Appendix: Types tantly, counter-height equipment coming of the Quonset: its all-steel could now be installed close to the construction. Steel was not only a crit- wall without out any residual loss of ical material during the war but also floor space. rusted quickly in the tropics and, in the Arctic, permitted cold temperature migration across metal structures. Wood structures greatly reduce ther- mal transfer. The Pacific hut is easily recognizable by the celotex, a water- proof form of masonite, exterior and 1. —T-RIB the triangular ridgeline vent cover. 16' x 36' and 16' x 20' The original Quonset hut, which came 3. QUONSET STRAN-STEEL HUT to be known as the T-Rib Quonset, 20' x 48' and 20' x 56' was developed in response to the The third and final generation of the Navy’s desire to produce a new pre- Quonset hut was produced by Stran- fabricated hut system during World Steel of Detroit, Michigan. This design War II to troops abroad. At reverted back to the full arch profile Quonset Point, Rhode Island, George and used many of the same structural A. Fuller and his design team, under components as the Redesign, but now 5. BUTLER HUT the direction of Otto Brandenberger, it appeared lighter, thinner, or pushed 16' x multiple of 4' and created the T-Rib Quonset, an adapt- to greater spans. Initially introduced 24' x multiple of 4' able building for mass production that with corrugated panels, similar to Developed by the Butler would be portable, erected and the T-Rib, it was later modified to Manufacturing Company of Kansas knocked down quickly and easily, use the factory-curved panel only at City, Missouri, the Butler hut was an adaptable to any climate and geogra- the ridge. The remaining sidewall all-steel arched hut—profile slightly phy, and provide soldiers with the and end wall panels were mounted more than half a circle—with U- most protection and comfort possible. with corrugated metal oriented in the shaped arched ribs around an eight- opposite direction. foot radius. End walls were framed with steel and end walls and side- walls were enclosed with two-foot- wide standing seam metal sheets. Not long after World War II, however, Butler abandoned the curved-roof approach, although they still produce metal prefabricated buildings today 2. QUONSET HUT—REDESIGN with gabled roofs. 16' x 36' and 24' x 60' 4. PACIFIC HUT The basic strategy of the Quonset 18'–6" x 37'–4" Redesign was to keep the footprint of Frank Hobbs, a mechanical engineer the T-Rib design but to introduce a who later formed the Pacific Hut lighter I-shaped steel arch with four- Company in Seattle, took blueprints of foot vertical sidewalls. The new arch, his all-wood Quonset design, the assembled in two sections instead of Pacific hut, to the U.S. Army Corps of three, reduced erection time and Engineers in summer of 1942. It was required fewer fasteners. More impor- designed to overcome the major short-

148 Appendix such as culverts and storm sewers. credit the origin of the design, inspired 149 The heavy iron (8- to 14-gauge) did not by a chicken , to their engineer G. require supporting ribs but was curved D. Paxson, the similarities to the and corrugated much like a Quonset Quonset and Pacific are undeni- hut. Armcos were strong enough to able. Built in Boise, Iowa, beginning in be completely buried in up to six feet 1943, the Emkay had laminated wood 6. JAMESWAY of dirt. ribs. Its distinct “two-centered arch” 16' x multiple of 4' and appears pointed, or gothic, in profile. 20' x multiple of 4' The huts look peaked from outside The James Manufacturing Company of after the exterior sheathing is applied. Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, created a All styles were built entirely of wood version of the Quonset hut with and wallboard, could be built to any wooden ribs and an insulated fabric lengths in multiples of twelve feet, and covering for the Army Air Corps. This could accommodate different climates. portable and easy-to-assemble hut 8. PORTASEAL HUT was designed for Arctic weather con- 16' x 37' ditions when personnel were wearing The Portaseal hut, frequently seen bulky clothes and mittens but needed along the Alaska Highway and CANOL shelter construction to proceed quickly. pipeline, is a Canadian version of the Insulated blankets in four-foot-wide wood-framed, plywood-clad structure. lengths were made with glass fiber These huts were shipped in prefabri- insulation faced with flame-proof cated sections, could be erected quick- muslin and enclosed in plastic-treated ly, and were heated with improvised 10. COWIN HUT cotton that was water, vermin, and fire oil drum stoves. Identifiable features 36' x 60' proof. The hardware (nails, fasteners, include a tar-paper finish nailed atop The large, steel semicircular ware- and connecting bars) was the only plywood sidewalls, end walls with houses were developed by Cowin and metal component, and the whole large windows, and wide batten-type Company, Inc. for the Air Corps at package weighed 1,200 pounds for trim boards atop the end walls' vertical Wright Field. Cowin called their struc- a 16' x 16' hut. Its wooden packing panel joints. Some surviving examples ture a 36' x 60' Steeldrome. To resist crates were designed for reuse as the have been observed with six-inch thrust on the arch caused by snow hut floor. sheathing strips in lieu of plywood. loads, Cowins used a truss system of horizontal steel tie rods and vertical steel hangers. Not many Cowin huts were shipped to Alaska after 1943 because they were inadequate for Alaskan snow loads. A number of them collapsed in their first winter 7. ARMCO HUT of use. 20' x 50' During World War II, the Armco International Corporation of 9. EMKAY HUT Middletown, Ohio, produced arched 20' x 48' corrugated ingot iron bunkers, ammu- Morrison-Knudsen Company designed nition magazines, and personnel shel- the Emkay (M-K) hut to shelter their ters. The heavy steel buildings were crews for their large and remote mili- modeled on earth-retaining structures tary construction contracts. While they

149 Appendix Notes First Session of the Seventy-Seventh Congress ber of the team. Peter Dejongh, a career-long of the United States of America, 1941–1942, engineer with George A. Fuller and Chapter 1 and Treaties, International Agreements Other Company, is memorialized as the hut’s How the Hut Came to Be than Treaties, and Proclamations designer in his obituary appearing in the Chris Chiei (Washington: Government Printing Office, New York Times that year, but McDonnell,

1 Richard M. Casella, Martha H. Bowers, and 1942), 55:31–33. Since the Navy later used the last surviving member of the design Leonid I. Shmookler, prepared for the United these two firms for numerous construction team, claimed to have never hear of Dejongh. States Navy, Northern Division Naval projects on the Atlantic Coast and overseas, Tim Clark, “Living in a Quonset Hut Is Like Facilities Engineering Command, Recordation they eventually acquired the official title of Eating Spam,” Yankee Magazine 49, no.11 Report for Naval Construction Training “East Coast Contractors.” “The Quonset (November 1985): 119

Center Davisville (Camp Endicott) Buildings Hut,” transcript, 187, Providence College 19 Robert Brandenberger (son of Otto T2-8, T11, T13, and T15-19: North Kingston, Archives, Rhode Island. Brandenberger) to Author, Responses to

Washington County, Rhode Island, (Lester, 9 Public Laws, 31–33. Interview Questionnaire regarding Otto PA: Northern Division Naval Facilities 10 Forward bases are special-operations Brandenberger, 11 January 2004. Engineering Command, 1997), 9. bases usually located in friendly territory, or 20 Rudolph A. Hempe, “Ugly Hut Put 2 George A. Fuller Company, George A. Fuller afloat, that are established to extend control Quonset on Map,” Providence Evening Company: General Contractors (New York: or communications or to provide support for Bulletin, 15 July 1966, Quonset Hut George A. Fuller Company, 1937). training and tactical operations. United Collection, Providence College Archives.

3 “Dunbar Sullivan Dredging Company: States Navy, Building the Navy’s Bases in 21 Ibid. Cleveland, Ohio,” 2003, collection GLMS-3, World War II: History of the Bureau of Yards 22 Fred McCosh, Nissen of the Huts (Borne Historical Collection of the Great Lakes, and Docks and the Civil Engineering Corps End, England: B. D. Publishing, 1997), Bowling Green State University Manuscript 1940–1946 (Washington, DC: Government 76–108. and Archival Material, http://www.bgsu.edu/ Printing Office, 1947), 1:162. 23 Keith Mallory and Arvid Ottar, The colleges/library/hcgl/glms0003.html 11 Recordation Report for Naval Construction Architecture of War (New York: Pantheon, (accessed November 14, 2003). Training Center Davisville, 11. 1973), 81.

4 “Merritt-Chapman and Scott,” International 12 George A. Fuller Company, The George A. 24 McCosh, Nissen of the Huts, 109–12. Database and Gallery of Structures (15 October Fuller Company: War and Peace, 1940–1947 25 Hempe, “Ugly Hut Put Quonset on Map.” 2003), http://www.structurae.de/en/firms/ (New York: George A. Fuller Company, 1947), 26 George A. Fuller Company, The George A. data/fir1299.php (accessed November 14, 62. Fuller Company, 63.

