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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-OR-41ORDINANCE NO. 99-OR- ~ l AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE QUARTERMASTER DEPOT AS A CONSERVATION DISTRICT WHEREAS, Chapter 152 of the Jeffersonville Code of Ordinances (Ordinance No. 97- OR-20) provides for the establishment of Conservation Districts within the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana ("the City"). , WHEREAS, the Jeffersonville Historic Preservation Commission ("the Commission") has conducted a survey identifying historic buildings, structures and places located in the City and has prepared a map describing the following real estate as a proposed Conservation District: Beginning at the point of intersection of the northerly line of Tenth Street with the easterly line of Watt Street; thence along said easterly line of Watt Street, thence north 31 deg. 18' west, a distance of 870.35 feet, to its intersection with the southerly line of Twelfth Street, thence leaving Watt Street and with the southerly line of said Twelfth Street, north 58 deg. 42' east, a distance of 421.20 feet to a stake in the south line of Twelfth Street and the east line of Meigs Street extended; thence north 31 deg. 18'west, a distance of 50.00 feet to the centerline of said Twelfth Street; thence north 58 deg. 42' east along the centerline of Twelfth Street, a distance of 471.36 feet to a point of intersection of the centerline of Twelfth Street and the Centerline of Mechanic Street; thence south 31 deg. 18' east, a distance of 50.00 feet, to a point of intersection of centerline of Mechanic Street, with the south line of Twelfth Street extended; thence north 58 deg. 42' east, a distance of 30.00 feet to a point of intersection of south line of Twelfth Street and east line of Mechanic Street; thence along east line of Mechanic Street south 31 deg. East, a distance of 424.95 feet to a point of intersection of' east line of Mechanic Street and centerline of' Eleventh Street thence along the centerline of Eleventh Street south 58 deg. 42' west, a distance of 30.00 feet to a point of intersection of centerline of Eleventh Street with centerline Mechanic Street; thence south 31 deg. 18' east a distance of 445.40 feet to a spike in the north line of Tenth Street; thence south 58 deg. 42' west, along the northerly line of Tenth Street, a distance of 892.60 feet to the point of beginning. Containing 18.658 acres. (See attached map); and WHEREAS, after a public hearing held on July 10, 1999, preceded by proper publicati(~n of notice pursuant to the provisions of Indiana Code 5-3-1, the Commission proposed the above described real estate be designated as the Quartermaster Depot Conservation District; and WHEREAS, the Commission has submitted the attached map (Exhibit "A") and written report (Exhibit "B") to the Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana (the "Council") with the Commission's recommendation that the Quartermaster Depot be designated a Conservation District; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT I-IEREBY ORDAINED by the Council that the Quartermaster Depot is designated as a Conservation District to be known as the Quartermaster Depot Conservation District. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval. Passed this day of ., 199 ATTEST1 Thomas R. Galligan Presiding Officer C. Richard Spencer, Jr. Clerk and Treasurer Presented by me as Clerk and Treasurer to the Mayor of said City of Jeffersonville this day of ,199__ C. Richard Spencer, Jr. Clerk andTreasurer This Ordinance approved and signed by me this day of ,199 Thomas R. Galligan, Mayor C:\SHARON~H1STORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION~QUARTERMASTER\ORDINANCE 99 "EXHIBIT A" /! EXHIBIT "B" THE QUARTERMASTER DEPOT DESCRIPTION Architecturally, the Quartermaster Depot contains significant aspects of both the Greek Revival and Italianate styles prominent during this post Civil War period. Construction commenced in 1871 and was completed in 1874. The facility was built under the supervision of Major General Montgomery C. Meigs, Quartermaster General of the U.S. Army. The Depot was constructed in the form of a hollow square with each side having a large gate. The total area included in the complex was over 490,000 square feet. The design afforded defense by a small garrison against attacks by unorganized forces. The building was officially opened in 1874 and was known as the Western Arsenal of the Quartermaster Department, U.S. Army. The 18.6 acre site comprises four city blocks in Jeffersonville bordered on the south by Tenth Street; Watt Street to the west; Mechanic Street to the east; and Twelfth Street to the north. The main structure is 800 feet long and 50 feet deep on each side, enclosing a courtyard with ancillary buildings, and the original administration building at the center of the square. The buildings were completed with two brick exterior walls, with semi-circular blind arches, gabled roof and brick paved floors. Buildings were heated only with stoves where necessary and contained all the activities of the Depot including stables, storage and utilities, in its approximately 150,000 square feet of space. The site was used as a major manufacturing and supply depot through four wars: The Spanish American, World Wars I and II, and the