"Back at the Gap" BACK AT THE GAP Major General Frank H. Smoker, Jr. (USAF, Retired) With war brewing in Europe, feds lease Gap from state Tenth in a series Annual maneuvers started at the Gap in 1933, but the Mt Gretna training site continued to be used until 1940. In the Fall of 1939, the peace of the world was once again broken as the relentless German Army spread unimpeded across Europe. As time passed, it was apparent that the United States would assume a role as one of the characters in the European tragedy. In order to prepare for that role, key installations throughout the nation were made ready. Indiantown Gap was one of those. The Civilian Conservation Corps, commonly called the “CCC”, was a semi-military type government organization created by Congress in the mid-1930’s at President Roosevelt’s request as part of the “New Deal”, with the purpose of providing meaningful employment for many men, especially younger men, who were jobless due to the Great Depression. The CCC started work at the Gap in 1934 to convert the area into a training camp. During this process, workers found many of the barns within the reservation area had been built on the foundations of the old fortified barns built during the French and Indian War. Some of the old timbers were still blackened from powder burns. Two cemeteries had to be moved. The bodies were moved to the graveyards at Moonshine Church and Walmer's Church. Stones from some of the old houses and barns that had to be torn down were used at various locations throughout the Post. Some were later used in the construction of the house that was eventually to become the Governor’s residence. From information obtained from several sources, including some “old timers” who lived in the vicinity of the Gap during construction of the camp, I learned that a small community called “Rankstown”, with a population of about 50 to 60 people, was located in what was later designated as Area 10. Neidig and Donmoyer were some of the names of families who lived there. The three houses now situated at the southeast corner of Clement Avenue and Utility Road were moved to that location from Rankstown during the initial construction of the camp. Some of the wooden buildings from Mt. Gretna were moved to Indiantown Gap and are still in use, including several residences which are now located next to the Executive Mansion and are used by senior officers stationed at the Gap. A range house and a few stables were also relocated to Indiantown Gap. As I mentioned in my last article, this 114 year old range house will be moved in the near future from its present location along Range Road to Area 8 to a position next to the Pennsylvania National Guard Military Museum. By August 1939, the Army Quartermaster Corps, advertising for bids on a “modified CCC type of structure”, had decided that “the CCC buildings were not entirely suitable for regular army use” and that “a two story type having better facilities … can be built at less cost.” This still left some latitude as to what kind of two story type would be built. As the war clouds gathered in Europe, the Quartermaster Corps deliberated whether to use a two-story, “temporary” wood structure (referred to as the 700 Series) or a prefabricated “semi-permanent” steel building. Discussions continued, however, with the coming of the war emergency, economy and speed became the critical factors, ensuring that the War Department would turn to temporary wooden structures to house the new army. With the war on in Europe, our country started to develop key installations throughout the United States. On September 30, 1940, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania leased Indiantown Gap Military Reservation to the Federal Government for $1.00 a year. It is interesting to note that this original lease expired on the last day of June 1989 and was promptly renewed. The current lease between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of General Services and the United States of America was made on 12 May 1989 and, fortunately for our local economy, runs until 11 May 2049. It covers 17,797.22 acres (excluding 1,388.93 state-controlled acres) in both Dauphin and Lebanon counties. The cost is $1.00 for the term of the lease. With the signing of this original lease, more than just a transfer of state land to the federal government occurred with the federalization of Indiantown Gap. If you thought the Gap experienced a stunning growth in the late 1930’s, you’ll be astounded at the vast transition that occurred upon the signing of this federal lease. The one-time barren area of farm land in an atmosphere of tranquillity was transposed into a military city of energetic activity, resulting in the Gap becoming one of the most modern installations in the country at that time. On October 9, 1940, construction began with the intention of transforming the Gap into one of the most modern installations in the country. During the entire building program, the contracting Quartermaster, the on-site boss, was Lieutenant Colonel William L. Kay. It was his heavy responsibility to come up with the design for layout and deal with the contractors. For these duties, he was held responsible by Army headquarters. The best architectural and engineering firms available were awarded contracts with a large measure of independence to Ferguson and Demondson Company and W. E. Trumble and Sons, both of Pittsburgh, PA and to Huffman-Wolfe Company of Columbus, Ohio. Gannett, Eastman and Flemming of Harrisburg, PA, performed the architectural work. The volume of new construction was indeed overwhelming. Due to the haste and timing involved, there were problems with supply, with contracting, with labor, and with administration. A project of this magnitude could not escape such problems. Constructing quartermasters were ordered to “go the contractor’s way so long as fundamental laws are not violated and the government’s interests are protected.” Although this was the preferred policy, as events turned out, it caused relentless trouble throughout the nation. One of the reasons for Senator Harry Truman’s Committee’s vigilance was the suspicion that the contractors were more active in protecting their own interests than the Government’s. Unfortunately, cost overruns prevailed through all the selected Army camp sites under construction. Indiantown Gap was planned on a strip of rolling land at the base of Blue Mountain. This necessitated a “sting bean layout” with miles of extra roads and utilities that increased construction expenditures. Construction workers quickly discovered another problem: heavy shale beneath the surface, requiring power shovels and backhoes in excavation. The weather during the winter 1940-41 posed another, more serious problem which affected nearly all of the construction sites. Construction in inclement weather would be difficult in any year but by all accounts that winter was abnormally severe. Consequently, in standard Truman style, the committee went to nine typical camps and conducted hearings on the spot. What they found was almost incredible. At Indiantown Gap, the estimate for construction of the camp’s utilities had been $125,000. The actual cost came to $1,725,000. With other cost overruns, due to all of the unforeseeable difficulties, Indiantown Gap ran an incredible $8 million beyond the original estimate. In my next column, I’ll continue to describe the construction of the camp in spite of the many obstacles. -- 30 -- Published in the Lebanon Daily News, 24 March 2004 © 2004 Frank H. Smoker, Jr. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission of the author. Go "Back at the Gap" Index