Historic Structure Report, Mess Hall Building #58, Fort Hancock, New Jersey

John Milner Associates, Inc.

Mess Hall Building #58 is one of four originally identical, 140-man mess halls designed and constructed as part of the second phase of building at Fort Hancock during 1904-1905. Fort Hancock is located at the northern end of Sandy Hook, a sandy, narrow peninsula at the northeastern tip of New Jersey. Fort Hancock is part of the Sandy Hook unit within the Gateway National Recreation Area managed by the National Park Service (NPS). The historic core of Fort Hancock, centered on a half-round shaped parade ground, is oriented towards the western side of the peninsula. The enlisted men’s barracks and associated mess halls are paired along the curving western edge of the main parade ground. The mess halls are sited to the rear of each complementary two-story barracks building (#22 through #25). Mess Hall Building #58 sits to the rear of Barracks Building #25 and is the northernmost of the mess hall buildings. The Sandy Hook peninsula has been a strategic location for the defense of the New York harbor since the American Revolution. Fort Hancock was established after the Civil War as part of the federal improvement of coastal defenses. The fi rst stage of construction at Fort Hancock occurred in 1896 and included the Officer’s Quarters and Enlisted Men’s Barracks that ringed the semi-circular Parade Ground. Originally, each barracks contained mess hall functions. Soon, the need for additional bunk space was met by building separate mess halls for each of the Enlisted Men’s Barracks in 1904-1905. Building #58 was one of the four identical mess halls built in 1904 to support four existing barracks buildings. Specifically, Building #58 served Barracks Building #25. Mess Hall Building #58 was in active use for seven decades, serving Women’s Army Corps (WAC) personnel during World War II. Fort Hancock was deactivated in 1974 and management of the site was handed over to the Department of the Interior. Building #58 is significant as a component of the early twentieth century development of Fort Hancock in its role as part of the network of military posts established and enlarged to protect New York. Although its role was not critical to the operations of the fort, it, along with the associated barracks, played a significant secondary role in servicing the needs of enlisted personnel. Its historic interest is heightened by its World War II era role as the mess hall that served the contingent of WAC personnel stationed at the facility. The building contributes to the significance of the Fort Hancock and Sandy Hook Proving Ground National Historic Landmark.