National Park Service 

U.S.Department of the Interior 

Historic Architecture Program 

Northeast Region 

 Historic Structure Report 

FORT HANCOCK GATEHOUSE 

Sandy Hook Unit, Sandy Hook, New Jersey 

Gateway National Recreation Area 
FORT HANCOCK GATEHOUSE 

GATEWAY NATIONAL RECREATION AREA 

SANDY HOOK, NEW JERSEY 

HISTORIC STRUCTURE REPORT 

By 

John A. Scott 

Architectural Conservator 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 

HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM 

NORTHEAST REGION 

April 2004 

iii

PREFACE 

 This report was prepared by the Historic Architecture Program for the Sandy Hook Unit of 

the Gateway National Recreation Area, located at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, per that certain Project 

Agreement dated June 2, 2003. The Historic Architecture Program located in Lowell, MA, is staffed 

by historic architects, architectural conservators, and historians who provide technical support 

regarding the preservation and treatment of historic structures to parks and affiliated National Park 

Service sites, primarily within the Northeast Region. 
iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 

 Production of this report would not have been possible without the assistance of a number of 

individuals. Foremost among these were Richard Wells, Deputy Superintendent, Sandy Hook Unit, 

Gateway National Recreation Area. Special thanks must also go to Chief of Interpretation and 

Cultural Resources, Lou Venuto; Historian Thomas Hoffman; and Unit Curator Mary Rasa, all of 

whom gave freely of their time and knowledge in the production of this report, and provided 

invaluable insights into the history of Fort Hancock and the Gatehouse at Sandy Hook. 
v

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

PREFACE .............................................................................................................................................. iii 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.............................................................................................................. iv 

LIST OF FIGURES AND CREDITS.............................................................................................. vii 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY....................................................................................................................... xi 

ADMINISTRATIVE DATA.................................................................................................................. xiii 

I. DEVELOPMENTAL HISTORY........................................................................................................ 1 

Historical Background and Context.................................................................................................... 1 

Chronology of Development and Use ................................................................................................ 5 

Construction of the Gatehouse ................................................................................................. 5 

Original Architectural Configuration ....................................................................................... 8 

Changes made to the Gatehouse by the State of New Jersey 

 (1962- 73) ...................................................................................................................... 11 

National Park Service- Era Changes Made to Gatehouse 

 (December 1973- Present)......................................................................................... 13 

Architectural Description.................................................................................................................... 15 

Exterior Elements....................................................................................................................... 15 

South Elevation.................................................................................................................. 15 

East Elevation.................................................................................................................... 18 

North Elevation................................................................................................................. 21 

West Elevation.................................................................................................................. 23 
vi

Interior Elements....................................................................................................................... 25 

Room 101 (Southeast Office)............................................................................................. 25 

Room 102 (Southwest Office)........................................................................................... 27 

Room 103 (Break Room) .................................................................................................. 29 

Room 104 (Northwest Storage Room)............................................................................. 32 

Room 105 (Kitchen)........................................................................................................... 34 

Room 106 (Bathroom)...................................................................................................... 36 

Room 107 (First Story of Watchtower and Annex)........................................................ 39 

Room 201 (Watchtower)................................................................................................... 42 

II. TREATMENT AND USE ..................................................................................................... 45 

Character- Defining Features............................................................................................................. 45 

Treatment Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 47 

APPENDICES 

Appendix A: Existing Room Configuration ....................................................................................... 49 

Appendix B: Acceptable Location for One- Story Addition to Gatehouse ................................... 50 

BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................................................................... 51

REPOSITORIES AND ARCHIVES CONSULTED................................................................................ 51
vii

LIST of FIGURES and CREDITS 

 Fort Hancock Gatehouse, Oct. 11, 1943. Courtesy of Gateway National Recreation 

 Area, Museum Collection, Catalog # Gate 1943- 980................................................................ Cover 

 1. Sandy Hook State Park, Gatehouse and the Highlands bridge taken September 

 17, 1965. Courtesy of the New Jersey State Parks and Forestry Division Archives......................... 3 

 2. The Gatehouse and Guardhouse located at the south entrance to Fort Hancock, 

 ca. 1942. Courtesy of Gateway National Recreational Area, Museum Collection, 

 Catalog # Gate 799................................................................................................................................... 5 

 3. Original wing- wall attached to southeast corner of Gatehouse Watchtower, 

 ca. 1943. Courtesy of Gateway National Recreation Area, Museum Collection, 

 Catalog # Gate1943- 980 ......................................................................................................................... 7 

 4. Conjectural drawing of original first- floor plan of Gatehouse/Watchtower, based 

 on a physical investigation of the building’s existing architectural fabric. ......................................9 

 5. Gatehouse and guard shack during the state- park era (1962- 73). Courtesy of the 

 New Jersey State Archives, Department of State.................................................................................11 

 6. Southwest view of Gatehouse during state- park era. Courtesy of the New Jersey 

 State Archives, Department of State.....................................................................................................12 

 7. Aerial detail photograph of Gatehouse taken during state- park era. Courtesy of 

 the New Jersey State Archives, Department of State .........................................................................12 

 8. Aerial detail photograph of Gatehouse taken during state- park era. Courtesy of 

 the New Jersey State Archives, Department of State .........................................................................12 

 9. Fort Hancock Gatehouse ca. 1974- 75, showing wood- framed entrance vestibule 

 added to the building around this time. Courtesy of Gateway National Recreation 

 Area, Museum Collection, Catalog # Gate 5855 .................................................................................14 

10. East side of south elevation of Gatehouse, 2003 ................................................................................16 

11. South and east elevations of watchtower, 2003 ..................................................................................16 

12. South elevation of annex between Gatehouse’s main building at left and 

 watchtower at right, 2003 ......................................................................................................................17 

13. Plumbing access well located at south side of building, 2003...........................................................17 

14. Northeast corner of Gatehouse’s east elevation, 2003 ......................................................................19 
viii

15. Detail of opening found in foundation at north end of Gatehouse’s 

 east elevation, 2003.................................................................................................................................19 

16. East elevation of Gatehouse, 2003.......................................................................................................20 

17. Detail of east entry into Gatehouse. Note original infilled doorway location 

 at north wall of attached annex, 2003 .................................................................................................20 

18. Watchtower and annex at east end of Gatehouse’s north elevation. 

 Note original doorway location at annex wall now infilled, 2003 .................................................. 22 

19. North gable- end wall of main building of Gatehouse, 2003 ........................................................... 22 

20. Southeast corner of Gatehouse, showing south section of main building’s 

 west elevation, 2003............................................................................................................................... 23 

21. Northwest corner of Gatehouse, 2003 ...............................................................................................24 

22. Detail of wall at Gatehouse’s south elevation, showing severely eroded 

 brick surfaces, 2003 ...............................................................................................................................24 

23. East wall of room 101, showing original east exterior doorway, D- 101, 

 and added doorway to annex/watchtower, D- 104, 2003.................................................................26 

24. View of west side of room 101, as viewed from annex though doorway 

 D- 104, 2003 ............................................................................................................................................26 

25. View of south portion of room 102, 2003 ........................................................................................... 28 

26. View of northwest corner of room 102, 2003 ..................................................................................... 28 

27. View of east portion of room 103, 2003...............................................................................................30 

