Seapup

I happened upon these posts re. SJOD while trying to research same. I lived on the Depot as a dependent Army "Brat" during 1955 - 1958. My father Lt. Col. William Steigerwalt was second in command under Col. J. O. Baker and the last officers there to transfer the post from regular Army to Corps of Engineers to non-military use. I lived there during grades 4 -7 and attended school in Channelview, Cloverleaf, and North Shore J.H. As one of the only kids on the depot....I had the run of it and,with my dad, and fished, hunted, biked and explored it ad infinitum. I see from Google Earth space photos that some of the buildings I knew are still there however the officer's homes (including ours) are gone. The main administration where Riverrat's mother would have worked appears to still be there. I have a copy of the origonal 1942 plans for the depot which are quite interesting. I would love to return and re-explore the place. Any comments and/or questions are welcome. The plans I have do indicate a few underground "igloos" for munition storage. No, I never heard of any chemical type items being burried on depot property but do know that many barge loads of bombs were taken into the Gulf and dumped. I was supposed to go along on one such trip but got sick and didn't go. That particular trip, the cargo aboard shifted, capsizing the barge and killing most or all aboard. I'd love to hear from anyone with interests re. SJOD.

Reply: I would be more than happy to share the plans with you but I don't exactly know how to get their approx. 3' by 4' size and the very small detail onto the internet. Perhaps I could have a business that does blueprints or the like copy it and I'd mail you a copy. Any ideas?

I happened upon these posts re. SJOD while trying to research same. I lived on the Depot as a dependent Army "Brat" during 1955 - 1958. My father Lt. Col. William Steigerwalt was second in command under Col. J. O. Baker and the last officers there to transfer the post from regular Army to Corps of Engineers to non-military use. I lived there during grades 4 -7 and attended school in Channelview, Cloverleaf, and North Shore J.H. As one of the only kids on the depot....I had the run of it and,with my dad, and fished, hunted, biked and explored it ad infinitum. I see from Google Earth space photos that some of the buildings I knew are still there however the officer's homes (including ours) are gone. The main administration where Riverrat's mother would have worked appears to still be there. I have a copy of the origonal 1942 plans for the depot which are quite interesting. I would love to return and re-explore the place. Any comments and/or questions are welcome. The plans I have do indicate a few underground "igloos" for munition storage. No, I never heard of any chemical type items being burried on depot property but do know that many barge loads of bombs were taken into the Gulf and dumped. I was supposed to go along on one such trip but got sick and didn't go. That particular trip, the cargo aboard shifted, capsizing the barge and killing most or all aboard. I'd love to hear from anyone with interests re. SJOD.