2003). 13 “They Slept Under Our Roof,” unknown 27 Ibid. 5 Recordation Report for Naval Construction newspaper source, nd., Quonset Hut 28 Miller assigned a Navy Drawing Training Center Davisville: 9. Collection, Providence College Archives. Accession number 2759 to the drawings and

6 U.S. Department of State, Peace and War: 14 George A. Fuller Company, The George A. forwarded them to Moreell for review. United States Foreign Policy, 1931–1941 Fuller Company, 61–62. 29 R. V. Miller to the Chief of the Bureau of (Washington, DC: U.S., Government Printing 15 Advanced bases are small temporary Yards and Docks, Navy Department, Office, 1943): 564–67. bases established near or within a joint spe- Washington, DC, “Contract NOy-4175, U.S.

7 Board to Negotiate Fee Contracts to the cial operations area to command, control, Naval Air Station Quonset Point, R. I. Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, and/or support training or tactical opera- Temporary Aviation Facilities,” 4 April 1941, “Contract NOy-4175, Aviation shore facilities, tions, usually controlled and/or supported RG 71, box 769, vol. 10, National Archives I, Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, R.I,” con- by a main operations base or a forward Washington, DC. tract correspondence, 20 May 1941, RG 71, operations base. 30 J. N. Laycock to the officer-in-charge of box 769, vol. 2, pg. 2, National Archives I, 16 George A. Fuller Company, The George A. construction, U.S. Naval Air Station, Quonset Washington, D.C. Fuller Company, 62. Point, RI, “Temporary Aviation Facilities,

8 Public Laws. Part 1 of United States 17 Ibid., 63. Contract NOy-4175—A, B, One, Two— Statutes at Large Containing the Laws and 18 A 1985 Yankee Magazine article by Tim Revisions to Partial Summary of Equipment,” Concurrent Resolutions Enacted during the Clark explored and discredited a fifth mem- 8 May 1941, RG 71, box 774, vol. 1, National

150 Notes Archives I, Washington, DC. RI, “Temporary Aviation Facilities, Contract Officer-in-Charge of Construction for Contract 151

31 Tim Clark, “Living in a Quonset Hut Is Like NOy-4175, A, B, One and Two—Change in NOy-4175, Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, Eating Spam,” Yankee Magazine 49, no.11 Designation of 16' x 36' Hut,” 18 July 1941, RG RI, “Temporary Advanced Facilities, Contract (November 1985): 119. 71, box 774, National Archives I, Washington, NOy-4175, P. D. Q.—Authorization to Commit

32 Officer-in-Charge of Contract NOy-4175 to DC. for purchase of Security Materials,” 15 contractors, “Temporary Aviation Facilities, 42 According to Fuller: “A night gale of hurri- December 1941, RG 71, box 777, vol. 16, 16' x 36' Hut—Item 1-A,” 22 May 1941, RG 71, cane proportion that wrecked shipping in the National Archives I, Washington, DC. box 774, vol. 1, National Archives I, harbor, tossed crumpled PBYs (patrol bomber 49 E. S. Huntington to Officer-in-Charge of Washington, DC. planes used by the Navy) on the beach like Construction for Contract NOy-4175, TAF, U.S.

33 George A. Fuller Company, The George A. paper hats, and ripped the covering com- Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, RI, Fuller Company, 63. pletely off of many British Nissen huts, left “Contract NOy-4175, Temporary Advanced

34 “Quonset Hut—Specifications,” vol. 63:14, the Quonset huts practically undamaged.” Facilities, Program for Production of Quonset box 3, manuscript collection 117, Manuscripts George A. Fuller Company, The George A. Huts,” 15 January 1942, RG 71, box 777, vol. Division, Quonset Point—Davisville Records, Fuller Company, 64. 18, National Archives I, Washington, DC.

Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence, 43 “Quonset hut-specifications,” vol. 63:14, 50 Building the Navy’s Bases in World War II, RI. box 3, manuscript collection 117, Manuscripts 1: 162.

35 Building the Navy’s Bases in World War II, Division, Quonset Point—Davisville Records, 51 Recordation Report for Naval Construction 1: 162. Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence, Training Center Davisville: 11.

36 J. N. Laycock to commanding general, U.S. RI. 52 George A. Fuller Company & Merritt- Marine Barracks, Quantico, VA, “Nissen 44 Admiral Ben Moreell to Officer-in-Charge Chapman Scott Corporation, purchase order Huts,” 23 May 1941, RG 71, box 769, vol. 12, of Construction, Contract NOy-4175, Naval #A–16841 addressed to Great Lakes Steel National Archives I, Washington, DC. Air Station, Quonset Point, RI, “Additional Corporation, Stran-Steel Division, 24 July

37 L. E. Rea to the chief of the Bureau of purchases under Contract NOy-4175— 1942, RG 71, box 773, vol. 30, National Yards and Docks, “Equipment for Advanced Supplemental Agreement No. 2 and Change Archives I, Washington, DC.

Bases, procurement of,” 24 May 1941, RG 71, Order,” September 1941, RG 71, box 770, vol. 53 George A. Fuller Company, The George A. box 779, vol. 26. National Archives I, 14, National Archives I, Washington, DC. Fuller Company, 65.

Washington, DC. 45 George A. Fuller Co. & Merritt-Chapman 54 Ibid. 38 It is noted that several other contract cor- Scott Corp., Boiler and Battery Room Addition 55 Building the Navy’s Bases in World War II, respondences between 1941 and 1942 make to Dispensary Surgical Hut (drawing), Navy 1: 162. reference to the twenty-foot-long hut, Accession No. 3736, approved 5 September 56 Ibid. although little is known about this variation 1941, RG 71, Master Facility 215, 57 Ibid. of the design. Cartographic and Architectural Branch, 58 Ibid., 1:374–75. 39 D. W. Hopkins, memorandum to the Chief National Archives II, College Park, MD. 59 Ibid. of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, “Comments 46 Monica Garcia Brooks, ed., The Good 60 Ibid. on Nissen Huts,” 18 June 1941, RG 71, box Housekeeping Stran-Steel House, Chicago 61 Ibid., 1:133. 774, vol. 2, National Archives I, Washington, World’s Fair, 1933, http://members.tripod. 62 Leonid I. Shmookler, Naval Construction DC. com/~brooks_mgb/stran3.htm (accessed on Battalion Center Davisville, Davisville, Rhode

40 Officer-in-Charge of Construction to Chief November 16, 2003). Island, A Historical Perspective 1942–1994, of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, “Contract 47 George A. Fuller Co. & Merritt-Chapman (Port Hueneme, California: Northern Division NOy-4175, Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Scott Corp., Redesign of 16' x 36' Quonset Hut Naval Facilities Engineering Command, R.I.—Temporary Aviation Facilities—A, B, (drawing), Navy Accession No. 3722, 1994): 1.

One Two—Crating of Quonset Huts,” August approved 21 October 1941, RG 71, Master 63 Ibid., 1:133–34. 8, 1941, RG 71, box 775, vol. 9, National Facility 215, Cartographic and Architectural 64 Building the Navy’s Bases in World War II, Archives I, Washington, DC. Branch, National Archives II, College Park, 1:135–36.

41 E. S. Huntington to officer-in-charge of con- MD. 65 Naval Construction Battalion Center struction, Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, 48 Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks to Davisville, Davisville, Rhode Island, A

151 Notes Historical Perspective 1942–1994, 4. 14 Marc-Antoine Laugier, Essai sur 9 Paulette Goddard, “The Great Housing 66 90th USN Construction Battalion: Its L’architecture (An Essay on Architecture), Shortage,” Life 19, no. 25 (17 December History and Accomplishments 1943–1945 trans. Wolfgang Hermann and Anni 1945): 30.

(Baton Rouge, LA: Army & Navy Pictorial Herrmann (Los Angeles: Hennessey and 10 “U.S. Needs 16,100,000 New in Ten Publishers, 1946). Ingalls, Inc., 1977). Years,” Life 19, no. 25 (17 December 1945):

67 Building the Navy’s Bases in World War II, 15 I wish to acknowledge the work of Keith 33. 1:373. Mallory and Arvid Ottar and in particular 11 Ibid. 68 Arctic Contractors, 20' x 48' Hut Truss Trail their book, The Architecture of War, which 12 Ibid. Freighting: Oumalik Test Well, No. 1, Drawing was an invaluable reference in preparing this 13 Paulette Goddard, “The Great Housing No 698.1, NARL Collection Archives, chapter; Chris Chiei and Julie Decker for Shortage,” Life 19, no. 25 (17 December University of Alaska, Fairbanks. their advice; and Martha Thorne and Lori 1945): 33.