28. View of west portion of room 103, 2003 .............................................................................................30 

29. Detail of notch in stool of window W- 114 where original counter or desk 

 may have butted into the east wall of room 103, 2003 ........................................................................ 31

30. North wall of room 103, showing original storage space located next 

 to enclosed chimney, 2003.....................................................................................................................31 

31. Original baseboard found at north wall of room 104, 2003.............................................................. 33 

32. Attic stairway located in northwest corner of room 104, 2003 ........................................................ 33 

33. Original 5- panel door located in northwest corner of kitchen, 2003 ............................................ 35 

34. View of east wall of kitchen, 2003 ....................................................................................................... 35 
ix

35. Weil- McLain #57 furnace, expansion tank, and hot- water heater located in 

 southwest corner of kitchen, 2003 ...................................................................................................... 35 

36. View of southeast corner of bathroom. Note early heating pipes near ceiling 

 of room and differing floor tiles, 2003 ................................................................................................ 37 

37. Detail of disconnected drain pipe found in southeast corner of bathroom 2003......................... 37 

38. View of converted shower in room 106, 2003.................................................................................... 38 

39. View of north wall of bathroom and modern fixtures, 2003 ........................................................... 38 

40. View of room 107, looking east, 2003 ..................................................................................................40 

41. Detail of location of early toilet stall in room 107, 2003....................................................................40 

42. Southwest corner of room 107, 2003 ....................................................................................................41 

43. Safe in northeast corner of annex, 2003. .............................................................................................41 

44. Enclosed stairway leading to second story of watchtower, located in 

 northeast corner of room 107, 2003......................................................................................................41 

45. View of Sandy Hook peninsula and the Atlantic Ocean, looking north 

 from watchtower, 2003 .........................................................................................................................42 

46. View of northeast corner of room 201, showing cast- iron vent pipe, 

 sentry bench, and replacement windows and trim, 2003................................................................. 43 

47. View of stairway in northeast corner of watchtower descending to 

 room 107, 2003........................................................................................................................................ 43 
x

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

 This report was produced by the Historic Architecture Program (HAP) of the National Park 

Service’s Northeast Region. The purpose of this report is to document the construction history of 

the Gatehouse at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, a part of Gateway National Recreation Area, which the 

park has contemplated enlarging in order to house both the site’s fee collection and the visitor 

protection offices. This report, which was funded through the NPS Fee Demonstration Program, 

fulfills the DO- 28 (formerly NPS- 28) Cultural Resource Management Guideline requirements for the 

documentation of historic structures prior to treatment of such structures. 

 This report documents the evolution of the Gatehouse using both primary and secondary 

sources, including public and private records and collections, historic photographs, historic maps, 

personal interviews, and an investigation of the building’s existing architectural fabric. Repositories 

utilized or checked for materials pertaining to this investigation included the following institutions: 

Library of Congress (Manuscripts, Prints and Photographs, and Geography and Map 

Divisions), Washington, D.C.; National Archives II (Still Pictures Research Room; 

Motion Picture, Sound & Video Research Room; Cartographic & Architectural 

Research Room; Textual Research Room, Record Group 77), College Park, MD; 

National Archives, New York, NY; U.S. Army, Corp of Engineers, Office of History, 

Alexandria, VA; U.S. Army Center of Military History, Washington, D.C.; U.S. Army 

records at Fort Hamilton (Post Engineers Office/Curator), New York, NY; New 

Jersey State Archives, Trenton, NJ; New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry 

archives, Trenton, NJ; New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office files, Trenton, 

NJ; Newark Public Library, Newark NJ; Columbia University, Avery Library, New 

York, NY; NPS Museum Services Library, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown, 

MA; NPS Historic Architecture Program Library (formerly a part of the Northeast 

Cultural Resources Center), Lowell, MA; and Gateway National Recreation Area 

Museum Collection and Sandy Hook Unit maintenance records, Sandy Hook, NJ. 

Research Findings 

 Unfortunately, while an exhaustive search of the repositories listed above was undertaken, 

very little written or photographic documentation relating to the Gatehouse was found. Thus, the 

investigation into the architectural development of the Gatehouse relied heavily upon a very limited 

number of historic exterior photographs of the building found in park archives and at the New 

Jersey State Archives; the Fort Hancock Historic Record Book and Real Property Record Cards, 

maintained in the park’s museum collection; park maintenance records; Volume III of a 1988 historic 

structure report pertaining to Fort Hancock structures constructed between 1918 and 1978; oral 

history provided by Park Historian Tom Hoffman; and a two- day architectural investigation of the 

building by the author. 
xi

The Gatehouse is located at the historic south entrance to Fort Hancock. It was constructed 

in 1942 by the Works Project Administration (WPA), and was utilized by the Army until 1962. The 

masonry structure as originally constructed consisted of a single- story main building measuring 24 

by 52 feet, a single- story annex and a two- story watchtower measuring 12 by 17 feet (which had two 

separate exterior entrances from the main building of the Gatehouse), and a now- removed small 

wing- wall, which was located at the southeast corner of the structure. The main building of the 

Gatehouse appears to have been originally equipped with a kitchen, a bathroom with shower), a 

large open office area, and a single smaller room, which likely functioned as a break room for 

personnel assigned to the gate. The annex and watchtower portion of the Gatehouse appear to have 

been constructed with a separate toilet facility in the first story of the building, probably only utilized 

by the sentry on duty at the time. Exterior changes to the building during this time period were likely 

limited to the addition of a small wood- framed vestibule at the east entrance of the building, which 

has since been removed. 

Between 1962 and 1973 the Gatehouse became the Headquarters Office for the newly created 

Sandy Hook State Park, located at what had been the southernmost portion of Fort Hancock. It is 

during this time period while used as administrative offices that the first significant changes to the 

interior of the structure are believed to have been made, including the insertion of an interior 

doorway between the main building and the annex/watchtower portions of the Gatehouse. At the 

same time, it is possible that the office located in the southwest corner of the Gatehouse’s main 

building was created by partitioning off a portion of the building’s original large open office space. 

Other changes made to the building during this time period are not easily discernable, but likely 

include replacement of the building’s original furnace with the existing Weil- McLain unit 

manufactured between 1956 and 1962, and possibly the removal of the wing- wall at the southeast 

corner of the building, which was gone by the time a ca.- 1974- 75 photograph of the building was 

taken. 

Since December 1973, when the state park and Fort Hancock became part of the newly 

created Gateway National Recreation Area, the Gatehouse has been utilized as the Sandy Hook 

Unit’s Park Headquarters Office (December 1973- spring 1975), and the park’s summer beach- fee 

collection office (1983- present). Changes believed to have been made to the building during this 

time period include the creation of a second office in the south end of the main building (again 

partitioned off from the original large open office space dating to the building’s Army era); the 

remodeling of the main building’s bathroom; the removal of the toilet in the first story of the 

annex/watchtower; upgrading of the building’s heating system; the addition of steel exterior 

doorway frames and doors, and the addition of security bars on the first- story windows of the 

structure; the removal of the non- original wooden portico; replacement of a number of the 

building’s original windows following a winter storm in 1993; repairs to the exterior stucco surfaces 

of the watchtower; and replacement of the original slate roof with asphalt shingles in 2000. 

