Fort Norfolk History - 1860
Captain Charles H. Bell, Commandant Navy Yard Gosport, wrote Commodore Joseph Smith, Chief of the Bureau of Yards & Docks, on May 7, 1860; “The granite wharf at Fort Norfolk has been completed. I have examined, carefully, the work in company with the Civil Engineer, and there is every appearance of it having been well executed. It is neatly constructed and appears substantial. All the work contracted for has been finished, with the exception of a small portion of gravel to cover up where it has been filled in and graded. This will be completed in a few days.
It will now be necessary to lay the water-pipe from the point where it now terminates to the end of the wharf, in order to supply vessels with water from the cistern, and also to continue the rail-way from the Magazine on the same direction: the estimated cost of these is from three to four hundred dollars. ”
Captain Charles H. Bell wrote Commodore Joseph Smith on May 29, 1860; “I am enclosed herewith a requisition, in duplicate, on the Commandant of the Navy Yard Washington, for, one chain for crane at Magazine, Fort Norfolk, to be 105 feet long 13/16 inch Wire.”
Captain Charles H. Bell wrote Commodore Joseph Smith on July 12, 1860; “As appropriations have been made for various works on this station. I will thank you for some instructions on the subject, as I do not feel authorized to resume work stopped by the Bureau without an order to that effect. Among other things requiring immediate attention is the Railway from the Magazine to the wharf, the work on which, was stopped, when nearly completed, for want of funds; and also the erection of the iron crane on the Magazine wharf, which is much wanted. ”
Norfolk had reached the status of a city in 1845. By the outbreak of the Civil War, the waterfront near Fort Norfolk had undergone substantial changes. Immediately adjacent to the fort property was a 3-acre tract leased by the contracting firm of Randall & Brown of Jersey City and Baltimore. Randall & Brown manufactured railroad construction materials and counted among their clients the government of Spain. Augustine Morrell was a partner in the firm and the executive in charge of the Norfolk operation. The Norfolk plant prepared wooden ties for railroad use through the process of "Bennettizing." At the outset of the war, the facility possessed $36,000 worth of machinery and chemical stores housed in a two-story brick building measuring 160 x 40 ft.. A railway spur went through the first floor of the building which had formerly served as a warehouse for a tar and turpentine exporting business. The railway terminated at two large wooden wharfs and a dock 360 ft. in length used for storing timber (OQMG Claims Commission brief, May 29, 1867).
More History
Back, 1673, 1775, 1787, 1789, Army before 1793, 1793, 1794, More 1794, First Fort, 1795, 1796-1800, 1801-1806, 1807, 1808-1811, 1812, 1813, 1813-1814, 1816, 1817-1818, 1820-1821, 1824, 1835, 1842-1844, 1845, 1849, 1851, 1852, 1852 Old Magazine, 1853, 1854, 1854 Changes, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1875, 1884, 1893, 1903, 1923, Next
Source of Information
Charles H. Bell, "Charles H. Bell to Joseph Smith", May 7, 1860, National Archives, Record Group 71 Bureau of Yards and Docks, Letters Received from Commandants of Navy Yards -- Norfolk, April 4 1858 - June 26 1860, Box No. 159B, Entry 5.
Charles H. Bell, "Charles H. Bell to Joseph Smith", May 29, 1860, National Archives, Record Group 71 Bureau of Yards and Docks, Letters Received from Commandants of Navy Yards -- Norfolk, April 4 1858 - June 26 1860, Box No. 159B, Entry 5.
Charles H. Bell, "Charles H. Bell to Joseph Smith", July 12, 1860, National Archives, Record Group 71 Bureau of Yards and Docks, Letters Received from Commandants of Navy Yards -- Norfolk, July 1 1860 - June 14 1863, Box No. 160A, Entry 5.
College Of WILLIAM & MARY, "A CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN OF FORT NORFOLK, NORFOLK, VIRGINIA", November 1995, prepared for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District under Contract No. DACW65-94-Q-0075, 35.