69 “Post Maintenance Builds Trailer to Move Hanna Boyer at The Art Institute of Chicago 14 Harley E. Howe, “Stop Gap Housing,” Huts,” The Pendelton Scout, October 25, 1948. who provided access to many drawings by Popular Science, March 1946, 66–71.

Bruce Goff in the Institute’s archive at the 15 Ibid., 68. Chapter 3 Department of Architecture. 16 Gwendolyn Wright, Building the Dream: A War, Design, and Weapons of Mass Social History of Housing in America (New Construction Chapter 4 York: Pantheon Books, 1981), 253. Brian Carter After the War: Quonset Huts and Their 17 Albrecht, World War II and the American 1 The components defined two millenna ago Integration Into Daily American Life Dream, 253. by the Roman architect Vitruvius. Tom Vanderbilt 18 Hine, Blueprints for Modern Living, 169. 2 “The on the Western Front,” 1 Charles Cutler, Tracks That Speak (New 19 Sheldon Cheney and Martha Candler The Architects’ and Builders’ Journal 45 York: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2002). Cheney, Art and the Machine: An Account of

(February 14, 1917): 91. 2 Donald Albrecht, World War II and the Industrial Design in 20th-century America 3 Terry Smith, Albert Kahn: Inspiration for the American Dream: How War Time Buildings (1936; New York: Acanthus Press, 1992), 160. Modern (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Changed a Nation (Cambridge, MA: MIT 20 Arthur J. Pulos, The American Design Museum of Art, 2001), 35. Press, 1995), xvi. Adventure, 1940–1975 (Cambridge, Mass:

4 Waldo G. Bowman, “Military huts and 3 Great Lakes Steel Corporations, Stran-Steel MIT Press), 31. structures at American installations in Division advertisement, New Pencil Points, 21 Quoted in Dana Cuff, The Provisional City: Britain,” Engineering News Record, October September 1943. Los Angeles Stories of Architecture and

21, 1943, 98. 4 Great Lakes Steel Corporations, Stran-Steel Urbanism (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2000), 5 “Competition Prize Winners,” The Division advertisement, New Pencil Points, 182. Architectural Forum, September 1943, 88–89. September 1943. 22 Rodger Young was a slain serviceman 6 Herbert Matter, Charles Eames, and 5 Thomas Hine, “The Search for the Postwar after whom the Rodger Young Village was Buckminster Fuller, “Prefabricated Housing,” House,” in Blueprints for Modern Living: named. The village was, then, a rare instance Arts & Architecture, July 1944, 37. History and Legacy of the Case Study Houses of a new ethnically mixed American commu-

7 Ibid. (Los Angeles: Museum of Contemporary Art; nity. Dana Cuff, The Provisional City: Los 8 Ibid. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1989), 169. Angeles Stories of Architecture and Urbanism 9 Reyner Banham, The Age of the Masters 6 J. B. Jackson, Discovering the Vernacular (Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 2000). (New York: Harper & Row, 1962), 77. Landscape (New Haven: Yale University 23 “Big Rodger Young Village Vanishing,” Los

10 Ibid. Press, 1986), 135. Angeles Times, 4 April 1954, part 2, 1–2.

11 David Gilson De Long, The Architecture of 7 Great Lakes Steel Corporations, Stran-Steel 24 Cuff, The Provisional City, 186. Bruce Goff: Buildings and Projects, 1916–1974 Division advertisement, Architectural Record, 25 Ibid., 178. (New York: Garland Publishing, Inc., 1977), February 1944. 26 Grace Simons, “Project Eviction 195. 8 Great Lakes Steel Corporations, Stran-Steel Attacked,” California Eagle 72, no. 45 12 Banham, The Age of the Masters, 79. Division advertisement, Architectural Record, (February 7, 1952): 1. 13 Ibid. September 1944. 27 Mark Pandanell, “Texas City Firefighters

152 Notes 1259,” http://www.local1259iaff.org/disas- (posted 28 February 2002). 64 T. Luke Young, The Unassuming Quonset: ter.html. 45 Alastair Gordon, Weekend Utopia (New Survival of Semi-Circular Significance, no. 4 28 Great Lakes Steel Corporations, Stran-Steel York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2001), 49. (Washington, DC: Cultural Resource Division advertisement, Saturday Evening 46 Ibid., 50. Management, U.S. Department of the Interior, Post, 15 May 1948. 47 “Hillside House,” Architectural Forum, National Park Service, 1996), 9. 29 “Converted Quonset,” Art and August 1950, 95. 65 Joe Marshall, letter to the editor, “City Architecture, December 1946, 34–35. 48 Quote from Sheldon Cheney and Martha Handling of Huts Distasteful Troubling!” Daily 30 P. J. McKenna, “Planting for the Temporary Candler Cheney, Art and the Machine: An News Bowling Green Kentucky, November 10, , The New York Times, 6 April 1947. Account of Industrial Design in 20th-century 2003, http://bgdailynews.com/.

31 Helen Weigel Brown, “A Home from a America (1936; New York: Acanthus Press, 66 Quentin Wagenfield, “From to Quonset Hut,” House Beautiful, September 1992), 1. Sanctuaries,” Your Church. January/February

1946, 120–2. 49 Ruth Ford, letter to Bruce Goff, October 18, 2003, 54. 32 Helen Weigel Brown, “How to Convert a 1948, folder 4.14, box 4, series II, Goff Quonset to an Emergency Home,” House Archives, Ryerson and Burnham Archives, Chapter 5 Beautiful, September 1946, 140–41. Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois. The Huts That Wouldn’t Go Away:

33 Great Lakes Steel Corporations, Stran-Steel 50 Jeffrey Cook, The Architecture of Bruce Alaska Adopts the Hut Division advertisement, Saturday Evening Goff (London: Harper and Row, 1978), 24. Chris Chiei

Post, 14 June 1947. 51 The Provisional City, 194. 1 “100 Home Units Seen Needed Here,” 34 Quonsets: The Story of a Building that 52 Great Lakes Steel Corp., Stran-Steel Fairbanks Daily News Miner, January 20, Gave America a New Standard of Quality Division advertisement text, Architectural 1945.

Building Values (Detroit: Great Lakes Steel Record, June 1947. 2 “Housing Needs Reflected in C. of C. Corporation, Stran-Steel Division, n.d.). 53 Jan Cohn, The Palace or the Poorhouse: Study,” Anchorage Daily Times, January 20, 35 Los Angeles Times, September 6, 1991. The American House as a Cultural Symbol 1945. 36 Thomas Hine, Populuxe (New York: Alfred (East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University 3 “1482 Housing Units Needed, Delays A. Knopf, 1986). Press, 1979), 238. Loom,” Anchorage Daily Times, September 3,

37 The Talk of the Town, The New Yorker, 54 Alan Dunn, The Last Lath (New York: 1946. March 1946. Architectural Record and F. W. Dodge 4 Annual Report of the Governor of Alaska, 38 John J. Bertin and Michel L. Smith, Corporation, 1947). June 30, 1948:46, Alaska State Archives, Aerodynamics for Engineers, 2nd ed. (New 55 The Los Angeles Times, September 6, 1991. Juneau, Alaska. Jersey, Prentice Hall, 1989), 95, 114, 115. 56 The Los Angeles Times, September 6, 1991. 5 “Army to Take Over Hotel Here,” Fairbanks 39 Tim Clark, “Living in a Quonset Hut is Like 57 Christopher Reynolds, “An Ode to the Daily News Miner, September 15, 1942. Eating Spam,” Yankee Magazine 44, No. 1, Forgotten Quonset Anniversary: The corru- 6 “Another Hotel Here Taken Over,” Fairbanks (November 1985): 120. gated metal hut turned 50 this summer. But Daily News Miner, September 29, 1942.