Surprisingly, with all of these changes over the years, the Gatehouse has managed to retain 

much of its original architectural integrity and historic character, thanks in large part to the 

preservation ethic imposed upon those historically charged with the building’s care. However, the 

park’s contemplated expansion of the existing structure will no doubt alter the character and 

appearance of this structure more so than any alteration or treatment heretofore undertaken in the 

building’s 60- plus year history. For this reason, the following treatment recommendations are 

included as a part of this report, which will hopefully minimize both the visual and the historic 

impact that an addition would have upon the character of this small structure. 
xii

Recommendations for Treatment 

The following five treatment recommendations regarding the Fort Hancock Gatehouse at 

Sandy Hook are based on the park’s desire to renovate and enlarge the existing building, which is 

both historical and a visually contributing structure to the Fort Hancock National Historic District. 

1. Given the historical visual significance of the building’s east and south elevations, any 

contemplated addition to the existing structure should only be placed along the north or 

west elevations of the building. 

2. In order to limit the visual impact an addition would have to the original Gatehouse 

structure, an addition to the structure should be limited to one story in height; should be 

set back no less than 8 feet from the Gatehouse’s south elevation; and should be set back 

no less than 12- feet from the building’s east elevation (see Appendix B). 

3. Following the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, the design of any 

addition to the Gatehouse should be in keeping with the architectural integrity of the 

existing structure. Further, the new work shall be differentiated from the old, and will be 

compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale and proportion, and massing, 

to protect the integrity of the property and its environment. 

4. Preservation of the Gatehouse’s character- defining features listed in this report should 

take precedence over the design of any addition to the building, or any treatment 

strategy. 

5. The security bars added to the windows of the structure ca. 1983 can be removed if 

desired. 
xiii

ADMINISTRATIVE DATA 

 The Fort Hancock Gatehouse, located just north of the Highlands bridge on the west side of 

Hartshorne Drive, is listed as Park Structure SH- 438 (LCS ID: 008626). The Gatehouse, constructed 

in 1942 by the WPA, is an integral part of the Fort Hancock National Historic Landmark District and 

the Sandy Hook Unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area. 

This report has been prepared in accordance with DO- 28, Cultural Resource Management 

Guideline in anticipation of the park’s desire to enlarge and rehabilitate the Gatehouse. In this vein, 

the treatment recommendations for this structure, which according to the LCS “should be preserved 

and maintained,” are that an appropriately designed addition no more than one story in height may 

be added to the north or west elevations of the main building of the Gatehouse following prescribed 

minimum setbacks described in the “Treatment and Use” section of this report. Also, following the 

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, the architectural integrity of the original 

structure should be preserved, and the preservation of those character- defining features listed in 

this report should take precedence over the design of any addition to the building, or any renovation 

strategy. 

No previous study has been carried out thoroughly documenting the history of this 

structure. Related studies do, however, include a historic structure report for Fort Hancock 

buildings constructed between 1918 and 1978 (Volume III) prepared by Susan Simpson and others 

(1988), and the National Register nomination form prepared for Fort Hancock and the Sandy Hook 

Proving Ground Historic District (reference number 80002505). 

Materials generated in the production of this historic structure report will be stored and 

maintained at the Historic Architecture Program, Northeast Region, located in Lowell, MA. 

1

Part I. 

DEVELOPMENTAL HISTORY 

Historical Background 

& Context 

Fort Hancock is located on Sandy Hook, a narrow barrier peninsula that extends about six 

and a half miles northward from the New Jersey coast into the outer harbor of New York City. The 

fort, constructed to guard the only natural deepwater channel into the harbor was named after 

Major General Winfield Scott Hancock (1824- 86) in 1895, and first garrisoned in 1898, just weeks 

before the beginning of the Spanish- American War. 

However, even before Fort Hancock was developed, the site at Sandy Hook had already 

been put to use for military purposes. British Loyalists are said to have built the first fortifications on 

Sandy Hook during the Revolutionary War. Later, during the War of 1812, the New Jersey militia 

constructed a wooden fortification on “the Hook” known as Fort Gates. In 1859 construction of an 

enclosed granite fort was begun north of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse, which itself was constructed 

in 1764. The introduction of rifled artillery during the Civil War made the fort obsolete before the 

structure was completed, however, and work on it stopped in 1868. In 1874, the Army’s first official 

proving ground for weapons was established at Sandy Hook. 

Fort Hancock began with a core of 34 permanent buildings constructed between 1898 and 

1899.1

 During the fort’s early years, its main function was that of coastal artillery defense and the 

training of personnel assigned to such units. Later during World War I, the fort played a significant 

role in the training of troops assigned to artillery and trench mortar units bound for Europe. 

Following the war, the Sandy Hook Proving Ground moved to Aberdeen, MD, and the mortar 

battery was dismantled and replaced with anti- aircraft guns to meet the new potential threat of aerial 

attacks. In 1937 the fort became the site of radar equipment testing by the Army’s Signal Corps, 

which spearheaded the development and deployment of the first radar systems.2

 

1

 Lisanne Lee Renner, “Taps or Reveille for Fort Hancock?: A Preservation Case Study at Fort Hancock, 

N.J.,” Columbia University, Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Thesis for 

Master of Science degree in Historic Preservation, May 1997, p. 7. 

2

 Renner, p. 8. 
2

With the onset of World War II, the fort took on the role of New York Harbor Defense 

Command headquarters. Coastal artillery and anti- aircraft units, as well as a mobile defense force 

assigned to protect Long Island and the New Jersey coasts, were stationed at the fort. As a result, the 

post, which usually garrisoned between 400 and 800 personnel, swelled to more than 12,000.3

 By the 

end of the war hundreds of “temporary” structures were constructed on the Hook to support the 

additional personnel assigned to Fort Hancock. 

Following the end of World War II, personnel and military functions were gradually reduced 

at the fort until it was finally deactivated in June 1950. However, with the advent of the Korean War, 

the fort was reactivated in April 1951 to provide defense for the New York City area and to serve as a 

training center for anti- aircraft units.4

 In 1953, following the end of the war, the fort was once again 

deactivated; however, the site continued to be occupied by the 1225th Army Service Unit, which 

provided logistical and administrative support to the radar and antiaircraft installations remaining on 

the Hook.5

 Also in 1953, the replacement of antiaircraft guns with NIKE- AJAX surface- to- air 

missiles began (nuclear- armed NIKE- HERCULES missile system replaced the AJAX system in 

1958). These new systems, which the Defense Department relied heavily upon as a means of 

protecting metropolitan centers such as New York, precipitated the reactivation of Fort Hancock in 

July 1956.6

During the 1960s less than 500 army personnel were stationed at Fort Hancock, mostly 

comprised of Battery C of the 4th missile battalion “NIKE- HERCULES” 71ST artillery, military police, 

and support personnel.7

 Most of these personnel were located at the northern end of the Hook, 

which had traditionally been the center of operations at Fort Hancock. However, at the southern 

end of the fort, plans had been in the works since the late 1940s for the establishment of a state- run 

park centered on the natural resources of the Hook.8

 A study prepared in the early 1950s suggested 

that such a recreational park could be fiscally self- sustaining, with a daily visitor capacity of more 

than 150,000 people.9

In 1962, Sandy Hook State Park was established at the southernmost end of the Hook, 

encompassing approximately one- quarter of the fort’s 1,665- acre site.10 The fort’s existing 

gatehouse, constructed in 1942 and the focus of this historic structure report, became the state park’s 

 

3

 Interview with Park Historian Thomas Hoffman, April 12, 2004. 

