Kelly Field Historic District

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Kelly Field Historic District
Kellyafb-7jan1995.jpg
Kelly Field Historic District, middle right of the runway
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Kelly Field Historic District
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Kelly Field Historic District
Location San Antonio, Texas, US
Coordinates 29°22′57″N98°34′15″W / 29.38250°N 98.57083°W / 29.38250; -98.57083
NRHP reference No. 03000626 [1]
Added to NRHPJuly 10, 2003

The Kelly Field Historic District is located in southwestern San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. It is the center portion of the base, east of the runways. The boundaries of the 1600 buildings are Billy Mitchell Road on the north, Wagner on the east, England on the south and S. Frank Luke Drive on the west. The 1700 block of officer quarters are bounded on the north by Chennault Street, the east and south by Chennault Circle, and Van Nostrand Drive on the west. The historic district contains 58 contributing and non-contributing buildings, structures, objects and sites, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. [2]

Contents

Camp Kelly was established on May 7, 1917, to be a US Army training facility for pilots and support staff during World War I. The first airplanes arrived on April 5, and on April 6 the United States declared war on Germany. [3] The increased training activities necessitated more facilities and the acquisition of additional land. The original field became Kelly Field No. 1. The new facilities became Kelly Field No. 2. Military cut-backs followed the 1918 Armistice with Germany, and the two facilities ceased training pilots but functioned as supply depots. The two fields were re-designated in 1925 as Duncan Field (Kelly No. 1) and Kelly Field (Kelly No. 2). [4] The latter included the Air Service Advanced Flying School where Charles Lindbergh earned his wings, [5] graduating first in his class on March 14, 1925. [6]

In 1926, the Army Air Corps Act authorized a 5-year period of expansion to begin July 1, 1927. [7] As a result, both Kelly No. 1 and No. 2 began being developed as permanent aviator training facilities. [8] During World War II, the facilities were consolidated as San Antonio Air Depot and was the largest maintenance and supply facility in the United States. The property was renamed Kelly Air Force Base after the National Security Act of 1947 established the United States Air Force as a separate branch of the military. [9] Kelly eventually became the largest employer in San Antonio. [8] In 1995, the United States government began realignment of military facilities. Kelly was closed in 2001, partially combined with Lackland Air Force Base. The remainder was taken over by the Greater Kelly Development Authority of the state of Texas and redeveloped as a commercial and military industrial center. [10]

Properties

The development that began between the two world wars, and continued through post-World War II, is the area designated as Kelly Field Historic District. [8]

National Register criteria for which the following properties qualify are two-fold: [2]

The following data is reproduced from Table 1 of NPS Form 10-900 Registration Form dated April 15, 2002. The dates represent the original construction period and subsequent improvements or other alterations to the property. [2]

Contributing

Number/featureSignificant datesNotes
Feature Ac.1940237.5 by 1,100 feet (72.4 m × 335.3 m) esplanade along Goodrich and Mabry drives; Irregularly shaped parcels; Triangular intersection islands
Feature Bc.1940sidewalks
Feature Cc.1940streets
Feature Dc.1940landscaping
16071943weather building, storage
16091942 Norden bombsight storage
16101940, 1955, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1980, 1987Air Corps operations hangar
16181937, 1953, 1973oil storage, pump station
16251935,1960s, 1983miniature range, air conditioning; built by the Works Progress Administration
16271942, 1950, 1967, 1981photo lab
16321940, 1950s, 1960s Quartermaster maintenance
16351940, 1947, 1968signal office, warehouse, Public Affairs Office
16381941water pump house, electric substation
16431942bath house; built by the Works Progress Administration
16441942water filtration building; built by the Works Progress Administration
16451942swimming pool; built by the Works Progress Administration
16501940, 1950s–1980senlisted men's barracks
16761940, 1950s–1980scadet barracks
16801940, 1943, 1960s–1980sacademic building, Air Depot HQ
16811940,1971NCO quarters
1682 though 16891940,1973NCO quarters
1690 through 1694, 16961940NCO quarters
1750, 1752–1753, 1755, 1757–17581940,1973officer's quarters

Non contributing

NumberSignificant datesNotes
16001942, 1942, 1967, 1973, 1982Norden bombsight repair shop
16111951bus stop
16211940, 1953, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1989Air Corps warehouse
16221987bus stop
16231942,1966Quartermaster vehicle repair
16261940, 1950s, 1960s, 1971Quartermaster warehouse
16281942,1994theater, classrooms
16361954dental clinic, counseling office, housing
16371981Base Exchange
16511959electric substation
16541955baseball diamond
16551986heating plant
16691977chapel
16701942, 1960s, 1994temporary barracks, Judge Advocate
16711942, 1960s, 1994temporary barracks, Judge Advocate
16741967telephone equipment
16971972storage shed
16981957flagpole

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References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 "Kelly Field Historic District" (PDF). THC NR Program. Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  3. ↑ "A Joint Resolution of April 6, 1917, Public Resolution 65-1, 40 STAT 1, Declaring that a State of War Exists Between the Imperial German Government and the Government and the People of the United States and Making Provision to Prosecute the Same, 04/06/1917". National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Kelly Field narrative". Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  5. ↑ Leatherwood, Art. "Kelly Air Force Base". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  6. ↑ Wagner, Heather Lehr (2003). Charles Lindbergh (Famous Flyers). Chelsea House Publications. p. 38. ISBN   978-0-7910-7212-7.
  7. ↑ "1926 – The U. S. Army Air Corps Act". United States Air Force. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 "Kelly Field Historic District". National Park Service. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  9. ↑ "1943–1947 Struggle for Air Force Independence". United States Air Force. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  10. ↑ Sasser, Chris (February 15, 2012). "Port San Antonio: Not Just Surviving, Thriving". Texas A&M Transportation Institute. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
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