40 Abigail McCarthy, “The Can-Do Quonset,” the ‘fabulous example of American ingenuity’ 7 “List Materials Considered Taboo In Commonweal, November 8, 1991, 634. will go unfeted” Los Angeles Times, Sep 6, Construction Industry,” Anchorage Daily

41 Lewis Lapham, “The Boys Next Door,” 1991, 16, Orange County edition. Times, 1 May 1, 1942. Harper’s Magazine, July 2001, 11. 58 The Los Angeles Times, September 6, 1991. 8 “A Stampede to Buy Homes,” Anchorage 42 Amber Ridington, “History Worth 59 The Sacramento Bee, April 4, 2003. Daily Times, July, 11 1944. Preserving—The Quonset Auditorium,” 60 “Brief History,” http://www.xmission.com/ 9 United States Department of the Interior, Landmark Report, (Bowling Green, KY: ~hta/history.html The Alaska Railroad War Record, August 20,

Landmark Association of Bowling Green- 61 “Postwar homes are latest preservation 1945. Warren County, February 2002), 1. territory,” St. Petersburg Times, May 25, 2002. 10 “Sale of Huts to Aid Housing,” Anchorage 43 Ibid. 62 The Journal News, March 5, 2001. Daily Times, May 29,1945. 44 Tom Quinlan, “The Stat-up Culture,” 63 Fred Williamson quoted in Tim Clark, 11See Appendix: Hut Types. Reed http://www.siliconvalley.com/mid/siliconval- “Living in a Quonset Hut is Like Eating Construction Company, Pacific Builder and ley/living/2765031.htm Spam,” 122. Engineer, December 1943.

153 Notes 12 See Appendix: Hut Types. James D. Bush, 27, 1947. 46 Gretchen Bersch and Findlay Abbott, Narrative Report of Alaska Construction 28 “No Housing Available for Needy interview by Chris Chiei, April 29, 2004. 1941–1944 (Anchorage: Department of the Transients,” Anchorage Daily Times, May 6, 47 Ibid. Navy, U.S. Engineer District Alaska, 1984); 1946. 48 Two page advertisement by Oregon and Civilian Aeronautics Administration, 36 x 29 “Welfare Group Given Quonset,” Export Company, “Your New Home,” 60' Steeldrome Cowin Huts Erection and Anchorage Daily Times, 23, October 23, 1946. Anchorage Daily Times, April 22, 1947.

Insulation Details (drawing), based on Cowin 30 The Alaskan Railroad was an icon of 49 “Packaged Homes to be Sold Here by Selid Company originals, 1944. Alaska and still is a major corporation and a Company,” Fairbanks Daily News Miner, April

13 “Army Huts as Housing,” Anchorage Daily large employer in Fairbanks, Anchorage, and 23, 1947. Times, May 31, 1945. Seward. 50 Tyler Jones, “Dine in a Quonset hut,” 14 “Buildings for Sale,” Anchorage Daily 31 United States Department of the Interior, Anchorage Daily Times, April 8, 1973. Times, June 1,1945. The Alaska Railroad War Record, August 20, 51 Gerry Kirchner, We Found our Spot in 15 “May Put Ban on Quonsets,” Anchorage 1945, 40. Alaska (Anchorage: Soroptimist Daily Times, June 8, 1945. 32 “Housing Units to be Placed on Club), 3. 16 See Appendix: Hut Types. Butler Government Hill,” Anchorage Daily Times, 52 Ibid., 10–11. Manufacturing Company, Building a Legacy: June 13, 1946. 53 Helen Gillette, “Kirchner Sees Gloomy Butler in the Twentieth Century, Butler 33 Ibid. Future for the Creative Cook,” Anchorage Military Quarters brochure (Kansas City, MO: 34 “ARR Granted Whittier Area,” Anchorage Daily Times, September 11, 1968. Butler Manufacturing Company, 1941). Daily Times, July 26, 1946. 54 Kirchner, We Found our Spot in Alaska, 18. 17 Anchorage Ordinance No. 157, June 13, 35 “ARR Workers Can Get Huts,” Anchorage 55 Ibid., 22. 1945: 41–43, Loussac Library, Alaska Daily Times, August 21, 1946. 56 Ibid., 20–21. Collection Archives; and “Restrict Use of 36 “Government Hill Project Halted by Lack 57 Ibid., 27. Quonsets to Two Years,” Anchorage Daily of Funds.” Anchorage Daily Times, November 58 Ibid., 29. Times, June 14, 1945. 13, 1948. 59 Helen Gillette, “Kirchner Sees Gloomy 18 “Army Buildings Draw 56 Bids,” 37 “Anchorage Men Buy Seward Army Future for the Creative Cook,” Anchorage Anchorage Daily Times, June 21, 1945. Housing,” Anchorage Daily Times, October Daily Times, September 11, 1968.

19 “Would Erect Quonset Hut,” Anchorage 10, 1944. 60 He opposed the statehood of Alaska; he Daily Times, July 26, 1945. 38 Fred R. Kessler, Real Estate Consultant did not think Alaska was ready. 20 Seward Briefs, Anchorage Daily Times, and Appraiser, to Mr. C. W. Kersow, Bureau of 61 Bill Kossen, “Garden of Eatin’ Food December 2, 1947. Land Management, August 5, 1947, Record Rewards Explorers,” Anchorage Daily Times,

21 “Building and Zoning Code Described,” Group No. 270, box 2, Real Estate Disposal March 31, 1982. Fairbanks Daily News Miner, May 15, 1946. Case Files, 1944–49, National Archives— 62 Ibid. 22 “Dedicated Hut for Boy Scouts,” Pacific Alaska Region, Anchorage. 63 Helve Enatti, “Anchorage Public Schools Anchorage Daily Times, June 6, 1945. 39 See Appendix: Hut Types. 1915–1951: A Thirty-six-year School 23 “Drama Group May Get Hut,” Anchorage 40 “Farmers Buy Garrison Building,” Development Study” (master’s thesis, Daily Times, August 21, 1946. Ketchikan Alaska Chronicle, October 9, 1945. University of Alaska, May 1967), 210, box 1,

24 “Ask Space for Huts for Teen Town Here,” 41 Jessie DeVries, interview by Chris Chiei, volume II, Anchorage Public Schools Anchorage Daily Times, February 28, 1946. January 25, 2003. Collection, University of Fairbanks Library.

25 “Elks Quonset Hut Purchased by Teen 42 Ibid. 64 “School Board Can Get Huts,” Anchorage

Town,” Fairbanks Daily News Miner, 43 Dennis and Cleo Green, interview by Daily Times, July 17, 1947 and “City Acquires December 12, 1945. Chris Chiei, July 10, 2003. School Huts,” Anchorage Daily Times, August

26 “Statement Issued on Closing of Teen 44 Wyman Owens, email message to Sandi 7, 1946. Town Project,” Fairbanks Daily News Miner, Gerjevic, November 18, 2001. 65 Enatti, “Anchorage Public Schools October 6, 1947. 45 See Appendix: Hut Types. Progressive 1915–1951,” 211. 27 “Teen Town Hut Bought as Bus Waiting Architecture, February 1943, 25. This hut was 66 “Students Jam School Rooms,” Anchorage Room,” Fairbanks Daily News Miner, October designed for Arctic weather conditions. Daily Times, September 2, 1946.

154 Notes 67 Enatti, “Anchorage Public Schools Genesis, History and Development of the 1915–1951,” 211. Portable Building Type (New York: Wiley,

68 “Army Offers Hospital Units,” Anchorage 2002). Daily Times, December 6, 1947. 3 Festo Corporation, “Airtecture,” Festo, 69 “New Hospital Assured for Palmer,” The http://www.festo.com/INetDomino/coorp_site Frontiersman (Matanuska Valley, Alaska), s/en/d948c8ea6f89ec2ac1256b3b004f8f18.htm.

February 26, 1953. 4 Jim Griffin, interview by Chris Chiei, June 70 Cathleen Doyle, interview by Chris Chiei, 2003. July 13, 2003. 5 Cathleen Doyle, interview by Chris Chiei, 71 Bill Green, interview by Chris Chiei, August 2003. August 2004.

72 Hank Dubee, interview by Chris Chiei, July 10, 2003.

73 Jack Roderick, Crude Dreams, (Fairbanks/Seattle: Epicenter Press, 1997), 73–85.

74 Pastor Richard Benjamin, Sr., interview by Chris Chiei, April 2004.

75 Louis L Renner, Father Tom of the Arctic (Portland Oregon: Binford & Mort Publishing, 1985), 105.

76 Ibid., 105. 77 Ibid., 106. 78 Ibid., 105. 79 Ibid., 106–7. 80 Catholic Bishop of Northern Alaska, “Barrow, St. Patrick Church,” Diocese of Fairbanks, http://www.cbna.info/churches/ barrow.html.