4

 Naomi Kroll and Sharon Ofenstein, Building 25, Enlisted Men’s Barracks Fort Hancock, Historic Structure 

Report (U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 2002), p. 34. 

5

 Kroll and Ofenstein., p. 34. 

6

 Kroll and Ofenstein, pp. 34- 35. 

7

 Hoffman, April 12, 2004. 

8

Sandy Hook State Park, A plan for the Organization, Development and Operation Under the Sandy Hook 

Reservation Authority Act of 1950. Undated report, prepared for the Governor’s committee to study the 

proposal for a recreational park on the Sandy Hook Reservation. 

9

Sandy Hook State Park, pp. 13- 16. 

10 According to Historian Hoffman, this portion of the fort was deemed in excess of Army needs, and was 

leased to the State of New Jersey for use as a state park for one dollar a year. 
3

administrative building. This cooperative relationship with the U.S. government and the Army 

continued until 1972, when then- President Nixon signed into law the establishment of Gateway 

National Recreation Area. In December 1973, the National Park Service took over the 

responsibilities for park operations, initially continuing to utilize the old Army Gatehouse in the 

same manner as its predecessor. Finally, in December 1974, historic Fort Hancock was closed for the 

final time, with all of the property associated with the fort transferred to the jurisdiction of the 

Department of the Interior.11

Today the historic Gatehouse continues to serve as the National Park Service’s feecollection building for the Gateway National Recreation Area’s Sandy Hook unit. The State of New 

Jersey will soon undertake replacement of the Highlands bridge, located just south of the Gatehouse, 

and reconfiguration of the road leading to and around the Park Service’s Gatehouse and toll booths. 

Additionally, the Park Service is currently contemplating the possible enlargement of the Gatehouse 

building itself in order to combine the site’s fee collection and visitor protection offices within the 

same structure. It is this contemplated treatment of the Gatehouse that has prompted the 

production of this HSR, fulfilling the documentation requirements listed under DO- 28, Cultural 

Resource Management Guideline for historic structures. 

Figure 1. Sandy Hook State Park, Gatehouse and the Highlands bridge, taken September 17, 1965. 

 

11 Kroll and Ofenstein, p. 35. 

5

Chronology of 

Development & Use 

Figure 2. The Gatehouse and Guardhouse located at the south entrance to Fort Hancock, 

ca. 1942. 

Construction of the Gatehouse

The Gatehouse located at the south entrance to the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National 

Recreation Area was constructed for the Army in 1942 by the Works Project Administration (WPA).34 

This L- shaped structure, consisting of a main one- story building attached by a one- story annex to a 

two- story watchtower, was originally built for $3,472.35 According to the building’s “real property 

record card” found in park archives, the building measures 24 by 52 feet, with the annex and tower 

measuring a combined 12 by 17 feet. Interestingly, the card indicates that the structure was 

designated as the “PM ADM BLDG,” suggesting that the structure originally served as a sentry 

watchtower and an administration building for the fort’s Military Police unit. 

 

34 Fort Hancock Historic Record Book, p. 369, Sandy Hook Museum Collection. 

35 Susan Simpson et al., Historic Structure Report: Architectural Data Section (Volume III), Fort Hancock 

Structures, 1918- 1978, Sandy Hook Unit, Gateway National Recreation Area, New Jersey (U.S. Department 

of the Interior, National Park Service, date- stamped Aug. 25, 1988), p. 284. 
6

Unfortunately, no documentation of the structure’s original construction could be found in 

any archive, including the National Archives in Washington and New York, U.S. Army archives, 

New Jersey State Archives, New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office archives, New Jersey Office 

of Parks and Recreation archives, or National Park Service archives. Because of this, only early 

historic photographs of the structure and a detailed physical investigation of the building could be 

relied upon in determining the building’s original architectural configuration and appearance. 

According to the U.S. Army real property card, the building was completed in May 1942, 

suggesting that the structure may have been constructed as part of the national defense effort 

brought on by the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941. The construction of the Gatehouse 

during the United States’ World War II armament period may explain some of the unusual 

architectural features found associated with the building today. During the physical investigation of 

the structure, it was noticed that at least two different types of bricks were used in the construction 

of the building. The use of two differing brick types, which is especially noticeable at the building’s 

south elevation, might suggest that the building was constructed in two phases, or that a portion of 

the structure was re- bricked at a later date. However, close examination of the building’s earliest 

known photographs (taken in 1943) reveals that the bricks comprising the building today are the 

same bricks used to construct the building in 1942. Further, the brick joints between the main 

building of the Gatehouse and the watchtower annex are interlocked together and not butted, 

indicting that the entire structure was constructed in one phase. 

So, why then are two different brick types found on the exterior walls of the building? The 

likely answer to this question is that during this period materials for military purposes were being 

obtained and used as they became available, including surplus material not necessarily used in their 

intended manner. In other words, materials not normally used together, or for a particular function, 

were nevertheless used simply because they were available. In the case of the construction of the 

Gatehouse, two different brick types (one or both types possibly left over from previous projects) 

were utilized together in the construction of the building simply because together they made up 

enough material to construct the building. A supporting example of this manner of construction is 

found in the attic of the Gatehouse’s main building, where beaded- board materials normally 

reserved for finished spaces were used as sheathing boards for the building’s original slate roof. 

Clearly, during times of war, the saying “form follows function” can be expanded to “form follows 

function, follows available materials.” 

Interestingly, however, the form of the building was not originally dictated simply by its 

function and the available materials. The architectural appearance of the building was also 

important enough to the builders that a wing wall was constructed at the southeast corner of the 

watchtower simply to help visually tie the Gatehouse structure to the sentry Guardhouse originally 

located on a small island in the middle of Hartshorne Drive (Fig. 3). 
7

Figure 3. Original wing- wall attached to southeast corner of Gatehouse watchtower, October 11, 

1943. 
8

 Additionally, a second freestanding masonry structure was constructed on the east side of 

Hartshorne Drive to balance and unify the appearance of the gate and the wing- wall attached to the 

watchtower (see Fig. 2). The Guardhouse located in the middle of Hartshorne drive in the abovereferenced photograph was completed in February 1942, replacing an earlier guardhouse constructed 

in 1934 by the Civil Works Authority (CWA.).

36 This Guardhouse was demolished in the early 1980s 

after being struck by a car.

37

A second note of interest regarding the architectural form of the Gatehouse relates to the 

two- story watchtower, a fairly unusual feature for such a structure. From this location a sentry on 

duty could watch both the military trains and all vehicular traffic entering and exiting the fort at this 

point. Additionally, from this raised vantage point, the sentry would also have the ability to watch 

for pedestrians trying to gain access to the fort along the beaches, and could survey the ocean for 

enemy forces that might try to land in the area. While this may sound strange to us today, during the 

World War II era, this was in fact a major concern to seaboard communities throughout the United 

States. Clearly, the Gatehouse’s location at the southernmost point of Fort Hancock, combined with 

expansive unobstructed views from the raised watchtower, made the construction of the structure a 

necessity for coastal defense purposes. 

