[ARC5] [Milsurplus] US Army Signal Corps Museum

[MICHAEL ST ANGELO]

The Army turned over Fort Hancock at Sandy Hook, NJ in 1975 to the National park Service. The upkeep of the buildings and facilities  exceeded the budget of the NPS so they went into disrepair. In the later years there was a realization that some of the facilities should be restored because of historical significance. Two successful restorations have the the NY56 Mike Missile Battery and Battery Gunnison/New Peck.

I have visited but many times over the years and met with the people involved with the project. 

Two things I have noticed in the restorations. the first essential component of the success is recruiting volunteers who have an interest in the subject. Some of the volunteers worked at the missile battery while in the service or a civilians.  Here is an example. The Battery Gunnison/New Peck renovation needed machine tools to refurbish and build metal components for the guns and charting room. Someone found out the defense plants donated machine tools such as lathes, milling machines, etc. to high schools for shop class after the Second World War. Shop classes have been eliminated and someone acquired those WW2 tools for the battery restoration.

The second essential component, not as obvious, are people who have experience with the bureaucracy of the military 

I will give you can example of the bureaucracy. The missile battery wanted to acquire a Nike-Hercules missile which is an Army system. They found a Nike-Hercules missile stored at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida. There is a rule that Army systems had to be exhibited and an Army base. Patrick Air Force has could not exhibit the missile since is was not an Air- Force System so the volunteers acquired the missile for the Fort Hancock exhibit. 

These military museums or former military sites are probably looking for volunteers. If you have the time you may want to check with these museums.

Mike N2MS 




> On 02/16/2022 7:38 PM David Stinson <arc5 at ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> 
>  
> It appears quite a few are unaware that the Ft. Gordon museum
> closed for good in Feb. 2021. Google "signal corps museum"
> The museum staff and volunteers were trying to raise $43 million
> to buy a building there and move the collection.  Nothing
> heard by me of how they did, but since it hasn't reappeared
> in a year, well...
>