3/03/2010

USNTC Bainbridge MD -- Photographs


USNTC Bainbridge -- Main Entrance Gate Sign ▼
USNTC Bainbridge -- Main Gate April 28, 1943 ▼
USNTC Bainbridge -- Main Entrance Gate early 1950's.
The Navy Exchange Building and the CPO Club just up the street are the two buildings visible in this image. ▼

USNTC Bainbridge -- Rear Entrance. View of Power House, Warehouses and Ship's Company Barracks April 28, 1943. ▼
USNTC Bainbridge -- Amphitheater/Theater under construction, April 28, 1943. Notice all the chimneys in this photograph, buildings were individually heated with coal until the base reopened for the Korean War when a central steam system was installed. ▼
USNTC Bainbridge -- View of Amphitheater/Base Theater Under Construction. April 28, 1943

Bricklayers can be seen high up on scaffolding bringing the chimney up to final height for the auditorium building. ▼

USNTC Bainbridge -- View of Amphitheater Easter Services Circa 1960's
The bleachers and some of the benches were still on the hill when I walked the base in 2004, evoking visions of crowds that once gathered there.

USNTC Bainbridge -- View of Amphitheater/Base Theater nearing completion in 1943.

"A prominent feature of the Bainbridge Naval Training Station was an outdoor theater seating 10,000, built in conjunction with the auditorium building as of the central recreation group. The stage of the theater was built as an integral part of the stage of the auditorium. The seats were arranged in amphitheater style, on ground which had been terraced and graded." ▼

USNTC Bainbridge -- View of Theater from the rear of Fire Control Technician School. Circa 1960's. Notice the rows of seating lining the hill of the amphitheater.

The two buildings off in the distance are barracks in the 4th Regiment recruit training Camp Barney. ▼

USNTC Bainbridge -- View of Theater again from the rear of Fire Control Technician School. Circa 1960's. ▼
USNTC Bainbridge -- View of Base Theater in May of 1982
Bainbridge closed in 1976, yet in only six years the growth of vegetation is beginning to take over a magnificent place.
I walked down into the bleacher area in 2004, vegetation was so thick I was nearly run over by two deer that I had startled (was looking for snakes).

USNTC Bainbridge -- Base Theater/Amphitheater as it appeared in the September 1943 issue of The Architectural Forum magazine.

USNTC Bainbridge -- Base Theater/Amphitheater judging by the foliage and dress whites, Summer 1943.
The audience is recruit companies probably being entertained by the base band which is getting an opportunity to practice in front of an audience.
Boots are even setting in the front row chair seating normally reserved for officers. These front row chairs were later replaced by park bench style seating

USNTC Bainbridge -- Another excellent view of the Amphitheater/Base Theater.
Date unknown, but most likely late 1950's - early 1960's judging from the models of automobiles in the image.
The end of the building with the open door off in the distance was one of the Bachelor Officers Quarters (BOQ) .

USNTC Bainbridge -- Amphitheater/Base Theater during World War II.
The sign on stage encourages buying war bonds.

The building visible to the right is the back of the Fire Controlman School or the Fire Control Technician School as it became known in the 50's and 60's..

USNTC Bainbridge -- Amphitheater/Base Theater as it is today.
The arcs of wooden bleachers are still visible amongst the vegetation. The park bench style officer's seating nearer the stage is mostly gone, pilfered no doubt.

To the lower right is a metal frame building stripped of its roofing sheeting. This building is probably the Special Services Division's Horse Stable, a 1960's addition where about 20 horses were available for riding.
The barn's location in a previously very wooded area and metal frame construction likely indicates this was the horse stables. ▼

USNTC Bainbridge -- One of the nicest photos of the base looking down Bainbridge Avenue. Circa 1960's. In the very upper left a few recruit barracks of the second regiment are visible. The 2nd regiment recruit barracks were not being used in the 1960's since the last male recruit company had graduated in 1957.

The Navy Exchange Building 619 is partially visible in lower left of photo.
The Chief Petty Officer's Club is the next building up Bainbridge Avenue.
The St. Paul's Chapel is in the lower center of picture, to the right of the chapel is the parking lot for the Fiddler's Green Enlisted Men's Club. ▼

USNTC Bainbridge -- Yeoman's School, April 28, 1943. Notice all the construction stakes out on Bainbridge Avenue. ▼
USNTC Bainbridge -- Yeoman's School (foreground) and Radioman School. Circa 1956. ▼
USNTC Bainbridge -- Administration Building, April 28, 1943. ▼
USNTC Bainbridge -- Administration Building Circa 1954 ▼
USNTC Bainbridge -- Administration Building 720 in 1955 ▼
USNTC Bainbridge -- Administration Building -- Addition. Photo date unknown (air conditioners in windows indicate mid '60's up. ▼
USNTC Bainbridge -- Administraion Building Annex, Lower end view from Evans Street (street theater is on). Pami Conus occupied the building at time of this image, Pami Conus was located in Bainbridge from 1959 to 1976. ▼
USNTC Bainbridge -- Administraion Building Annex, Front view circa 1973. Pami Conus occupied the building at time of this image, Pami Conus was located in Bainbridge from 1959 to 1976. ▼
USNTC Bainbridge -- Administraion Building Annex, Rear View, Fire Drill 1973. Pami Conus occupied the building at time of this image, Pami Conus was located in Bainbridge from 1959 to 1976.
Photo appears to have been snapped from the Pami Comus Barracks just across the street.

USNTC Bainbridge -- Base Chapel Circa Late 1950's. The Fiddler's Green EM Club is to the left. ▼
USNTC Bainbridge -- Administration Building Probably Circa 1950's because male recruits with leggings are in this photo.. ▼

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