Original Architectural Configuration 

As constructed, it appears that the main building of the Gatehouse was composed of two 

smaller rooms located at the north end of the structure, a bathroom, and a single large open room 

occupying the southern 2/3rds of the building (Fig. 4). Based on the remaining cabinetry located 

along the east wall of the northeast room, it appears that this space was originally constructed as a 

kitchenette and also housed the original furnace for the building’s hot- water heating system. The 

room in the northwest corner of the main building likely served a utilitarian function such as a 

storage space, or a break room.38 It is uncertain when the attic access hatch and stairway located in 

the northwest room were installed, but they may in fact date to the construction of the building. 

The bathroom as constructed appears to have been fitted with a shower stall, which in recent 

years has been converted into storage space. Unfortunately, due to the lack of existing 

documentation and the remodeling of the room, it is unknown what types or numbers of bathroom 

fixtures were originally installed in the room. 

 

36 National Archives II, College Park, Maryland, Record Group 77, Fort Hancock building’s records, 

Q.M.C. Form No. 117, Building No. 86. 

37 Simpson et al., p. 288. 

38 It is unlikely that the northwest room was an office as personnel would have had to pass through the 

room to get to the kitchenette. 
9

Figure 4. Conjectural drawing of original first- floor plan of Gatehouse/Watchtower based on a physical investigation of 

the building’s existing architectural fabric. 
10

Likewise, little physical evidence of the appearance of the main building’s original large room 

remains today. In fact, one of the only ways one can tell that the two smaller rooms located at the 

southern portion of the structure today were created from the original single large room is due to the 

fact that the trim elements’ molding profiles in these three rooms today do not match one another. 

Verification of the original large room’s configuration can be seen in the attic of the structure, where 

original (though somewhat substandard) trusses span the entire width of the building over the 

original large space. 

The flooring in the three rooms at the southern end of the main building and in the 

northwest room of the structure is composed of light- colored 9- inch vinyl tiles, with a black border 

at the walls. It is uncertain whether or not these tiles are original to the construction of the building; 

however, based on the border tiles in the three southern rooms of the structure, it appears that they 

were installed prior to the installation of the later partition walls, which created the two newer office 

spaces in the southern end of the main building. 

The annex portion of the Gatehouse, which measures approximately 5 by 12 feet in area and 

is located between the main building and the watchtower, appears to have originally had doorways at 

both its north and south exterior walls. The east wall of the annex opened into the first story of the 

watchtower, where a toilet was originally located along the north wall of the 12 by 12- foot space. In 

the southeast corner of the room is the original stairway that leads up to the second story of the 

watchtower. From here unobstructed views of the surrounding land and waters made this structure 

invaluable to the Army.
11

Changes made to the Gatehouse by the State of New Jersey (1962- 73) 

In 1962 the Gatehouse became the Administration Building for the newly created Sandy 

Hook State Park, which existed until December 1973. It was during this time period that the first 

significant interior changes to the Gatehouse are believed to have been carried out. The differing 

floor tiles in the southeast corner of the main building’s southeast room evidences the addition of the 

doorway between this room and the once separate annex of the watchtower. Changes in the trim of 

the doorways associated with the southeast room also help us to establish the architectural 

development of this space. Original 5- inch- wide casings with rounded corners (matching other 

original casings in the north portion of the building) are found at the exterior doorway in the 

northeast corner of the room. What are believed to be second- generation doorway casings are 

found at the southeast door to the room, which leads to the watchtower annex, and at the doorway 

in the west wall of the room, which leads into the southwest office space of the main building (room 

102). These casings also have rounded corners in an attempt to match the original casings, but they 

are only 3 1⁄2 inches wide as compared to the original 5- inch- wide casings. This strongly suggests 

that the office located in the southwest corner of the Gatehouse’s main building was created at the 

same time that the interior doorway from the main building to the annex was installed. While 

confirmation of the date of these changes could not be obtained, it is possible that the change in 

function from a military building to state- park use triggered the interior alterations to the building at 

this time. Historic photographs of the Gatehouse from the state- park era suggest that no changes 

were made to the exterior portions of the building during this period (Figs. 5- 8). 

Figure 5. Gatehouse and guard shack during the state- park era (1962- 73). 
12

Figure 6. Southwest view of Gatehouse during state- park era. 

Figure 7. Aerial detail 

photograph of Gatehouse 

taken during state- park era. 

Figure 8. Aerial detail 

photograph of Gatehouse 

taken during state- park 

era. 
13

National Park Service- Era Changes Made to Gatehouse (December 1973- Present) 

Unfortunately, documentation regarding changes made to the Gatehouse up until 1993 is 

very limited. However, one of the earliest changes known to have been made to the structure during 

the National Park Service era was the addition of a small wood- framed entrance vestibule at the 

juncture of the Gatehouse’s main building and the annex (Fig. 9).39 Construction of the vestibule, 

which occurred when the building was used as park headquarters (December 1973- spring 1975), 

subsequently required closing in the original north doorway to the annex, which was simply bricked 

up. From historic photographs of the structure, we also know that the original south doorway to the 

annex was converted into the existing window either late in the state- park era or during the early 

years of NPS occupancy of the building. Figure 9 also shows that by 1975 the original wing- wall 

connected to the southeast corner of the watchtower had been removed.40 The existing security bars 

on the first- story windows of the structure were installed ca. 1983 (probably in combination with the 

existing steel doors at the north and east entrances to the building), when the building became the 

park’s summer beach- fee collection office.41

On the interior of the building, the southeast office of the main building (room 101) was 

created with the construction of the partition wall located just to the north of the east entrance to the 

building. The trim at the doorway from the newly created room 101 into what remained of the 

original large room of the Gatehouse (room 103) is, like the second- generation doorway casings of 

the building, 3 1⁄2 inches wide. However, unlike the first- and second- generation casings, which have 

rounded corners, the edges of the casings associated with this doorway (as well as the window 

casings installed where the original south doorway to the annex once existed), are square- edged, 

with no attempt having been made to match the earlier trim elements. This indicates a third 

generation of alterations. 

The ceiling molding associated with room 101 is also made of very simple square- edged trim 

boards measuring three- quarters of an inch by 2 inches, which match the ceiling moldings found in 

the first story of the annex (room 107). This suggests that in addition to converting the original south 

annex doorway into a window, it is likely that other architectural changes were made to this space 

during the Park Service years. In fact, probably two different sets of changes were made to this space 

since 1974, as the baseboards found here are 3 1⁄2- inch- wide, square- edged boards not matching 

baseboards anywhere else in the building. These baseboards were likely installed as part of the work 

carried out in 1993 when the toilet, once located in the northeast corner of the first story of the 

watchtower, was removed.42 Other work done at this time included the removal of the wood- framed 

vestibule at the building’s east entrance, replacement of a number of windows associated with the 

watchtower after a storm apparently blew both the sashes and their frames out, and repairs to the 

exterior stucco surfaces of the second story of the watchtower. 

 

39 Lou Hansen, Chief of Maintenance, and Thomas Hoffman, Historian, 2004. 

40 The matching wing- wall east of the guard shack located in the middle of Hartshorne Drive was 

removed sometime between 1951 and the mid- 1960s, based on historic photographs. 