Korean conflict. In 1958 the depot was officially deactivated. Sold to a local entrepreneur, the building began a second life among other things as retail stores, welding shops, automotive service shops. A devastating fire in 1992 destroyed a corner of the Depot at Tenth and Mechanic Streets. SIGNIFICANCE The Quartermaster Depot at Jeffersonville is significant as an outstanding example of the Greek Revival and Italianate styles of architecture. It is also significant for playing a major role in manufacturing products for four U.S. wars from the Spanish American, the two World Wars and the Korean conflict, and as such, remains an important element in our nation's history. In addition, the Quartermaster Depot is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, the foremost listing of buildings, sites, structures, monuments and archeological sites important in our nation's history. The loss of other Quartermaster Depots throughout the United States has made the Depots at Jeffersonville, and Fort Sam Houston in Texas the only extant examples of quadrangle depots of the U.S. Quartermaster Department. The establishment of the Quartermaster Department in Jeffersonville predated the Depot's buildings by a decade. Because of Jeffersonville's location on the Ohio River, it was considered a prime disembarkment point for the troops and supplies headed south during the Civil War. In 1864, the War Department established a division in Jeffersonville to oversee the acquisition and distribution of vehicles, harnesses and other supplies for the Union Army. The operation was located in one of the buildings at the Jefferson General Hospital outside Jeffersonville. It was here that clothing was made for Union soldiers. This work continued until 1866 when the hospital was converted into an old soldiers' home. In 1867 Congress appropriated $150,000 for the construction of a new Quartermaster facility in Jeffersonville. The land on which the depot was built was purchased by the City of Jeffersonville in 1870 for $11,000. Construction started in 1871 and was COmpleted in 1874. The building was officially opened in 1874 and was known as the Western Arsenal of the Quartermaster Department, U.S. Army. The massive complex would manufacture and distribute supplies through four wars. During the Spanish American War, the Depot's activity greatly expanded. Two additional warehouses were constructed and production of garments in 1898 reached 100,000. A large brick tower, on the Depot's original structures, was dismantled and thc bricks were used to add a second story onto another building on the site. World War I brought unparalleled growth to the complex. Need for additional facilities required the construction of 280 temporary buildings, railroad tracks, two fire departments and an electricity plant. For the first time since the Depot was established this new construction took place outside the perimeters of the original complex. Total storage capacity jumped from 250,000 square feet in 1917 to over 2,000,000 by the war's end. The number of employees grew from 200 to 9,000. Massive production of uniform shirts at the depot earned it the title: "World's Largest Shirt Factory." World War II and the Korean conflict resulted in additional expansion of the Depot. Warehouses, a new administration building and additional railroad tracks were among the new facilities. After the end of the Korean conflict, the Depot's operations slowly declined. Jobs were transferred and many of the shops were closed. In 1958, the depot was officially deactivated. Though the site has gone through many changes, a devastating fire, and the addition and removal of ancillary buildings and sheds, the Quartermaster Depot maintains enough of its original elements to prevail as a very significant portion of our nation's architectural and military history. Hi storic District B,oa: of Review city of jeffersonville, ind. 47130-407 city-county building 501 east court avenue room 416 285 STATE OFINDIANA BEFORE THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION IN RE THE iNITIATION OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION TO DESIGNATE THE QUATERMASTER DEPOT ("THE QUADRANGLE") A CONSERVATION DISTRICT CERTIFICATION OF FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION OF PROPQSED ORDINANCE Whereas, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION (the "Commission"), initiated an application to designate The Quartermaster Depot ("The Quadrangle") a Conservation District; and, Whereas, after proper notice by publication pursuant to Ordinance No. 152.08 Historic Districts and Standards, the Commission held a public hearing on the application on July 12, 1999; and, Whereas, at the conclusion of the hearing the Commission voted by a majodty vote of its entire membership to favorably recommend the proposed designation of the property known as The Quartermaster Depot ( "The Quadrangle") as a Conservation District. IT IS THEREFORE CERTIFIED that on July 12, 1999, the Commission favorabt~, recommended that the Jeffersonvilte Common Council enact by ordinance the proposed designation of property known as The Quartermaster Depot ("The Quadrangle") as a Conservation District. So certified this~_c~_/~day of ~., 1999. ¢.¢~Brer~er, ~f'~irma n ~' The Historic Preservation Commission EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 414