81 “Priest Sadly Missed,” The Yukon News, August 27, 1993.

82 See Appendix: Hut Types 83 Beat Ledergerber, interview by Chris Chiei, July 15, 2003.

84 Hank Dubee, interview by Chris Chiei, July 10, 2003.

85 Jim Griffin, interview by Chris Chiei, August 8, 2003.

Chapter 6 Quonsets Today: Concluding Thoughts Julie Decker and Chris Chiei

1 Jennifer Siegal, Mobile: The Art of Portable Architecture (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2002).

2 Robert Kronenburg, Houses in Motion: The

155 Notes Image Credits 12 Courtesy of the Rhode Island Historical 25 TOP From Building the Navy’s Bases in Society, Manuscripts Collection, Mss 177, World War II, vol. I, (Washington, D.C.: Frontmatter Quonset Point-Davisville Records, box 3 United States Government Printing i Courtesy of the National Archives, RG 80-G- 13 LEFT Courtesy of the National Archives, Office, 1947). 50407 RG 342-FH-3A-39511 25 BOTTOM Courtesy of Bettmann/CORBIS, ii–iii Courtesy of the National Archives, 13 RIGHT Courtesy of the National Archives, No. BE028487 RG80-G-201671 RG 80-G-225423 26 Courtesy of Alaska Design Forum iv Courtesy of the National Archives, RG 80- 14 Courtesy of the National Archives, RG 80- 28 TOP LEFT From 90th USN Construction G-229524 G-209497 Battalion: Its History and v Courtesy of the Navy Historical Center, No. 15 Courtesy of the National Archives, RG 71, Accomplishments 1943–1945 (Baton USN 427450 box 774, vol. 4 Rouge, Louisiana: Army Navy Pictorial viii Courtesy of the National Archives, RG 80- 16 Courtesy of the Kimberly-Clark Corporate Publisher, 1946). G-346021 Archives 28 TOP RIGHT Courtesy of the University of xiii Courtesy of the University of Alaska 17 Courtesy of the National Archives, Alaska Fairbanks, Elmer E. Rasmuson Fairbanks, Elmer E. Rasmuson Library Cartographic and Architectural Records, Library Archives, Floyd Akin Collection, Archives, Tom Christensen Collection, NWCS-071-NAS Plan #QN-1-163: NAS folder 82, box 3, Accession No. 78-133- folder 20, box 1, Accession No. 79-29-319 Quonset Point RI Quonset Hut Temp. 164 Advan. Facility—Redesign of 16-Ft.x36- 28 BOTTOM Courtesy of Alaska Design Introduction Ft./Navy Accession #3722 (02 Oct 1941) Forum xiv Courtesy of the National Archives, Air [30 x 42] Force RG 342-FH-3a3929656 18 Courtesy of Alaska Design Forum Chapter 2 19 From “Japan Attacks U.S.,” Fairbanks Quonsets, Alaska, and World War II Chapter 1 Daily News Miner, December 7, 1941 Steven Haycox How the Hut Came to Be 20 Courtesy of the Rhode Island Historical 30 Courtesy of the National Archives, RG Chris Chiei Society, Manuscripts Collection, Mss 177, 342-FH-3a29659 xviii Courtesy of the Rhode Island Historical Quonset Point-Davisville Records, box 3 32 Diagram by Clark Yerrington Society, Manuscripts Collection, Mss 177, 21 TOP LEFT Courtesy of the University of 33 Courtesy of the National Archives, RG 80- Quonset Point-Davisville Records, box 3 Alaska Fairbanks, Elmer E. Rasmuson G-34938 2 Courtesy of Alaska Design Forum Library Archives, Tom Christensen 34 TOP Courtesy of the Z. J. Loussac Public 3 From The George A. Fuller Company, War Collection, Folder 20, Box 1, Accession Library, Anchorage, AK and Peace, 1940–1947, George A. Fuller No. 79-29-320 34 CENTER Courtesy of the National Company, NY, 1947 21 TOP RIGHT Courtesy of the University of Archives, RG 111-SC-323196 4–5 Courtesy of the Brandenberger Family Alaska Fairbanks, Elmer E. Rasmuson 34 BOTTOM Courtesy of Public Archives 6 LEFT Courtesy of the National Archives, Library Archives, Tom Christensen Canada; Canada, Yukon Territorial RG 111-SC-138660 Collection, folder 20, box 1, Accession Records, PA 172962 6 RIGHT Courtesy of the National Archives, No. 79-29-319 35 Photograph by Ford Relyea Dally. Courtesy RG 111-SC-129337 21 BOTTOM LEFT Courtesy of the University of the Anchorage Museum of History and 8 TOP, CENTER RIGHT, and BOTTOM RIGHT of Alaska Fairbanks, Elmer E. Rasmuson Art, No. B96.35.2 From The George A. Fuller Company, War Library Archives, Tom Christensen 36 LEFT Courtesy of the University of Alaska and Peace, 1940–1947, George A. Fuller Collection, folder 22, box 1, Accession Fairbanks, Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, Company, NY, 1947 No. 79-29-330 Archives, Willie Hodge Drake Collection, 8 LEFT Courtesy of the National Archives, 21 BOTTOM RIGHT Courtesy of the National folder 6, box 2, Accession No. 92-044- RG-71, box 774, vol. 2 Archives, RG 342-FH-3b47102 126N 10–11 Courtesy of the Rhode Island Historical 22 Courtesy of the Kodiak Historical Society, 36 TOP RIGHT Courtesy of the National Society, Manuscripts Collection, Mss 177, Logan Estate Collection Archives, RG 80-G-78164 Quonset Point-Davisville Records, box 3 36 BOTTOM RIGHT Courtesy of U.S. Army Garrison, AK

156 Image Credits 37 TOP LEFT Courtesy of the National 51 Courtesy of Lucia Eames Demetrios dba 65 TOP RIGHT Courtesy of the National 157 Archives, RG 80-G-242074 Eames Office Archives, RG 80-G-347029 37 TOP RIGHT Courtesy of the National 53 Courtesy of Eames Office # OA.KWP001 65 BOTTOM Courtesy of the National Archives, RG 80-G-210265 54 Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago, Archives, RG 80-G-346021 37 BOTTOM Photo by Dmitri Kessel. From Ryerson and Burnham Library, Bruce Goff 66 Courtesy of the National Archives, RG 80- “The Aleutians: They are Barren Links Archive, E29904 G-51115 Between Two Worlds,” Life Magazine, 55 TOP Courtesy of the Art Institute of 67 TOP LEFT From New Pencil Points, March 13,1943. Courtesy of Time Inc. Chicago, Offsite Study Room, Bruce Goff December 1943 38 Courtesy of the National Archives, RG 80- Archive, Accession No.1990.855.1, E29850 67 TOP RIGHT From Pencil Points, June 1944 G-311919 55 BOTTOM Courtesy of the Art Institute of 67 BOTTOM LEFT From Architectural Record, 39 Courtesy of the National Archives, RG 80- Chicago, Ryerson and Burnham Library, February 1944 G-235328 Bruce Goff Archive, Series III, Folder 5.7, 67 BOTTOM RIGHT From Architectural 40 TOP LEFT From Harold Hobbard, Arctic E29916 Record, January 1944 Issue (Alberta: Hamly Press Ltd., 56 TOP Courtesy of the Art Institute of 69 Photograph by Ed Clark. Courtesy of Time Edmonton, 1945) Chicago, Offsite Study Room, Bruce Goff & Life Pictures/Getty Images, No. 40 TOP RIGHT Courtesy of Jake Nunn Archive, Accession No.1990.819.3 50628556 40 BOTTOM LEFT From Bernard Anastasia, 56 BOTTOM Courtesy of the Art Institute of 70 From “Sing Barrel House Blues,” Oliver Pedigo, and Don L. Miller, Wind Chicago, Offsite Study Room, Bruce Goff Anchorage Daily Times, April 8, 1946 Blown and Dripping: A Book of Aleutian Archive, Accession No.1990.819.4 72 LEFT Leonard Nadel Photo Archives (Aleutian Islands: Privately published, 57 Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago, 72 RIGHT Courtesy of Security Pacific 1945). Courtesy of the Anchorage Ryerson and Burnham Library, Bruce Goff National Bank Photograph Collection, Los Museum of History and Art, No. Archive, Series III, Box 5, Folder 5.25 Angeles Public Library, and Evelyn De B96.35.4.8 58 Photograph by Eliot Elisofon. From “The Wolfe Nadel 40 BOTTOM RIGHT From Bernard Anastasia, Round House,” Life Magazine, March 19, 74 TOP From “Converted Quonset for Dr. & Oliver Pedigo, and Don L. Miller, Wind 1951. Courtesy of Time & Life Mrs. Morris Felton at Fallen Leaf Lake, Blown and Dripping: A Book of Aleutian Pictures/Getty Images, No. 1204682 Calif.,” Art and Architecture Magazine, (Aleutian Islands: Privately published, 59 Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago, December 1946 1945). Courtesy of the Anchorage Ryerson and Burnham Library, Bruce Goff 74 BOTTOM From Saturday Evening Post, Museum of History and Art, No. Archive, Series III, Box 5, Folder 5, 22 May 15, 1948 B96.35.4.8 60 LEFT Photo by Hans Namuth. Courtesy of 75 From “Converted Quonset for Dr. & Mrs. 41 From Ketchikan Alaska Chronicle, the Center for Creative Photography, No. Morris Felton at Fallen Leaf Lake, Calif.,” September 29, 1945 CCP_HN_R.Motherwell 1953. Art and Architecture Magazine, 42 LEFT Courtesy of the National Archives, 60 RIGHT Photograph by Max Dupain & December 1946 RG 80-G-12031 Associates 76 From “Stop Gap Housing,” Popular 42 RIGHT Courtesy of the National Archives, 61 Photograph by Gianni Berengo Gardin. Science, March 1946 RG 80-G-12038 Courtesy of Renzo Piano Building 77 Cover of Popular Science, March 1946 45 Photograph by Clark James Mishler Workshop. 78–79 From “A home from a Quonset hut,” House Beautiful, September 1945 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 80 LEFT Stran-Steel advertisement, 1954 War, Design, and Weapons of Mass After the War: Quonset Huts and Their 80 RIGHT From Saturday Evening Post, Construction Integration Into Daily American Life February 26, 1949 Brian Carter Tom Vanderbilt 82 From Saturday Evening Post, September 46 Courtesy of the Library of Congress Prints 62 Coca-Cola advertisement, 1943 18, 1948 and Photographs Division, Washington, 64 From Pencil Points, September 1943 83 TOP LEFT From Saturday Evening Post, DC, LC-USZ62-121070 65 TOP LEFT Courtesy of the National February 26, 1949 48 Courtesy of Loring Archives, RG 80-G-56522 83 TOP RIGHT From Saturday Evening Post, November 27, 1948