41 Based on historic photographs. 

 

42 Memorandum found in park maintenance files dated 3- 23- 93. 
14

Other changes that have occurred to the Gatehouse since the NPS acquired the building, but 

which are not documented, include: upgrading of the original steam heating system with the existing 

hot- water system (including the installation of the newer oil tank located at the northwest corner of 

the building);43 remodeling of the bathroom in the main building of the Gatehouse;44 and replacement 

of the original slate roof with the existing asphalt tile roof in 2000. 

Figure 9. Fort Hancock Gatehouse ca. 1974- 75, showing wood- framed entrance vestibule added to 

the building about this time. 

 

43 The Weil- McLain #57 furnace was produced by the company between the years 1956 and 1962, 

suggesting that the original furnace originally associated with the building was replace when the State of 

New Jersey took over the building in 1962 or shortly thereafter. 

44 Sink date stamped 6/22/78 by manufacturer. 
15

Architectural 

Description 

Exterior Elements 

South Elevation

 Foundation: Poured concrete slab. 

 Walls: The south exterior walls of the gatehouse consist of a brick, one- story, 

gable- end wall of the main building, and an attached brick, one- story annex 

and brick and stucco two- story watch tower (Figs. 10- 11). The south wall of 

the annex and watchtower, which are attached to the east side of the main 

building, are set back one brick course from south elevation of main building 

(Fig. 12). While brick of annex and watchtower do not match those found on 

main building, keying of brick courses at intervals between annex and main 

building suggests structures were constructed contemporaneously with one 

another. Original wing- wall attached to southeast corner of watchtower has 

been removed. 

 Roof: Asphalt shingle (replacement). 

 Windows: The south elevation of the main building retains the two windows with 

original 6/6 double- hung sashes at the first story, and a centered louvered 

vent opening at the attic level. All lintels and sills are painted, but appear to 

be cast stone. Security bars are not original. 

 

 A single window with 1/1 double- hung sashes is centered in the south annex 

wall. Originally this opening was a doorway to the annex/watchtower. In the 

watchtower, windows with 1/1 double- hung sashes are found at the first and 

second stories. Lintels and sills appear to be cast stone; non- original security 

bars are found at first- story windows. 

 Doorways: No doorways are currently associated with building’s south elevation. As 

described above, window opening in south wall of annex was originally a 

doorway. 

 Other: Covered concrete access- well for plumbing, likely originally associated with 

fixtures in annex/watchtower, located on ground west of window opening 

associated with south wall of annex (Fig. 13). 

 Electrical feed and meter for building mounted down the center of the main 

building’s south gable- end wall. 
16

Figure 10. East side of south 

elevation of Gatehouse. 

Figure 11. South and east 

elevations of watchtower. 
17

Figure 12. South elevation of 

annex between Gatehouse’s main 

building at left and watchtower at 

right. 

Figure 13. Plumbing access 

well located at south side of 

building. 

Note difference in 

brick types and set 

back between 

annex and main 

building. 
18

East Elevation

 Foundation: Poured concrete slab. Two small openings of unknown function at ground 

level of building, now partially in- filled (Figs. 14- 15). 

 Walls: At the south end of the building’s east elevation is the two- story watchtower. 

The watchtower is brick at the first- story level and stucco at the second- tory 

level. A narrow brick chimney with protruding clay liner attached to the 

center of the watchtower’s east wall extends from the ground to above the 

structure’s roofline. The wall of the center and north portions of the 

gatehouse’s east elevation consist of the brick, one- story main building (Fig. 

16). The annex, located between the watchtower and the main building of the 

gatehouse, is not a visible part of the gatehouse’s east elevation. 

 Roof: Asphalt shingle (replacement). In addition to the tall narrow chimney 

associated with the watchtower and described above, a second brick chimney 

with protruding liner is found along the ridge of the main building’s gable 

roof, towards the west end of the structure. 

 Windows: A single window with 1/1 double- hung sashes is located at the south end of 

the watchtower’s east elevation. At the tower’s second story level two 1/1 

double- hung sash windows are found, one on each side of the tower’s 

centered chimney. 

 Three additional windows are associated with the east elevation of the 

gatehouse’s main building. The two southernmost windows in the main 

building’s east elevation have 6/6 double- hung sashes. The west window of 

the building’s east elevation has 3/6 double- hung sashes. As on the south 

side of the building, the lintels and sills are painted, but appear to be made out 

of cast stone. Security bars, added at a later date are found at all first floor 

windows. 

 Doorways: A steel entry door and frame are located at the south end of the main 

building’s east elevation (Fig. 17). These appear to be replacement elements 

likely installed in the 1970s or 1980s. 

 Other: The remains of a vent pipe once associated with the main building’s 

bathroom (room 106) is found at ground level just to the south of the main 

building’s center window on the gatehouse’s east elevation. A corresponding 

hole where the pipe extended up above the roofline is found in the building’s 

soffit directly above the truncated pipe. 

 Evidence of an earlier enclosed wood- framed porch can still be found at the 

juncture of the gatehouse’s annex and the east side of the main building. This 

porch, which was removed circa 1993, does not appear to have been an 

original feature of the building. 

 A hose bib is located at the north end of the main building’s east elevation. 
19

Figures 14 & 15. Detail of 

opening found in foundation at 

north end of Gatehouse’s east 

elevation. A second filled in 

opening is located south of 

window W- 113 seen at the left 

side of the picture. 
20

Figure 16. East elevation 

of Gatehouse. 

Figure 17. Detail of east 

entry into Gatehouse. Note 

original infilled door location 

at north wall of attached 

annex. 
21

North Elevation

 Foundation: Poured concrete slab. 

 Walls: At the east end of the gatehouse’s north elevation is found the two- story 

watchtower and the one- story annex (Fig. 18). The watchtower is brick at 

the first- story level and stucco at the second- story level; the annex wall is 

brick and shows evidence of an earlier door, which has now been in- filled. 

The brick gable- end wall of the gatehouse’s main one- story building, along 

with an attached stockade- fence (used to enclose the building’s oil tank), 

makes up the west end of the gatehouse’s north elevation (Fig. 19). 

 Roof: Asphalt shingle (replacement). 

 Windows: Openings with 1/1 double- hung sashes are located in the first and second 

stories of the gatehouse’s watchtower. The window in the second story of 

the watchtower measures approximately 49 by 50 inches, while the window 

in the first story level is a small (22 by 34 inches) unit originally associated 

with the watchtower bathroom. Security bars, added at a later date are found 

at the first- story window. Sills and lintels associated with the building 

openings appear to be of cast stone. 

 

 Doorways: A steel entry door and frame are located just east of the center of the main 

building’s gable- end north elevation. These appear to be replacement 

elements likely installed in the 1970s or 1980s. What appears to have been an 

original doorway into the annex has been filled in with brick. 

 Other: A louvered vent opening is situated in the main building’s gable end wall at 

the attic level. 

 Electrical conduits attached to gable- end wall of main building. 

 Ground- level access- well similar to access- well on south side of annex, 

located at east corner of watchtower’s north elevation (currently inaccessible, 

probably originally associated with removed plumbing fixtures of 

watchtower). 

