy during World War I, and then the Army in World War II. The message for students was not only do science and technology improve their lives, but the fields of science also provide excellent employment opportunities. Other sessions of the Fort Monmouth Math, Science and Technology Camps will visit the Infoage Concept Center at Camp Evans throughout the summer. The tours are but one example of how Fort Monmouth is preserving its historic ties to its famous World War II laboratory history for the benefit of the public and education. The Board of Directors at the Infoage Science-History Center at Camp Evans is working for a new future of education and historic preservation at the Camp Evans Historic District, a National Register of Historic Places site. Infoage is a volunteer organization. Anyone wishing to help can visit the Concept Center on Marconi Road on Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m. The center is open to groups by appointment. For more information, call 732-280-3000 or visit the Camp Evans website at www.infoage.org. |
In the top photo (published with the story) Bob Judge greets the first bus of students to visit Camp Evans
In the left photo Bob Judge introduces the students to the history of the site.
In the Belmar High-Power Station manager's cottage - living room.
In the left photo: July 12, 2002 students from Ft. Monmouth learn about radar history. Note all the artifacts and photos.
In the right photo the same room in 1914 when it was the station manager's living room.
Page updated December 30, 2003
page created August 6, 2002
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rights reserved.
After reading this article in the paper the Fort Monmouth BRAC office informed us that our license to use the cottage did not specificly state we could have large groups such as buses of school children. They informed us that they would cancel our license if we had other large gatherings. Another hurdle for our efforts by BRAC. In July of 2003 the license was modified to include 'museum activities'.
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