Name/Title
Print, PhotographicEntry/Object ID
2006.044.0120Description
B/w Benicia Arsenal, Z-19 Bldg 153, Gate House.
Per Eldon Peterson corresponding with Beverly Phelan:
Hello Bev,
Yes, its Sharon Putnam ! She still lives in Benicia with her husband ( using his last name of course ) I can get it from her little sister Terrie Putnam who just recently moved up to Oregon State, upon her mothers death ( Fern Putnam ) who lived up into her early nineties !
Sharon and I were the same age - both our fathers were Sergeants at the Benicia Arsenal with the EOD Bomb Disposal Unit. She lived directly up on the hill ( corner house ) with the laundry out ! lol
The EOD UNIT was housed in T- 1 where the Military Police Barracks were in WW2 and later Barracks for a special Nike Missile Detachment of military personnel ( per in your photos ) and finally the EOD Unit.
I have pictures taken when there was a very large bomb standing guard outside the main entrance - ( a dummy of course ) lol
Both our families go back to the Presidio in SF and was transferred to the Arsenal about 1956 / 1957. In fact we both lived on Denfield Way as next door neighbors for awhile even prior to the grammar school being built. ( our parents had to wait until housing on base opened up )
That property, and where the High School football field is now used to have a very old farm house with a caretaker who had a wooden ( pole type ) leg and scared us kids to death with his shotgun when we were creeping around the place - the bunkhouse was still very much intact even !
I swear, that place looked like Disneyland Haunted Mansion !!!!! Right down to the furniture inside - The windows reached near the floor ! That place I will Never forget ……………….
There was a Feed & Gain Store where the High School administration building is now, and latter moved down military as a Vet Hospital for animals - still there !!!
My best always,
Eldon
Note : The duplex on the cornor of Military & Hospital Road ( 131 ) was Not used for regular families - It was kinda like a " Motel 6 " both sides were completely furnished ( maid service included ) for visiting Officers doing business on base for a short periods of time.Collection
Benicia Arsenal Collection
