Raritan Arsenal, 2890 Woodbridge Ave Bonhamtown, Middlesex County, NJ
The Raritan Arsenal, originally known as the Raritan River Ordnance Base, was established in 1917 in preparation for the United States` entry into World War I. The Arsenal, initially a 2,150 acre complex wit 275 buildings, fifty-two miles of railroad, six miles of concrete roads, and water access to the Raritan River, played a key role in the transport of war materials to both Allied and American armed forces in Europe during World War I. The installation served as a major East Coast storage and transshipment center for munitions, an assembly/repair facility for motorized ordnance equipment, and an ordnance training camp for 20,000 American soldiers. During the 1920s and 1930s, the primary purpose of the Raritan Arsenal was the storage, salvage, and renovation of munitions. The facility also supplied assembly and repair services for the more advanced military technology that was developed during these two decades. As the United States entered World War II, the Arsenal retained and expanded these vital functions and reactivated the ordnance training unit. In 1956, the Raritan Arsenal began a gradual phase-out, and in 1964 the installation was turned over to the General Services Administration. The complex was then subdivided into separate parcels and sold or transferred to several businesses and government organizations.
Raritan Arsenal, 2890 Woodbridge Ave Bonhamtown, Middlesex County, NJ
The Raritan Arsenal, originally known as the Raritan River Ordnance Base, was established in 1917 in preparation for the United States` entry into World War I. The Arsenal, initially a 2,150 acre complex wit 275 buildings, fifty-two miles of railroad, six miles of concrete roads, and water access to the Raritan River, played a key role in the transport of war materials to both Allied and American armed forces in Europe during World War I. The installation served as a major East Coast storage and transshipment center for munitions, an assembly/repair facility for motorized ordnance equipment, and an ordnance training camp for 20,000 American soldiers. During the 1920s and 1930s, the primary purpose of the Raritan Arsenal was the storage, salvage, and renovation of munitions. The facility also supplied assembly and repair services for the more advanced military technology that was developed during these two decades. As the United States entered World War II, the Arsenal retained and expanded these vital functions and reactivated the ordnance training unit. In 1956, the Raritan Arsenal began a gradual phase-out, and in 1964 the installation was turned over to the General Services Administration. The complex was then subdivided into separate parcels and sold or transferred to several businesses and government organizations.
Posted Date
Sep 27, 2021
Source Name
Library of Congress
Source Website
Raritan Arsenal, Warehouse N-5, 2890 Woodbridge Ave Bonhamtown, Middlesex County, NJ
The Raritan Arsenal, originally known as the Raritan River Ordnance Base, was established in 1917 in preparation for the United States` entry into World War I. The Arsenal, initially a 2,150 acre complex with 275 buildings, 52 miles of railroad, six miles of concrete roads and water access to the Raritan River, played a key role in the transport of war materials to both Allied and American armed forces in Europe during World War I. The installation served as a major East Coast storage and transshipment center for munitions, an assembly/repair facility for motorized ordnance equipment, and an ordnance training camp for 20,000 American soldiers. During the 1920s and 1930s, the primary purpose of the Raritan Arsenal was the storage, salvage and renovation of munitions. The facility also supplied assembly and repair services for the more advanced military technology that was developed during these two decades. As the United States entered World War II, the Arsenal retained and expanded these vital functions and reactivated the ordnance training unit. In 1956, the Raritan Arsenal began a gradual phase-out, and in 1964 the installation was turned over to the General Services Administration. The complex was then subdivided into separate parcels and sold or transferred to several business and government organization. The property is now occupied primarily by Raritan Center, Middlesex County College, Thomas A. Edison County Park, and the United State Environmental Protection Agency.
Raritan Arsenal, Warehouse N-5, 2890 Woodbridge Ave Bonhamtown, Middlesex County, NJ
The Raritan Arsenal, originally known as the Raritan River Ordnance Base, was established in 1917 in preparation for the United States` entry into World War I. The Arsenal, initially a 2,150 acre complex with 275 buildings, 52 miles of railroad, six miles of concrete roads and water access to the Raritan River, played a key role in the transport of war materials to both Allied and American armed forces in Europe during World War I. The installation served as a major East Coast storage and transshipment center for munitions, an assembly/repair facility for motorized ordnance equipment, and an ordnance training camp for 20,000 American soldiers. During the 1920s and 1930s, the primary purpose of the Raritan Arsenal was the storage, salvage and renovation of munitions. The facility also supplied assembly and repair services for the more advanced military technology that was developed during these two decades. As the United States entered World War II, the Arsenal retained and expanded these vital functions and reactivated the ordnance training unit. In 1956, the Raritan Arsenal began a gradual phase-out, and in 1964 the installation was turned over to the General Services Administration. The complex was then subdivided into separate parcels and sold or transferred to several business and government organization. The property is now occupied primarily by Raritan Center, Middlesex County College, Thomas A. Edison County Park, and the United State Environmental Protection Agency.
Posted Date
Sep 27, 2021
Source Name
Library of Congress
Source Website
Raritan Arsenal, Warehouse M-4, 2890 Woodbridge Ave Bonhamtown, Middlesex County, NJ
With the entrance of the United States into World War I in 1917, the War Department chose a site on the Raritan River in New Jersey as the U.S. Army`s primary base for the storage and transshipment of munitions and other war materiel to Europe. The site comprised 2,150 acres, on which 275 buildings that came to constitute the Raritan Arsenel were erected during the period of October 1917 to November 1918. The masonry warehouse building originally designated M-4 was constructed in 1918, as part of the "Manufacturing Plant" group of buildings on the northern portion of the site. It was used to store and package truck and automobile bodies. During World War II the building was modified, but continued to be used by the Army for storing non-explosive materiel. The building is utilitarian in nature, one story high, approximately 114 feet wide by 580 feet long. It was constructed with a perimeter of evenly spaced masonry piers and an interior grid of wooden piers, which permitted large openings in the walls. The shallowly pitched roof is pierced by steeply slanted skylights. This warehouse is significant as a typical non-munitions storage component of the Raritan Arsenal, which fulfilled an important function in supplying the U.S. Army in Europe in both World Wars I and II.
Raritan Arsenal, Warehouse M-4, 2890 Woodbridge Ave Bonhamtown, Middlesex County, NJ
With the entrance of the United States into World War I in 1917, the War Department chose a site on the Raritan River in New Jersey as the U.S. Army`s primary base for the storage and transshipment of munitions and other war materiel to Europe. The site comprised 2,150 acres, on which 275 buildings that came to constitute the Raritan Arsenel were erected during the period of October 1917 to November 1918. The masonry warehouse building originally designated M-4 was constructed in 1918, as part of the "Manufacturing Plant" group of buildings on the northern portion of the site. It was used to store and package truck and automobile bodies. During World War II the building was modified, but continued to be used by the Army for storing non-explosive materiel. The building is utilitarian in nature, one story high, approximately 114 feet wide by 580 feet long. It was constructed with a perimeter of evenly spaced masonry piers and an interior grid of wooden piers, which permitted large openings in the walls. The shallowly pitched roof is pierced by steeply slanted skylights. This warehouse is significant as a typical non-munitions storage component of the Raritan Arsenal, which fulfilled an important function in supplying the U.S. Army in Europe in both World Wars I and II.
Posted Date
Sep 27, 2021
Source Name
Library of Congress
