Fort Norfolk History - 1875
Commodore William N. Jeffers, Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, wrote Commodore Thomas H. Stevens, Commandant Navy Yard Norfolk, on Jany 19, 1875: “The Bureau desires Mr. Asserson in connection with the Inspector of Ordinance to locate on the accompanying plan-
A suitable position for Gunners House.
Barrack for three watchmen.
Four magazines - 40 x 80 feet to contain each 2500 lbs of powder isolated from each other.
Two shell houses 50 x 100 feet.
A filling house.
A small house to contain a frigates ammunition ready for issue.
A house for laboratory stores and metallic ammunition.
Railway from end of war to connect the same.
Of these it is proposed to build at present only the gunners quarters, Watchman’s Barracks, railway and one magazine.”
Commodore William N. Jeffers wrote Commodore Thomas H. Stevens, on March 13, 1875; “The Bureau approved plans of receiving house and quarters for Ordnance men at Craney Island enclosed in the letter of Civil Engineer Asserson of March 11, and directs that the construction be at once proceeded with. ”
Commodore William N. Jeffers wrote Commodore Thomas H. Stevens on March 16, 1875; “The Bureau authorizes the expenditure of $100 for trees for the grounds at Fort Norfolk as requested by the letter of the Inspector of Ordinance of 15 March 1875, and chargeable to app “Magazine Norfolk” 1874 – 75.” and Endorsed the letter of Jacob Spinalch “relative to plowing up and planting government grounds at St Helena and Fort Norfolk.”
Commodore William N. Jeffers wrote Commodore Thomas H. Stevens on July 20, 1875; “As the Magazine at Craney Island is approaching completion the the Bureau directs that the furniture, including carpet, now in the Keepers House occupied by the Gunner at Fort Norfolk be examined and if necessary repaired preparatory to its transfer to the Keepers House at Craney Island, and that requisition be made for furnishing this house for occupancy by the Inspector of Ordinance in accordance with the Navy Departments General Order of 14 December 72 [Executive Officers & others].”
In 1875, a small structure described as a "coal, wood, and wash house" was added to the fort. The building had three separate rooms measuring 12 x 15 ft. to accommodate each of the three aforementioned functions (Bureau of Ordnance 1875) (see above).
Commodore William N. Jeffers wrote Commodore Thomas H. Stevens on Sept. 27, 1875; “The Bureau directs:
(1) That hereafter twenty (20) barrels of powder only shall be kept in store at Fort Norfolk, to meet emergencies:
Ten (10) barrels Canon.
Five (5) barrels Rifle.
Five (5) barrels Shell.
(2) That all the powder now at Fort Norfolk to be removed to the Magazine at Craney Island at once.
(3) That hereafter all powder for ships shall be filled and prepared at Craney Island, and stored there until they are ready to receive it.
(4) That all shells should be filled and prepared at Fort Norfolk, and there stored until the ships are ready to receive them.
(5th) That when ships come to the station and land their ammunition, for storage while undergoing temporary repairs, it shall be stored at Fort Norfolk; and while on storage shall be examined and its condition reported on to Bureau, particularly damage to tanks.
(6) The Gunner of the Yard to superintend, under the Inspector of Ordinance, the duties specified in the 4” and 5” Paragraphs.
(7) All ships in Commission shall be required to furnish all labor required in landing, receiving and overhauling their ammunition.
(8) Copies of this order to be furnished to all concerned in its execution.”
More History
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Source of Information
"Plan of Coal, Wood and Wash House at "Fort Norfolk"", August 16, 1875, National Archives, College Park, MD - Cartographic (RDSC), Record Group 74: Records of the Bureau of Ordnance, 1818 - 1967, Series: Red Number, 935.
William N. Jeffers, "William N. Jeffers to Thomas H. Stevens", January 19, 1875, National Archives, Record Group 74 Records of Bureau of Ordnance, Letters Sent to Navy Yards & Stations, 1842 - 1882, Norfolk, May 1867 - Oct 1881, Box No. 16, Entry 3, 37.
William N. Jeffers, "William N. Jeffers to Thomas H. Stevens", March 13, 1875, National Archives, Record Group 74 Records of Bureau of Ordnance, Letters Sent to Navy Yards & Stations, 1842 - 1882, Norfolk, May 1867 - Oct 1881, Box No. 16, Entry 3, 49.
William N. Jeffers, "William N. Jeffers to Thomas H. Stevens", March 16, 1875, National Archives, Record Group 74 Records of Bureau of Ordnance, Letters Sent to Navy Yards & Stations, 1842 - 1882, Norfolk, May 1867 - Oct 1881, Box No. 16, Entry 3, 52 - 53.
William N. Jeffers, "William N. Jeffers to Thomas H. Stevens", July 20, 1875, National Archives, Record Group 74 Records of Bureau of Ordnance, Letters Sent to Navy Yards & Stations, 1842 - 1882, Norfolk, May 1867 - Oct 1881, Box No. 16, Entry 3, 71.
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, 36.
William N. Jeffers, "William N. Jeffers to Thomas H. Stevens", September 27, 1875, National Archives, Record Group 74 Records of Bureau of Ordnance, Letters Sent to Navy Yards & Stations, 1842 - 1882, Norfolk, May 1867 - Oct 1881, Box No. 16, Entry 3, 105 -106.
"Plan of Craney Island", June 6, 1894, National Archives, College Park, MD - Cartographic (RDSC), Record Group 74: Records of the Bureau of Ordnance, 1818 - 1967, Series: Red Number, 348.