CABRILLO Shadows of the Past

Proposed Fort Rosecrans, Upper Cantonment Historic District

Following Congressional direction to rebuild American military defense, the Army Quartermaster Corps selected the 1918 Upper Cantonment as the site for a new barracks community in 1940 (May 1999a). Forty-two buildings were erected at the northeast corner of McClelland Road and Catalina Boulevard. All these buildings are temporary wood frame with clapboard siding. Several design series are represented in this district. These will be presented in groups, based on the series represented.

Although World War II barracks are considered common and not generally recommended for protection beyond HABS/HAER documentation (Apple, Van Wormer and Cleland 1995), the Upper Cantonment Historic District assumed greater significance after World War II when it housed the Naval Electronics Laboratory and other Navy research and development functions (May 1999a). The contributing role of these buildings needs to be determined for this historic context.

The following buildings are recommended as eligible for inclusion on the National Register under Criteria A because they are associated with America's role in World War II and can contribute to our understanding of this important period of our history:

Buildings 306-348,365, Series 700, Two Story Barracks, 1940. Space and Naval Warfare facility (Topside). Recommended eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Properties under Criteria A because they contribute to our understanding of morale and welfare of Fort Rosecrans soldiers in World War II. No testing under the asphalt parking lot has been conducted for archaeology. Building 323 is located away from the majority of the Fort Rosecrans, Upper Cantonment. It is clearly a Series 700 building, but the function is not known. It currently serves as the Electronics RDT&E (Research, Development, Test and Evaluation) Building for Space and Naval Warfare property and may have had special Cold War significance to that proposed historic district.

Buildings 307-315, 351-354, Series 700, One Story Buildings, 1940. Space and Naval Warfare facility (Topside). Recommended for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places under Criteria A because they contribute to our understanding of the morale and welfare of Fort Rosecrans soldiers in World War II. No testing under the asphalt parking lot has been conducted for archaeology.

Building T-302, Series 700, 1940. Space and Naval Warfare facility. Recommended eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Properties under Criteria A because it contributes to our understanding of the morale and welfare of Fort Rosecrans soldiers in World War II. No testing under the asphalt parking lot has been conducted for archaeology.

Building 340, Fire Station, 1940. Space and Naval Warfare facility (Topside). Recommended eligible for inclusion on the National Register under Criteria A because it contributes to our understanding of support infrastructure to Fort Rosecrans during World War II. No testing under the asphalt parking lot has been conducted for archaeology.

Building 349, Fire Department Service Building, 1940. Space and Naval Warfare facility (Topside). Recommended for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Properties under Criteria A because it contributes to our understanding of support infrastructure to Fort Rosecrans during World War II. No testing under the asphalt parking lot has been conducted for archaeology.

Building 350, Shop 1940. Space and Naval Warfare facility (Topside). Recommended eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Properties under Criteria A because it contributes to our understanding of support infrastructure to Fort Rosecrans during World War II. No testing under the asphalt parking lot has been conducted for archaeology.

Building 316, Water Reservoir, 1941. Cast concrete. Space and Naval Warfare property. Recommended eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Properties under Criteria A because it contributes to our understanding of support infrastructure during World War II. No testing under the asphalt parking lot has been conducted for archaeology.

Building 398, Warehouse 1943. (marked P164 and #430 on some maps), Space and Naval Warfare property, Topside. Recommended eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Properties under Criteria A because it contributes to our understanding of support infrastructure during World War II. No testing under the asphalt parking lot has been conducted for archaeology.

Proposed Fort Rosecrans Works Progress Administration Historic District Works Progress Administration Infrastructure, 1939-1940

Congress created the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression to maintain the American economy and social fabric of the nation (May 1999a). Construction craftsmen were drafted into work teams to assist in public projects to benefit Federal, state and local governments up until the declaration of War in December 1941.

Much of the WPA infrastructure built during this time period reflects expressions of craftsmanship unique to the period. One prime example is the use of cobble rock masonry in walls, drainage culverts, and recreational facilities. These WPA infrastructure features are generally eligible for inclusion on the National Register as artistic works and representative of a major period in American history.

From 1938 to 1940, a WPA crew worked under the direction of the Army Quartermaster at Fort Rosecrans (May 1999a). The WPA built Ashburn Road, installed retaining walls and drainage culverts, built a tennis court, painted the old post buildings, and made repairs (San Diego Union, 4/14 —18/40; Army Quartermaster Corps, Completion Reports, 1940).

