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 Fort Norfolk 1851

Fort Norfolk History - 1851

Fort Norfolk continued to have a boundary dispute and on February 12, 1851 Commodore John D Sloat, Commandant Navy Yard Gosport, wrote Commodore Joseph Smith, Chief of the Burrow of Yards & Docks, “Upon a further examination of the plat and grounds, at Fort Norfolk with a view to putting up the fence I find, that by taking the stone indicated in your letter of the 27th December last as a starting point and running thence in and easterly direction it cut off a part of the grounds evidently belonging to Government, being a part of the spot on which the Landing Wharf is built. I am of opinion that in order to settle the boundaries satisfactory to all parties, a continual line be agreed upon; as it is impossible to find a correct starting point by any of the plants I have yet seen. The same difficulty existed I understand when these grounds were surveyed under the directions of the late Commander Kennedy whilst Port Captain at this station.
I respectively suggest therefore, that authority be given the commandant to have the line agreed upon & seen in the presence of the owners of the land adjoining, and, and that it be done without delay so that the grounds may be enclosed at and earlier day”

Joseph Smith replied February 14, 1851 and authorized a temporary conventional line to enclose the grounds as proposed.

Captain Silas H. Stringham took command of the Gosport Navy Yard, the Naval Hospital, and Fort Norfolk on February 17, 1851.

Captain S. H. Stringham Commandant Navy Yard Gosport wrote Commodore Joseph Smith on March 21, 1851; “I received the duplicate of your letter of the 14th February 1851 yesterday, and during the day called on the owner of the land adjoining Fort Norfolk who is willing to agree upon a temporary conventional line to enable the government to enclose the grounds; before commencing which however, I desire to offer to the Bureau a few suggestions in favor of a change of locations for the Magazine.
In the first place; the transfer of the Fort from the War to the Navy Department is, as I understand only temporary. The correct boundaries of the grounds can not will be ascertained the line now to be seen being only temporary; and this being the case, it is highly probable; indeed it is almost certain that when the government shall have expanded large sums of money in the erection of Magazine and other buildings there, the owners of land adjacent will seek to annoy us with suits at law, or by putting up combustible buildings on their own land, but in the immediate vicinity of the Powder Magazine with the view of forcing the Government to purchase of more land at exorbitant prices. Lines they transfer of this Fort to the Navy Department there has already been erected a very large building too near the Fort.
In this building there is now stored a little large quantity of tar, turpentine, etc. and the owners contemplate having a large coal Depot there at no distant day. Besides the water is bold up to the Fort Wharf, which is distant from the proposed site for the Magazine about 100 yards; close by this Wharf steamboats are constantly passing. For this and the other reasons stated above, to say nothing of the apprehension of the citizens of Norfolk to it. I consider the location now fixed for the pending Magazine objectionable.
St Helena presents a much desirable site for a Naval Magazine. We have there about 40 acres of ground the title to all of which is indisputable. A house already built for the Keeper with water sufficiently deep to accommodate along side the wharf ships of any class. In short, I am fully of opinion that St Helena possesses all the advantages claimed for Fort Norfolk, without one of its disadvantages or objections.
Under these circumstances, and in view of all the facts as here and related, I respectfully suggest that the Bureau take the matter into consideration and inform me of its decisions as soon as convenient.”

Commodore Joseph Smith replied on March 26, 1851 that he had submitted his suggestion to the Secretary of the Navy who directed “let the building proceed at Fort Norfolk”.

Captain S. H. Stringham wrote Commodore Joseph Smith on April 23, 1851; “The stone and timber materials under contract and now in course of delivery for the Powder Magazine at Fort Norfolk was intended for a building far different, from that, plans of which was received with your letter of the 3rd December last. My attention has just been called to it; and I have directed schedules of the additional materials required to be purchased and will forward them by tomorrow mail.” On April 25 1851, He sent the schedule of materials and labor which totaled $25,935.00.

On May 2, 1851, the owners of the land adjoining Fort Norfolk agreed upon a line, a tracing of which was prepared and duly signed by the parties: Captain S. H. Stringham, Robert E Taylor, and William E. Taylor. (See Above) Captain S. H. Stringham Commandant sent the plat to Comm Joseph Smith on May 10, 1851, and noted ”The spot marked thus on the plat, is the location proposed for the Keepers House.”