 Evidence of an earlier enclosed wood- framed porch can still be found at the 

juncture of the gatehouse’s annex and the east side of the main building. This 

porch, which was removed circa 1993, does not appear to have been an 

original feature of the building. 
22

Figure 18 Watchtower 

and annex at east end of 

Gatehouse’s north 

elevation. Noteoriginal 

door location at annex 

wall now in- filled. 

Figure 19 (below). 

North gable- end wall of 

main building of 

Gatehouse. 
23

West Elevation

 Foundation: Poured concrete slab. Small openings at ground level of building, like those 

described on building’s east elevation, now partially in- filled (function 

unknown). 

 Walls: The walls of the main building’s west elevation are constructed of brick (Fig. 

20). At the south end of the elevation, the wall of the second story level of the 

watchtower, which is a part of the gatehouse’s overall west elevation, is 

stucco. An attached stockade- fence enclosure used to house the building’s 

oil tank is found at the north end of the gatehouse’s west elevation (Fig. 21). 

 Roof: Asphalt shingle (replacement). At the north end of the gatehouse’s west 

elevation is found a chimney located along the ridge of the one- story main 

building. 

 Windows: Five evenly spaced windows with 6/6 double- hung sashes are located along 

the main building’s west elevation. Additionally, two windows with 1/1 

double- hung sashes are found in the second story of the watchtower. 

Security bars are found at the five first- story window. Sills and lintels 

associated with the building openings appear to be of cast stone. 

 Doorways: No doorways are associated with the gatehouse’s west elevation. 

 Other: Brick at south west corner of building and along south gable- end wall of 

gatehouse’s main building is extremely weathered, likely due to the building’s 

proximity to the ocean, and the apparently weaker salmon colored brick that 

was used on this portion of the building (Fig. 22). 

Figure 20. Southeast corner of Gatehouse, showing south 

section of main building’s west elevation. 
24

 

Figure 21. Northwest 

corner of Gatehouse. 

Figure 22. Detail of wall at 

Gatehouse’s south 

elevation, showing severely 

eroded brick surfaces. 
25

Interior Elements 

Room 101 (Southeast Office)

As originally constructed, room 101 appears to have been a portion of a single large room 

made up of rooms 101, 102 and 103. Evidence of this large space, which comprised more than 

two- thirdsof the gatehouse’s main building, is based on the truss- framing technique utilized 

in the attic of the building over these spaces and the non- original wall, doorway, and trim 

elements associated with the interior partition walls that divide the space today (see 

“Developmental History” for further details). 

Floors: 9- inch off- white vinyl tile with black border tiles along room’s original walls. 

Existing tiles likely date to the 1960s, but may be original to the building’s 

construction. Brown tiles at doorway 104, added at a later date (Fig. 23). 

Baseboards: 3 3⁄4 - inch rough pine. 

Walls: Paneled wainscot with chair- rail molding at lower portions of wall; 

plasterboard on north and west upper walls; plaster at east and south upper 

walls (Fig. 24). 

Moldings: Ceiling molding three- quarters of an inch by 2 inches 

Ceiling: Plasterboard. 

Doorways: The door in doorway 101 is an exterior steel door (replacement) hung on a 

metal frame. According to the historic structure report on the Fort Hancock 

structures 1918- 1978, an earlier door (possibly the original east entry door), 

was “wood paneled with glass.”45 Doorways 102 and 103 in the north and west 

walls of the room, respectively, and doorway 104 in the southeast corner of 

the room, all have modern, hollow- core doors. 

 The chronological order of the building’s walls and doorways can most easily 

be seen in a study of the doorway trim elements associated with this room. 

Doorway 101 retains the original 5- inch casings with rounded interior edges. 

The trim at doorway 102 is the most modern found in the building, being 

simple square- edged casings 3 1⁄2 inches wide. Doorways 103 and 104 retain 

second- generation doorway casings, which have interior rounded edges to 

match the original casings found at doorway 101, but which are only 3 1⁄2 

inches wide. 

Windows: Only window W- 105 is associated with room 101. This window, centered in 

the south wall of the room, measures 35 by 52 inches. It has original 5- inch, 

rounded- corner casings and 6/6 double- hung sashes. 

Other: Two 48- inch fluorescent light fixtures and one ceiling- mounted smoke 

detector. 

 

45 Simpson et al., p. 284. 
26

 

Figure 23. East wall of 

room 101, showing original 

east exterior doorway, D101 (left), and added 

doorway to 

annex/watchtower, D- 104 

(right). 

Figure 24. View of 

west side of room 101, 

as viewed from annex 

though doorway 

D- 104. 
27

Room 102 (Southwest Office)

Like room 101, room 102 appears to have originally been a portion of a single large room made 

up of rooms 101, 102 and 103. Evidence of this large space, which comprised more than twothirdsof the gatehouse’s main building, is based on the truss- framing technique utilized in 

the attic of the building over these spaces and the non- original wall, doorway, and trim 

elements associated with the interior partition walls that divide the space today (see 

“Developmental History” for further details). 

Floors: 9- inch off- white vinyl tile with black border tiles along room’s original walls. 

Existing tiles likely date to the 1960s, but may in fact be original to the 

building’s construction (Figs. 25- 26). 

Baseboards: 3 3⁄4 - inch rough pine. 

Walls: Paneled wainscot with chair- rail molding at lower portions of wall; dry wall 

on east and north upper walls; plaster at west and south upper walls. 

Moldings: Quarter- round concave ceiling molding. 

Ceiling: Plasterboard. 

Doorways: Doorway 103, in the east wall of the room, has a modern, hollow- core door. 

The doorway casings are constructed of 3 1⁄2 - inch stock with interior 

rounded edges, designed to emulate the building’s original 5- inch casings. 

Windows: Windows W- 106, W- 107, and W- 108 are associated with room 102. Window 

W- 106 is centered in the south wall of the room, while windows W- 107 and 

W- 108 are in the west wall of the room. All three windows measure 35 by 52 

inches and have original, 5- inch casings with interior rounded edges; all three 

contain 6/6 double- hung sashes. 

Other: Two 48- inch fluorescent light fixtures and one ceiling- mounted smoke 

detector. 
28

Figure 25. View of 

south portion of room 

102.

Figure 26. View of 

northwest corner of room 

102. 
29

Room 103 (Break Room)

As originally constructed, room 103 appears to have been a portion of a single large room 

made up of rooms 101, 102, and 103. Evidence of this large space, which comprised more than 

two- thirdsof the gatehouse’s main building, is based on the truss- framing technique utilized 

in the attic of the building over these spaces, and on the non- original wall, doorway, and trim 

elements associated with the interior partition walls that divide the space today (see 

“Developmental History” for further details). 

Floors: 9- inch off- white vinyl tile with black border tiles along room’s original walls. 

Existing tiles likely date to the 1960s, but may in fact be original to the 

building’s construction. 

Baseboards: 3 3⁄4 - inch rough pine. 

Walls: Paneled wainscot with chair- rail molding at lower portions of wall; 

plasterboard on south upper walls; plaster at east, west, and north upper walls 

(Figs. 27 & 28). 

Moldings: Quarter- round concave ceiling molding. 

Ceiling: Plasterboard. 