157 Image Credits 83 BOTTOM From Saturday Evening Post, 95 TOP From “Hillside House,” Architectural History and Art, No. B86.28.2343 June 14, 1947 Forum, August 1950 120 RIGHT Courtesy of the Anchorage 85 TOP LEFT Courtesy of The Motion Picture 95 BOTTOM From “Bank in Cleveland,” Museum of History and Art, Ward Wells and Television Photo Archive Architectural Forum, September 1948 Collection No. C233 85 TOP RIGHT Courtesy of Alaska Design 96 Photograph by Eliot Elisofon. Courtesy of 121 Courtesy of the Valley Hospital, Palmer, Forum Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images, No. Alaska 85 BOTTOM LEFT Courtesy of Alaska Design 1204684 122 TOP Courtesy of the Alaska State Forum 97 Photograph by Eliot Elisofon. Courtesy of Library, Juneau, PCA01-4445 85 BOTTOM RIGHT Courtesy of Alaska Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images, No. 122 BOTTOM Courtesy of the Anchorage Design Forum 1204686 Museum of History and Art, Ward Wells 86 From Saturday Evening Post, March 26, 98 From Architectural Record, June 1947 Collection No. B83.91 1949 99 From Alan Dunn, The Last Lath (New 124 Photograph by Charles Mobley 87 TOP Courtesy of the Yale University York: Architectural Record and the F.W. 126 LEFT Courtesy of Yukon Archives, Yukon Library, Manuscripts and Archives, New Dodge Corporation, 1947). Department of Tourism Collection PHO- Haven, CT 103 Courtesy of Abbey of our Lady of the 080 Accession No. 77-56 #325 87 BOTTOM Courtesy of Bettmann/CORBIS, Holy Trinity, Huntsville, UT 126 RIGHT Photograph by Clark James No. BE029330 Mishler 88–89 From Quonsets: The Story of a Building Chapter 5 127 Photograph by Clark James Mishler that Gave America a New Standard of The Huts That Wouldn’t Go Away: 128 Photograph by Bruce Binder Quality Building Values, Great Lakes Alaska Adopts the Hut 130 Photograph by Clark James Mishler Steel Corporation, Detroit, MI. Courtesy Chris Chiei 131 Photograph by Clark James Mishler of Alaska Design Forum. 104 Courtesy of Chris Arend Photography 90 From Saturday Evening Post, April 12, 106 Headline in Anchorage Daily Times, Chapter 6 1947 August 29, 1946 Quonsets Today: Concluding Thoughts 91 TOP LEFT From Country Gentlemen, June 107 Courtesy of the Anchorage Museum of Julie Decker and Chris Chiei 1946 History and Art, No. BL79.2.110 132 Photograph by Kevin G. Smith 91 TOP RIGHT Courtesy of Alaska Design 109 Courtesy of the Anchorage Museum of 134 LEFT Photograph by Ignacio Martinez. Forum History and Art, No. BL79.2.7754 Courtesy of Oskar Leo Kaufmann and 91 BOTTOM LEFT Courtesy of Alaska Design 110 Article in Anchorage Daily Times, August Johannes Kaufmann. Forum 21, 1946 134 RIGHT Photograph by Hiroyuki Hirai 91 BOTTOM RIGHT Courtesy of the Seabee 111 Courtesy of the Anchorage Museum of 135 From Kimfacts, August 1946. Courtesy of Museum and Memorial Park, Quonset History and Art, No. B59.X.1.72 the Kimberly-Clark Corporate Archives. Point 112 TOP Photograph by Kevin G. Smith 136–37 Photographs by Kevin G. Smith 92 TOP Courtesy of Joe Marshall 112 BOTTOM Courtesy of the Anchorage 138 TOP Photograph by Kevin G. Smith 92 BOTTOM LEFT Courtesy of the Country Museum of History and Art, No. 138 BOTTOM Courtesy of Wolfgang Music Hall of Fame and Museum, B59.X.1.22 and B59.X.1.23 Kaehler/CORBIS, No. WK019441 Nashville, TN 113 Courtesy of Hal Johnston 139 Photograph by Clark James Mishler 92 BOTTOM RIGHT From “Johnny Maddox 116 Courtesy of the Abbott family 140 Photographs by Kevin G. Smith and his Rhythm Masters Return to the 117 TOP Courtesy of the Anchorage Museum 141 Photographs by Clark James Mishler New Quonset Every Saturday Night,” of History and Art, Steve McCutcheon 142 TOP Photograph by Kevin G. Smith Park City Daily News, March 21, 1952. Collection, No. MCC 175 142 BOTTOM Photograph by Clark James Courtesy of Park City Daily News. 117 BOTTOM LEFT Courtesy of Duke Russell Mishler 93 Courtesy of the Gerald R. Ford Library, 117 BOTTOM RIGHT Courtesy of the 143 TOP Photograph by Clark James Mishler Ann Arbor, MI Anchorage Museum of History and Art 143 BOTTOM Photograph by Patrick J. 94 Photo by Judith Turner. Courtesy of Judith 120 LEFT Photo by Hermann N. Kurriger. Endres Turner. Courtesy of the Anchorage Museum of 144 Photograph by Kevin G. Smith

158 Image Credits 145 Photographs by Clark James Mishler 146 LEFT Photograph by Clark James Mishler 146 RIGHT Photograph by Don Pitcher 147 LEFT Photograph by Don Pitcher 147 RIGHT Photograph by Clark James Mishler

Appendix Hut-type drawings by Shelah Shanks and Clark Yerrington

Cover Front Cover: Courtesy of Bettmann/CORBIS, No. BE029292

Back cover: TOP LEFT Courtesy of Bettmann/CORBIS, No. BE028487 TOP RIGHT Photograph by Ford Relyea Dally. Courtesy of the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, No. B96.35.2 BOTTOM LEFT Courtesy of the National Archives, RG 80-G-311919 BOTTOM RIGHT Courtesy of Bettmann/ CORBIS, No. BE029330

