Before and During World War I

A family outing for a Western Union employee, 1914.
A family outing for a Western Union employee, 1914.

NPS PHOTO

Beginnings

Fort Hancock was first garrisoned on March 14, 1898. Sandy Hook had a continual Army population since the activation of the Sandy Hook Proving Ground in 1874, but it was considered a separate unit until 1919, when the proving ground moved to Aberdeen, Maryland and Fort Hancock took over the former proving ground areas. Fort Hancock remained an active Army base until December 31, 1974. The next day, the former base was managed as part of Gateway National Recreation Area, a national park.

The U.S. Life-Saving Service had two stations on the peninsula: the Sandy Hook Station, now the U.S. Coast Guard area; and the Spermaceti Cove Station, which is currently the Sandy Hook Visitor Center. There were also Lighthouse Service and U.S. Weather Bureau employees.

In addition to these federal employees, there were also Western Union and Postal Telegraph Company towers that had employed six men and housed their families.

John Borris, 136th and 7th Coast Artillery, 1912-1914, pdf

John Borris, self-interview, 136th and 7th Coast Artillery, 1912-1914, pdf

Jeanette Woolley Bower, dependent, US Life-Saving Service, 1975 interview

Jeanette Woolley Bower, dependent, US Life-Saving Service, 1976 interview

Alfred Bricca, soldier, pdf

Bill Gould, dependent, Western Union Telegraph Company

Sally Hanson, dependent of pumping station engineer, pdf

Eleanor Gould Henfey, dependent, Western Union Telegraph Company

Edward Hoak, pharmacist in post hospital during influenza outbreak, pdf

Andy Kelly, civilian engineer, 1909-1922

John Mulhern, recollections of Sandy Hook and Highlands, 1908-1927, pdf

John Mulhern, recollections of Sandy Hook, 1908, pdf

John Mulhern, child of water plant operator, 1908-1927

John Mulhern, child of water plant operator (later interview)

John Mulhern, School memories 1912-1917

John and James Mulhern, children of water plant operator, 1908-1927

James Pike, railroad engineer, 1917-1949, pdf

Lander Radford, 113th Company 1906-1912, pdf

Frederick Repole, 26th Coast Artillery Band, pdf

Last updated: May 14, 2018

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