Commodore Joseph Smith sent Capt. S. H. Stringham the legal opinion Messrs Murdaugh & Son on the title of the United States to the Navy Hospital on 8 May 1851. This legal opinion was not filled in the County Clerks Office, but recorded in the Commandant Office of the Norfolk Navy Yard for future reference.

Captain S. H. Stringham Commandant Navy Yard Gosport wrote Comm Joseph Smith Chief of the Burrow of Yards & Docks on June 19, 1851; “I enclose a tracing designed to show the spot, near which I propose to locate the Magazine Keepers house at Fort Norfolk. Will you be pleased to inform me if you approve the location.”

Finally, in December 1851, Stringham could report that work on the magazine had begun.  He had acquired enough brick and other materials "to keep the hands employed on it till spring."  However, Stringham had stopped delivery on additional materials because of lack of funds.

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Source of Information

"Plan of Fort Norfolk", May 1851, National Archives, College Park, MD - Cartographic (RDSC), Record Group 71: Records of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, 1784 - 1963, Series: Bureau of Yards and Docks Plans of Navy Facilities, 1815 - 1966, 7-2-2.

John D Sloat, "John D Sloat to Joseph Smith", February 12, 1851, National Archives, Record Group 71 Bureau of Yards and Docks, Letters Recieved from Commandants of Navy Yards -- Norfolk, July 11 1850 - April 30 1852, Box No. 156, Entry 5.

Joseph Smith, "Joseph Smith to John D Sloat ", February 14, 1851, National Archives, Record Group 71 Records of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, Records of the Office of the Chief of Bureau, 1820 - 1946, Letters Sent 1842 - 95, Vol. 06 of 104, PI-10, E. 1, 171.

Silas H. Stringham, "Silas H. Stringham to Joseph Smith", March 21, 1851, National Archives, Record Group 71 Bureau of Yards and Docks, Letters Recieved from Commandants of Navy Yards -- Norfolk, July 11 1850 - April 30 1852, Box No. 156, Entry 5.

Joseph Smith, "Joseph Smith to Silas H. Stringham ", March 26, 1851, National Archives, Record Group 71 Records of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, Records of the Office of the Chief of Bureau, 1820 - 1946, Letters Sent 1842 - 95, Vol. 06 of 104, PI-10, E. 1, 171.

Silas H. Stringham, "Silas H. Stringham to Joseph Smith", April 23, 1851, National Archives, Record Group 71 Bureau of Yards and Docks, Letters Recieved from Commandants of Navy Yards -- Norfolk, July 11 1850 - April 30 1852, Box No. 156, Entry 5.

Silas H. Stringham, "Silas H. Stringham to Joseph Smith", April 25, 1851, National Archives, Record Group 71 Bureau of Yards and Docks, Letters Recieved from Commandants of Navy Yards -- Norfolk, July 11 1850 - April 30 1852, Box No. 156, Entry 5.

Silas H. Stringham, "Silas H. Stringham to Joseph Smith", May 2, 1851, National Archives, Record Group 71 Bureau of Yards and Docks, Letters Recieved from Commandants of Navy Yards -- Norfolk, July 11 1850 - April 30 1852, Box No. 156, Entry 5.

Silas H. Stringham, "Silas H. Stringham to Joseph Smith", May 10, 1851, National Archives, Record Group 71 Bureau of Yards and Docks, Letters Recieved from Commandants of Navy Yards -- Norfolk, July 11 1850 - April 30 1852, Box No. 156, Entry 5.

Joseph Smith, "Joseph Smith to Silas H. Stringham ", May 8, 1851, National Archives, Record Group 71 Records of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, Records of the Office of the Chief of Bureau, 1820 - 1946, Letters Sent 1842 - 95, Vol. 06 of 104, PI-10, E. 1, 291.

Silas H. Stringham, "Silas H. Stringham to Joseph Smith", June 19, 1851, National Archives, Record Group 71 Bureau of Yards and Docks, Letters Recieved from Commandants of Navy Yards -- Norfolk, July 11 1850 - April 30 1852, Box No. 156, Entry 5.

College Of WILLIAM & MARY, "A CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN OF FORT NORFOLK, NORFOLK, VIRGINIA", November 1995, prepared for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District under Contract No. DACW65-94-Q-0075, 27.