Description
The WPA conducted extensive work at former Delaware Ordnance Depot, located on the west side of Route 130 about halfway between Penns Grove and Pedricktown. Many buildings and much of the infrastructure from the time is still extant.
WPA projects at the old Ordnance Depot included:
- “Improve buildings and grounds by constructing magazines and rail facilities, barracks, dispensary, offers and non‐commissioned officers quarters, roads, sidewalks and utilities, landscaping; and performing appurtenant and incidental tasks.”
Official Project Number: 713‐2‐19
Total project cost: $900,000.00
Sponsor: Commanding Officer, Delaware Ordnance Depot, and War Department - “A non‐construction project to improve and rehabilitate buildings, public utility systems, water supply and gypsy purification, water and sewer lines, install plumbing, heating, and electrical facilities, landscape, grade, and drain grounds, including improving roads and walks”
Official Project Number: 713‐2‐201
Total project cost: $30,000.00
Sponsor: War Department - “Improve grounds and facilities, including reconstructing railroad tracks, clearing, draining, and filling swamp lands, excavating, grading, graveling, surfacing, and oiling roads”
Official Project Number: 765‐22‐2‐31
Total project cost: $99,904.00 - “Construct fences and patrol roads”
Official Project Number: 165‐3‐22‐216
Total project cost: $154,821.00 - “Improve grounds and facilities”
Official Project Number: 165‐2‐22‐450
Total project cost: $1,817,811.00 - “Construct fences and patrol roads”
Official Project Number: 265‐3‐22‐89
Total project cost: $69,033.00 - “Improve grounds and facilities”
Official Project Number: 65‐2‐22‐789
Total project cost: $402,713.00 - “Repair and improve grounds surrounding plant buildings”
Official Project Number: X65‐22‐2‐2
Total project cost: $55,782.00 - “Improve grounds and facilities”
Official Project Number: 265‐22‐2‐19
Total project cost: $37,462.00
Except where otherwise noted, the project sponsor was the Commanding Officer, Delaware Ordnance Depot, U.S. Army.
Source notes
Nationwide Context, Inventory, and Heritage Assessment of Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps Resources on Department of Defense Installations, July 2009 (pages C-116 to C-117).
https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM9G2A_Ordnance_Depot_Oldmans_Twp_NJ
Photos from site, 2011:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinhooa/sets/72157626278011723/
Project originally submitted by Evan Kalish on February 21, 2018.
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