The following properties are recommended as eligible for inclusion on the National Register under Criteria A because they are associated with the WPA recovery program during the Great Depression. They are recommended under Criteria C because they embody distinctive cobblestone masonry characteristics constructed by the WPA during this important period of American history:

Lower Culvert/Tennis Court Cobblestone Walls, 1938. Incorrectly identified in the HARP Plan as a 1904 infrastructure to Fort Rosecrans, the Lower Culvert Tennis Court system surrounded the tennis court installed by the WPA in 1938. This tennis court is recommended for inclusion on the National Register under Criteria A because it is associated with the WPA during the Great Depression. The tennis court may qualify under Criteria C because it embodies distinctive cobblestone masonry characteristics constructed by the WPA during this time period.

Ashburn Road Culvert and Retaining System, 1938. Incorrectly identified as of no functional importance in the 1995 Hardlines National Register survey, the artistic rock masonry culvert and retaining wall are part of the 1938 construction of Ashburn Road. Photographs in the Army Quartermaster Corps show laborers constructing the road. The Ashburn Road Culvert and Retaining System is recommended for inclusion on the National Register under Criteria A because it is associated with the WPA during the Great Depression. The Ashburn Road Culvert and Retaining System is recommended for inclusion on the National Register under Criteria C because it embodies distinctive cobblestone masonry characteristics constructed by the WPA.

Proposed Quarantine Station Historic District, 1942-1945

The federal Department of Public Health developed and operated a Quarantine Station for civilian and military shipping at La Playa, until the land and facilities were transferred to the Navy. No buildings survive from the early Quarantine Station, prior to 1942 (Apple, Van Wormer and Cleland 1995). However, a relocated Navy structure functioned as the Quarantine Station Larger Isolation Hospital Building during World War II.

The following structure is recommended for inclusion on the National Register under Criteria A for its contributory role associated with the Department of Health Quarantine Station on Point Loma during World War II:

Building 121, Navy Reserve Study Room and Quarantine Station Larger Isolation Hospital Building, 1918-1942. Space and Naval Warfare facility (Bayside). This structure was recommended ineligible under Criteria C, based on architectural changes to the 1918 structure (May 1999a). However, it may not have been evaluated for its contributory role to the Quarantine Station and as the last surviving structure representing that historic context. Building 121 is recommended for inclusion on the National Register under Criteria A for its contributory role associated with the federal Department of Health Quarantine Station on Point Loma during World War II. No testing under the asphalt parking lot has been conducted for archaeology.

Potential Naval Coal Yard/Fuel and Ammunition Depot Historic District

Naval Coal Depot. No testing under the asphalt parking lot has been conducted for archaeology. This is also the historic location for the Mexican Customs House and Embarcadero, early 19th century commercial hide houses, and 19th century community of La Playa. This may also include the 1880s Chinese boat yards, where at least eight large redwood junks were constructed for the fishing trade. If the latter proves to be the case, the soil should contain historic trash deposits.

La Playa Coaling Yard, 1904/Naval Coal Depot, 1904. Naval Base Point Loma. Recommended eligible for inclusion on the National Register under Criteria A because it contributes to our understanding of naval support infrastructure at the turn of the last century. No testing under the asphalt parking lot has been conducted for archaeology.

Coal Yard (concrete slab), 1907/Naval Fuel Depot, 1917. Cast concrete. Naval Base Point Loma. Recommended eligible for inclusion on the National Register under Criteria A because it is associated with Taft Board power system infrastructure at Fort Rosecrans and the naval defense of the Pacific Coast.

FISC (Fleet Industrial Supply Center) Structure 180, Navy Coaling Wharf, 1907/Fuel Annex Fueling Wharf. Cast concrete and wood. Naval Base Point Loma. Recommended for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Properties under Criteria A because it is associated with Taft Board power system infrastructure at Fort Rosecrans and the naval defense of the Pacific Coast.

FISC Structure 46, Quarantine Station Public School, 1908. Wood frame stucco. Naval Base Point Loma. Needs reevaluation to determine if eligible for inclusion on the National Register under Criteria A because it is associated with Taft Board infrastructure support for Fort Rosecrans and the naval defense of the Pacific Coast.

Quarters 'A', Naval Coal Depot, 1908. Colonial Revival. Recommended eligible for inclusion on the National Register under Criteria A because it is associated with Taft Board power system infrastructure at Fort Rosecrans and the naval defense of the Pacific Coast.