Joseph Smith Letter 18 September 1849
Bureau of Yards & Docks
18 September 1849
Commodore,
Orders have been given by the War Department to deliver possession of Fort Norfolk to any officer of the Navy authorized to receive it, and the Secretary of the Navy has directed, that you receive and take possession of the premises accordingly, on behalf of the Navy Department, and that you have prepared and forwarded to this Bureau, estimate for the erection of a magazine building, of substantial dimensions for the station, and also for repairing the gates, closing up the front of the officers quarters, laying a wooden rail track to the water, and for constructing a pier for boats to land and receive powder &c., add also for a small house for the keeper, to be erected on the public grounds.
The enclosed trace plan shows the space on the parade ground marked M which may be occupied, but beyond it we cannot go in the construction of a Magazine.
It has been thought that the quarters in the Fort would answer for the Keeper, who should be a Gunner, but I think these quarters being so near the Magazine when passing powder, ought not to be occupied by a family. The improvements you may estimate for, must be sanctioned by the War Department before they can be made, they will accordingly be submitted for that purpose.
Respectfully,
yr ob st,
Jos Smith
Chief of Bureau
Comm. J. D. Sloat
Norfolk
Fort Norfolk Documents
1790, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799,
1800, 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809,
1810, 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, 1816, 1817, 1818, 1819
1820,
1840, 1841, 1842, 1843, 1844, 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848, 1849,
1850, 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1859
1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869
1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879
1880,
Source of Information
National Archives, Record Group 71 Records of the Bureau of Yards and Docks
Records of the Office of the Chief of Bureau, 1820 - 1946.
Letters Sent 1842 - 95
Vol. 05 of 104, PI-10, E. 1
Page 138