159 Image Credits Index Bethlehem Steel Company, 16 Doyle, Cathleen, 121–22, 139 161 Italics indicate illustrations. Bishop, William, 123 Dubee, Hank, 123, 130 Boy Scout Troop 618, 109 Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 42, 42, 43 Abbey of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity Bradley, Owen, 87, 93 Dymaxion Deployment Unit (Emanuel (Huntsville, Utah), 101, 103 Brandenberger, Otto, 4, 4, 19, 148 Norquist), 52–53 Abbott, Chuck, 116 resume, 5 Dymaxion House (R. Buckminster Fuller), 46, Abbott, Findlay, 114 Brink, Frank, 109 52, 54 Abbott Loop Church (Anchorage, Alaska), Buckner, Simon Bolivar, 33, 43 Eagle Plant (Eagle “B”), 49 124 building industry, 68, 70, 106 Eames, Charles, 52, 53, 54, 64, 65–66 Aboriginal Alcoholic Rehabilitation Centre Butler, Hugh, 119 Eames, Ray, 51, 53 (Glen Morcutt), 60 Butler huts, 108, 126, 129, 148 Eareckson, W. O., xiv acoustics, 123, 124 Butler Manufacturing Company, 52–53, 148 Edmiston, Jeremy, 134 Advanced Base Depot, 23 Camp Parks Chapel and Library (Bruce Goff), Emkay (M-K) hut, 149 Alaska, x, 14, 31–34, 36, 41–44, 104–30 55, 57, 94 Entenza, John, 52 map, 32 Canol Pipeline project, 34, 35 Essai sur l’architecture (Marc-Antoine Alaska Defense Command, 34, 43 Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corporation, 16 Laugier), 61 Alaska Design Forum, xi Carroll, Cornel John E., 125 factories, 49–50 Alaska Highway, 34, 125, 126 Case Study House program, 52 Fairbanks, Alaska, 105–6, 108 Alaska Railroad, 110–11, 118 CB. See Seabees. Father Tom. See Cunningham, Thomas. Alaska Railroad Brotherhood of Locomotive Cedros Design District, 100 Felton House (John Campbell and Worley K. Firemen and Enginemen, 108 celotex, 148 Wong Architects), 74, 75 Albrecht, C. Earl, 110 Chareau, Pierre, 60–61, 94 Festo Corporate Design, 133 Anchorage, Alaska, 106–8, 119 Chase, David, 84 Fitzgibbon, James, M., 95, 96 Anchorage Daily Times, 106, 106, 107, 110 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Ford, President Gerald, 93 Anchorage Health and Welfare Council, (Bruce Goff), 57 Ford, Ruth Van Sickle, 96 109–10 Cline, Patsy, 92 Foster, Norman, 61 Anchorage Rotary Club, 109 Coca-Cola, 62 FRED (Oskar Leo Kaufmann), 133, 134 Anderson Sheet Metal Company, 7 Codrescu, Andrei, 133 FTL Happold, 133 Andrew Kozak House (Bruce Goff), 59, 59 Cohn, Jan, 99 Fuller, George A. See George A. Fuller and Architectural Record, 66 Cohoe Studio shed (Cohoe, Alaska), 136 Company. Architecture Forum, 94, 95, 96 Construction Battalion. See Seabees. Fuller, R. Buckminster, 52 Arend, Chris, 104 Cook, Jeffrey, 98 Garden of Eatin’ Restaurant, 116–19, 117 Armco huts, 126, 149 corrugated metal, 7, 8, 24, 52, 53, 123 Gauthier, Douglas, 134 Armco International Corporation, 149 Cowin and Company, 149 Gehry, Frank, 135 Art & Architecture, 50, 52, 76, 80 Cowin huts, 106, 149 General Motors, 100 Art and the Machine, 71 Crystal Palace, xvi geometry, 134 Attu Island, 43 Cuff, Dana, 72 George A. Fuller and Company, 1–2, 6, 7, 9, Ban, Shigeru, 133–34 Culhane, Lee, 135 16–17, 23, 148 Banham, Reyner, 54, 60 Cunningham, Thomas, 124–25 Goff, Bruce, 54, 54, 57–60, 94, 96, 98 barrel house (Devil’s Lake, N. Dakota), 68, 70 curling, 121 Gomer Pyle USMC (television show), 84 Base Hospital #3 (Espiritu Santo, South De Haviland, Olivia, 36 Good Housekeeping-Stran-Steel House, 17 Pacific), 66 Designs for Postwar Living, 50 Gordon, Alastair, 94 Behlen, Walt, 86 Destroyers for Bases Agreement, 2, 26 Government Hill Housing project (Anchorage, Benjamin, Dick, 123 DeVries, Jessie, 113, 114 Alaska), 110–11, 111, 112 Bersch, Gretchen, 114–15 Dimond, Anthony, 33 Government Hill Youth Club, 109 The Best Years of Our Lives (motion picture), 84 domes, 60 grain elevators, 96

161 Index Grandcamp explosion, 73 Joe Marshall and His Rovin’ Ramblers, 92, 93 Mobile: the Art of Portable Architecture Great Lakes Steel Corporation. See Stran- John Campbell and Worley K. Wong (Jennifer Siegal), 133 Steel. Architects, 74 Modernism (architecture), 66–68, 70, 81, 94, Green, Bill, 123 Johnson, John P., 110 96 Green, Cleo, 114 Johnston, Hal, 112, 113 Mollett, David, 135 Green, Doug, 114 Kahn, Albert, 49 Moreell, Ben, 3, 9, 13, 21, 26, 27 Greuning, Ernest, 105 Kaufmann, Johannes, 134 Morriset, Eusebe, 126, 128 Griffin, Jim, 130, 135 Kaufmann, Oskar Leo, 133, 134 Morris-Knudsen Company, 149 Gruber, Ruth, 110 Keedoozle (grocery store), 81 Motherwell, Robert, 60, 94 Guam, 65 Kelsey, Louis, 108 Motherwell Studio (Pierre Chareau), 60–61 Hagen, Ardell, 70 Kessler, Fred R., 111–12 Mueller, Francis, 125 Handley, Thomas, 125 Kimberly-Clark Corporation, 16, 63 Murcutt, Glen, 61 Happold, Buro, 133 Kimsul (insulation), 16, 16, 63 “Nashville sound”, 87 Hillside House (Knoxville, Tennessee), 94, 95 Kinkaid, Thomas, 43 National Register of Historic Places, 102 Hines, Thomas, 64, 70–71 Kirchner, Gerry, 116, 118–19 Native Americans, xv–xvi historic preservation, 101–2 Kirchner, Hans, 116, 118–19 Navy Memorial Chapel (Clark Field, Hobbard, Harold, 40 kit houses, 54, 115–16 Philippines), 65 Hobbs, Frank, 148 Komandorski (Commander) islands, battle of, New Arch Rib Stran-Steel Hut (SSAR), 23–24, homes, postwar, 24, 69–71, 80–81, 86, 87, 98, 44 148 99, 113–15, 134–35 Kwikset House (Charles and Ray Eames), 53, New Pencil Points, 67 See also Housing. 54 Nimitz, Chester, 41–43 Homoja housing program, 24 Kwikset Lock Company, 54 Nissen, Peter Norman, 4, 5 Homoja Village, 25 Lapham, Lewis, 87 Nissen huts, 4–5, 6–7, 6, 13, 47, 48, 49 hook bolts, 49 Ledergerber, Beat, 130 Norquist, Emanuel, 52 Hopkins, D.W., 13 Lend Lease Act, 2, 33 Nunn, Jake, 40 House Beautiful, 76, 80 Levitt, William, 99 oil fields, 123 housing, 50–51, 52–54, 57–60, 63–64, 66, Levittown, 99 Oregon Export Company, 115 68–73, 98–99, 109–16 Libby Owen Ford, 16 Osenga, Larry, 119 post-WWII shortage, 68–69, 86, Liebman, Rosanna, 94 Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church (Beaver 98–100, 105–7, 111–19 Little Theatre (Anchorage, Alaska), 109 Creek, Alaska), 129–30, 129, 130 temporary, 71–76, 76–80, 87, 98, 107, longhouses, xv–xvi, 63 Our Lady of Way Catholic Church (Haines 108, 109–16, 133 Lundquist, Oliver, 50 Junction, Alaska), 126, 126, 127, 128, See also Homes, postwar. Malamud, Bernard, 87 129 Hudson Bay Company, xvi Manning Portable Colonial cottage, xvi–xvii Owens, Wyman, 114 Huntington, E. S., 7, 13 Marshall, Joe, 102 Pacific huts, 106, 108, 148 “Hutments to Housing” (Architectural Martin-Alden Precision Cut Homes, 115 Palmer, Alaska, 112–13 Forum), 71 Marx Toy Company, 86 Paper Log House (Shigeru Ban), 134 huts, xv, 61, 148–49 Masonite Corporation, 16 Parson, Jack, 108 Iafrate, Frank J., 27 Matter, Herbert, 52 Passive Defense Quonset (PDQ), 21 , xvi McDonald, Angus, 125 Paulson, Chris, 111 industrial design, 66 McDonnell, Robert, 4, 6, 7 Paulucci, Jeno, 94 insulation, 14, 16 Merritt-Chapman and Scott Corporation, 1–2 Paxson, G. D., 149 Jackson, J. B., 66 Midway Island, battle of, 41–42, 43 Paxton, Joseph, xvi , 115, 149 Miller, Don L., 40 Pencil Points, 66 Jamesway Manufacturing Company, 149 Miller, R. V., 3, 9 Piano, Renzo, 61 Jarvis, James Jackson, 96 Mitchell, William, 31 plank houses, xvi

