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The Camp Evans WW2 Administration Annex Preservation Progress at InfoAge |
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Summary:
The restoration of the Camp Evans WW2 Administration Annex Sections B & C ( aka 9032BC) is nearly complete. We have repaired all problems created by the leaks in the roof. We have reroofed the entire building. We repainted the exterior and replaced all the missing leaders and gutters. In the interior of sections B and C we removed all post WW2 alterations. This included the new interior partitions, the post WW2 drop ceilings, the florescent fixtures in the drop ceiling, an air-conditioning system, its duct work and all additional electrical panels, wiring and outlets. We saved anything we could reuse in the restoration of the section. We repaired damage to the original walls and ceilings created when the space was subdivided into offices. We removed all flooring and painted the concrete floor. We repainted the entire interior. We added a new high efficiency gas heating and air-conditioning unit for each section in utility room created in the 1980s by the subdivision of a long workroom. We reused the original summer ventalation louvers in the ceiling as the distribution system for the forced air system to keep the WW2 look of the building as intact as possibly. We added a centrally monitored fire detection system with horns and strobe lights for the safety of volunteers and visitors.
We recycled all metals and electrical wire, reused lumber and insulation removed from the partition walls, properly disposed of florescent tubes and ballasts, and properly disposed of all other debris.
We are in progress of repairing the sheetrock damage to the men's room. We have yet to reactivate the woman's room or replace the fixtures in the men's room.
The remaining work to be done is to replace the flooring with a tiles of the same size and color as saved originals and replace window treatments. We would also like to replace the new solid core doors with WW2 style doors with obscrured glass panes. Some minor wall and ceiling sheet rock repair remains. IF we can locate florescent fixtures similiar to the originals we will replace those currently in use.
Description of the original structure and the condition when placed under InfoAge stewardship:
Restoration of the Camp Evans WW2 Administration Annex ( aka 9032BC ) is in progress. The building is a challenge. It is a wooden structure built in 1942 to last the expected five year duration of the war. As a temporary building it does not have structural wood sheathing. It is sheathed with gypsem panels, covered by tar-paper, protected by wooden siding of pattern 105 with a 6" face. The wall studs are 2" x 4" unsanded lumber. The sill plate is bolted to an 8" thick concrete slab. The roof trusses are made of 4" by 12" approximately 15' apart. Between the trusses are 2" by 12" on 2' centers to support the interior ceiling sheetrock. The 1/2" interior sheetrock seams are covered by 3/8" thick by 2" wide wood strips. The door, window and floor woodwork is plain 3/4" thick boards with no design or shaping. The overall building layout is four 30' by 93' standard quartermaster designs abuted into an "L" shape. The sections are labeled A, B, C and D. There are brick firewall protected corridors between sections A to B and between sections C to D. The intersecton of section B and C from the right angle of the "L". The ceiling height is 10' throughout. Each section has a wooden ladder mounted on the corridor wall near the inter-section corridors to access the attic. There are ladders to access the attic space above the firewall protected corridors. The Section B has a womans room with 4 stalls and section C a mens room with six stalls. Thanks to Larry Wilkins we now have a copy of original 1942 drawing of the 9032 electrical layout.
The heat was supplied by radiators below each set of three windows. A separate brick building housed the twin vacuum-steam boiliers. The original boilers were coal fired, which were replaced by natural gas boilers and finally fuel oil. During the time the BRAC staff had care of the facility the electric was turned off without draining the boilers. The cold weather caused the boiler sections to crack and the system is beyond repair. Originally, there was no air-conditioning. Summer ventalation was accomplished by a large attic fan placed in a roof copula. In the ceiling design 18 louvers were built to be opened to allow the attic fan to pull the summer heat out of the building.
Section B has remained basically the same since its 1942 construction. Only three doors were replaced with more modern ones.
Section C was altered with the addition of walls to divide one work space into two offices and the creation of a utility room. Drop ceilings were added to the center hall and nearly all the rooms. One doorway was removed and filled in. All original doors were replaced with modern solid core doors. A central air-conditioning system was added with the airhandler placed in the new utility room. It only air-conditioned Section C.
Section B and C were in good condition until 2000 when the BRAC office turned off the heat and electric for nearly 18 months. This section began to become infested with mold, especially the central corridor. A water supply pipe over the men's room burst heavily damaging the men's room. Once the building was transfered to Wall Township in 2006, we disinfected the walls and placed dehumidifiers in the building to remove the excess mositure. We then had the roof completely removed, all water damaged wood was repaired and a complete new roof was installed.
Larry Wilkins found a copy of the original electical plan for 9032. Using this as a resource in the development of our NPS approved Preservation and Utilization Plan we proposed returning Section B and C to the original WW2 floorplan. This required removing all post WW2 interior modifications, including drop ceilings, two partition walls, ductwork, and an air handler.
When we began the work we were pleased to find the original WW2 ceiling intact, hidden above the drop ceilings. The original WW2 electrical boxes for lights were inplace. We had lots of minor sheetrock and batton repair, but this was easily accomplished using materials salvaged from the 1950s walls. The wall removal work two weekends, but is now complete. We also added central heat and air-conditioning for Section B and C without adding any modern ceiling or wall vents. We made use of the origianal WW2 summer ventalation louvers. Our contractor placed plenums over selected louvers for air supply as well as air returns. This maintained the WW2 appearance while modern comforts were added.
Page updated February 11, 2009 page created July 28, 2008