Washington Navy Yard Relocation of Historic Watchbox _______________ Submitted by Department of the Navy Preliminary and Final Review Project Information Commission meeting date: December 4, 2014 NCPC review authority: Approval - Federal Projects in the District Applicant request: Preliminary and final approval Delegated / consent / open / executive session: Delegated NCPC Review Officer: J. Hirsch NCPC File number: 7628 Project summary: The Navy has submitted preliminary and final site and building plans for the relocation of a historic watchbox from Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Maryland to the Washington Navy Yard. The project is mitigation for the adverse effect caused by the demolition of Piers 3 and 4 at the Washington Navy Yard. Piers 3 and 4 are contributing elements to the Washington Navy Yard Central Yard National Historic Landmark. As such, their demolition constitutes an adverse effect on historic properties. Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the Navy entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the District of Columbia Historic Preservation Officer and Maryland Historical Trust to mitigate the adverse effect. The mitigation defined in the MOA was to relocate a historic watchbox from Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Maryland to the Washington Navy Yard. The watchbox was constructed ca. 1853-1854 at the Washington Navy Yard. It stood just inside the Latrobe Gate (8th and M Streets SE) and functioned as a sentry post manned by Marines assigned to the Washington Navy Yard. In approximately 1905, the building was moved to the Naval Proving Ground at Indian Head. (Munitions produced at the Washington Navy Yard were shipped down the Potomac River for proving at Indian Head.) The watchbox has been at three locations at Indian Head and has served as a foreman’s office, telephone switchboard office, and storage building. The buidling is currently vacant. The watchbox will be moved by barge from Indian Head back to the Washington Navy Yard. Because the Fire House now stands on the building’s original site, the watchbox will be reinstalled slightly further south in West Leutze Park. It will 2 serve as a display piece with interpretive signage. Project Location Washington Navy Yard Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Maryland 3 Project Location Washington Navy Yard 4 Proposed Location Historic Watchbox will be moved from Naval Support Facility Indian Head (Maryland) to the Washington Navy Yard and placed in West Leutze Park 5 Site Plan 6 Rendering View to south along sidewalk 7 Rendering View to southeast from Tingey House 8 Watchbox View of watchbox at the Washington Navy Yard, 1870-1880 9 View south along Dahlgren Avenue, 1880 - 1890 Watchbox Porch will be reconstructed when watchbox is moved to Washington Navy Yard Proposed porch reconstruction 10.