162 Index “Planting for the Temporary House” (New schools, 119–20, 120 80, 81, 88–89, 98, 99 York Times), 76 sound studios, 87 Stran-Steel Arch-Rib Home, 98 Plyformed Wood Company, 51–52 sports arenas, 121 Stran-Steel Quonset House (Bruce Goff), 56 portable architecture, xv–xvii, 45, 133–34 stores, 122 Stresskin, 134 Portage Bar (Anchorage, Alaska), 123 transportation of, 27, 28, 29, 113–14, SYSTEMarchitects, 134 Portaseal hut, 112, 113, 149 125 Teen Town, 109 prefabricated building systems, 2–3, 9, 13, 49, warehouses, 122 Temporary Aviation Facilities (TAF), 3, 23 50–51, 52, 54, 57, 73, 93, 96, 102, Quonset Point, Rhode Island, 3 , xv, 45 133–34 Quonset Point U.S. Naval Station (Quonset Terminal News Company warehouse, 122 The Provisional City (Dana Cuff), 72 Point, Rhode Island), 1–2, 2, 3 , xv Pulos, Arthur, 71 Quonset Redesign, 16–19, 114, 129, 148 T-Rib Quonset, 6, 7, 9, 13, 148 Pyle, Ernie, 101 Quonsets: the Story of a Building that Gave Tub (nightclub), 93 Quigley, Robert, 100 America a New Standard of Quality Twining, Nathan F., 121 Quon-Kote (paint), 86 Building Values, 81 U.S. Navy, 3, 17, 24, 41, 43 Quonset Auditorium, 93, 102 Red-river Frame, xvi Urgo, Dominic, 4 Quonset huts, 8, 25, 30, 33–34, 34, 35, 36, 37, Renzo Piano Building Workshop (Renzo Valley Hospital (Palmer, Alaska), 120–21 38, 39, 41, 41, 44–45, 45, 50, 52, 62, 63, Piano), 61 Veterans’ Housing Project, 69 64, 69, 71, 72, 73–102, 104, 106–30, 133, rock-and-roll, 93 Waldvogel brothers, 98 134–35,136, 137, 138, 139, 140–46 Rodger Young Village, 72, 72, 73, 98, 100 wannigans, 27, 108 advertisements and brochures for, 16, roofs, 51 Wichita House (R. Buckminster Fuller), 54 63, 64, 66–68, 74, 80–81, 80, 82–83, 84, Roosevelt, President Franklin Delano, 1, 2 Wind Tunnel (Delta Junction, Alaska), 123 86, 88–91,98 Saarinen, Eero, 50, 51 Wolfman Jack, 93 as American icon, 73, 76, 80–81, 84, Sam and Ruth Ford House (Bruce Goff), 58, World War II, x, xi, 1–2, 21, 24, 26–27, 31–33, 100, 101, 102, 139 59–60, 96–97 41–44, 50 auditoriums, 87, 92, 93 Saunders, Clarence, 81 economic impact, 36, 41, 44 bars, 123 Schock, Bert, 111 encampments, 64–66 campaign headquarters, 93 Scio, Ohio, 73 Japanese strategy, 32, 41–42 camps, 14, 14, 106, 110–11 Seabees, 26–27, 64 Wyatt, Wilson W., 70 campus, 86, 98 Secondino, Tomasino, 4 Yamamoto, Isoruku, 41, 43 car dealerships, 81 Selid, Ove, 115 Young, Rodger, 72 cartoons about, 4, 99, 135 Selid Construction Services, 115–16 churches, 57, 65, 123–26 Seward City, Alaska, 108 clubhouses, 109 714th Engineer Railway Operating Battalion, commercial use, 116–119 106 design of, xviii, 3–4, 6, 7, 9, 10–11, 12, Sherwin Williams, 86 13, 13, 16–17, 19, 20, 23–24 Shockley, William Bradford, 93–94 erection of, 21, 22, 26, 27, 65 Siegal, Jennifer, 133 farms, 81 sleds, 27 hospital, 121 Snake Ranch (Anchorage, Alaska), 106, 107 houses, 59–60, 114–15, 135 Soroptomists Club, 109 interior space, 134 splints, 51, 51 manufacture of, 21, 23 St. Patrick’s Catholic Church (Barrow, origin of name, 13, 15 Alaska), 123 offices, 93–94 steel framing, 17, 17, 18, 66 restaurants, 116–19 “Stop Gap Housing” (Popular Science), 76–77 safety of, 120 Stran-Steel, 17, 17, 18, 19, 23, 64, 66, 67, 74,

163 Index Contributors 165

Brian Carter is dean and professor of archi- Julie Decker, Ph.D., has authored three publi- Tom Vanderbilt is a writer whose work has tecture at The State University of New York at cations: Icebreakers: Alaska’s Most Innovative appeared in many publications, including The Buffalo. A graduate of the Nottingham School of Artists (University of Washington Press, 1999), New York Times Magazine, Wired, The London Architecture and the University of Toronto, he Found & Assembled in Alaska (Todd Review of Books, NEST, The Baffler, and The has worked as an architect in practice, most Communication, 2001), and John Hoover: Art Nation. He is also the author of The Sneaker recently with Arup Associates in London. From and Life (University of Washington Press, 2002). Book: An Anatomy of an Industry and An Icon 1994–2001 he was chair of the architecture She has curated numerous exhibitions on (New Press, 1998) and Survival City: Adventures program at the University of Michigan. His work contemporary art as owner of the Decker/Morris Among the Ruins of Atomic America (Princeton has been published in numerous international Gallery and the Center for Contemporary Visual Architectural Press, 2002). journals including The Architectural Review, Art of Alaska, as the director of the International Architectural Design, Casbella, and Detail, and Gallery of Contemporary Art, and as a guest he is the author of several books, including curator of the Anchorage Museum of History Patkau Architects: Selected Projects 1983–1993 and Art. Decker teaches courses in art history (Tuns Press, 1994) and Johnson Wax and writing for the University of Alaska and at Administration Building and Research Tower Golden Gate University, in San Francisco. She is (Architecture in Detail) (Phaidon Press, 1998). He also a regular contributor to the Anchorage Press has also curated a series of exhibitions on the and has written for New York Newsday and work of Eero Saarinen, Peter Rice, Charles and American Indian Art. Ray Eames, and Albert Kahn. Stephen Haycox is an American cultural his- Chris Chiei is the artistic director for the torian at the University of Alaska, Anchorage Alaska Design Forum, a nonprofit multidiscipli- where he teaches Alaska history, history of the nary arts organization serving the Alaskan com- American West, and American environmental munities of Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, history, specializing in the relationship of Alaska and is a practicing architect in Anchorage. to the history of the American West. He holds Chiei, born in New York and raised in New graduate degrees from the University of Oregon Jersey, earned a Bachelor of Architecture from and has published widely on Alaska Native the Pennsylvania State University and served for history. His two most recent books are Frigid two years as a member of Jersey Devil Design Embrace: Politics, Economics, and Environment Build Group prior to moving to Alaska in 1995. in Alaska (Oregon State University, 2002), and He is the project director and lead researcher for Alaska: An American Colony (University of the Quonset and its accompanying exhibition Washington Press, 2002). He is the recipient of and has contributed more than eight years of the Alaska Governor’s Humanities Award (2003) research to the project. He is a frequent lecturer and the University of Alaska Edith R. Bullock on the subject. Prize for Excellence (2002); he was named Alaskan Historian of the Year by the Alaska Historical Society in 2003.

165 Contributors