 

Doorways: Doorway 102, located in the south wall of the room, has a modern, hollowcore door. The doorway’s casings are constructed of simple, 3 1⁄2 - inch 

square- edged boards. Doorways 106 and 109, which lead to rooms 104 and 

106, respectively, have original, 5- inch casings with interior rounded edges. 

Their five- panel doors are apparently original, as well. 

Windows: Window W- 109 and W- 110, located in the west wall of the room, measure 35 

by 52 inches. They have original 5- inch casings with interior rounded edges 

and 6/6 double- hung sashes. Window W- 114 and its casings, located in the 

east wall of the room, match the windows and casings found in the west wall 

of the room. However, the south end of window W- 114’s stool, which is 

located approximately 36 inches above the floor, has been partially notched 

out. This notching suggests that a counter or work station may have been 

butted into the east wall of the room at this location at some earlier date (Fig. 

29). 

Other: Three 48- inch fluorescent light fixtures. Along north wall of room, east of 

enclosed chimney, is a small storage space; based upon its trim, it appears to 

be original to the construction of the building (Fig. 30). 
30

Figure 27. View of east portion of room 103. 

Figure 28. View of west portion of room 103. 
31

Figure 29. Detail of 

notch in stool of 

window W- 114 where 

original counter or desk 

may have butted into 

the east wall of room 

103.

Figure 30. North wall of 

room 103, showing 

original storage space 

located next to enclosed 

chimney. 
32

Room 104 (Northwest Storage Room)

Room 104 appears to retain its original configuration and much of its architectural integrity. 

Floors: 9- inch off- white vinyl tile with black border tiles. Existing tiles likely date to 

the 1960s, but may in fact be original to the building’s construction. 

Baseboards: The baseboards at the north, northeast corner, and southwest walls of the 

room are original, consisting of boards 5 1⁄2 inches wide with rounded upper 

edges and quarter- round toe moldings (Fig. 31).46 Surprisingly, the 

baseboard in the southeast corner of the room is 7 inches tall with a quarterround toe molding. This type of baseboard is not found anywhere else in the 

building, and no explanation for its use in this location is known. As with 

other materials used in the construction of this building, this particular 

element may be original to the construction of the building, and was simply 

utilized because it was available at the time. 

Walls: Plaster. 

Moldings: Quarter- round concave ceiling moldings. 

Ceiling: 12- inch acoustical tile. 

Doorways: Doorways 106 and 107, located in the south and east walls of the room, 

respectively, have 5- inch casings with interior rounded edges matching the 

original doorway casings found throughout the building. Both doorways 

have five- panel doors also apparently original to the construction of the 

building. 

Windows: Only window W- 111 is associated with room 104. This window, centered in 

the west wall of the room, measures 35 by 52 inches. It has original 5- inch 

casings with interior rounded edges and 6/6 double- hung sashes. 

Other: One 48- inch fluorescent light fixtures lights the room. Also, a drop- down 

attic stairway of unknown date is located in the northeast corner of the room 

(Fig. 32). 

 

46 Since the quarter- round toe moldings are absent from the original baseboards in the kitchen, these 

moldings may have been added to the baseboards after the floors were tiled, presumably in the 1960s. 
33

Figure 31. Original 

baseboard found on 

north wall of room 104. 

Figure 32. Attic 

stairway located in 

northwest corner of 

room 104. 
34

Room 105 (Kitchen)

Room 105 appears to retain its original architectural configuration. However, due to the lack 

of existing documentation, little is known regarding changes to the room’s appearance over 

the years. 

Floors: Painted concrete. 

Baseboards: Original 5 1⁄2 - inch boards with rounded top edges. 

Walls: Plaster. 

Moldings: None. 

Ceiling: Plaster. 

 

Doorways: Doorway 107, located in the west wall of the room, has 5- inch casings with 

interior rounded edges matching the original doorway casings found 

throughout the building. Its five- panel door is apparently also original to the 

construction of the building (Fig. 33). Doorway 108, in the north wall of the 

room, has no trim elements. It contains an exterior steel replacement door 

hung in a metal frame. The original door in this location likely matched the 

building’s original east entry door, though little is known about its earliest 

appearance (see “Room 101- Architectural Description- Doors,” for more 

information). 

Windows: Only window W- 112 is associated with room 105. This window, centered in 

the east wall of the room, measures 35 by 40 inches. It has original 5- inch 

casings with interior rounded edges and 3/6 double- hung sashes. 

Other: A single incandescent light- bulb fixture and a heat detector are mounted on 

the ceiling. Wall- mounted cabinets on either side of the sink along the 

room’s east wall appear to be original to the construction of the building. 

However, the lower cabinet, countertop, and 22- by 25- inch stainless- steel 

sink appear to be replacement elements (Fig. 34). An oil- fired “WeilMcLain # 57” furnace of unknown date is located in the southwest corner of 

the room, along with a hot- water heater and a ceiling- mounted expansion 

tank associated with the building’s forced hot- water heating system (Fig. 35). 
35

 

Figure 33. Original five- panel door 

located in northwest corner of 

kitchen. 

Figure 34. View of east wall of kitchen. 

Figure 35. Weil- McLain 

#57 furnace, expansion 

tank, and hot- water heater 

located in southwest corner 

of kitchen. 
36

Room 106 (Bathroom)

Like room 105 (the kitchen), room 106 appears to retain its original architectural 

configuration. However, due to the lack of existing documentation, little is known regarding 

changes to the room’s appearance over the years. 

Floors: 12- inch beige- colored tiles (two differing types used). The lighter beige tiles, 

found mostly along south wall of room, may be original to construction of 

building (Fig. 36). The darker beige units were likely installed when the 

bathroom fixtures in the room were rearranged. Evidence of the room’s 

original configuration is hidden by the newer wall tiles that have been 

installed and the darker- colored floor tiles found in the northern part of the 

room. Evidence of the sink being relocated to the north wall of the room 

remains in the southeast corner of the room, where the drain for the fixture 

was removed and the floor was never repaired (Fig. 37).47

 

Baseboards: Painted concrete 6 1⁄4 inches high; concrete threshold for shower stall; original 

wood threshold at doorway D- 109. 

Walls: White ceramic tile with black corner tiles at outside corner of shower stall. 

Wall tile does not appear to be original to construction of building, but was 

likely installed when the room was last remodeled (possibly in the late 1970s, 

based on the manufacture date found on the sink (6/22/78)). 

Moldings: 4- inch crown molding, not believed to be original to the building. 

Ceiling: Plaster. 

Doorways: Doorway 109, located in the west wall of the room, has 5- inch casings with 

interior rounded edges matching the original doorway casings found 

throughout the building. The five- panel door here is also original to the 

construction of the building 

Windows: Only window W- 113 is associated with room 106. This window, at the south 

end of the room’s east wall, measures 35 by 52 inches. It has original 5- inch 

casings with interior rounded edges and 6/6 double- hung sashes. The lights 

of the windows have been painted for privacy. 

Other: One incandescent- light/vent fixture is found in the room. The shower stall 

has had shelving installed and is now used for storage (Fig. 38). The toilet 

and sink are modern fixtures (Fig. 39). What are believed to be original 

heating pipes for the building, which have been disconnected but left in place, 

are still found along the east wall of the room near the ceiling. 

 

47 The drain at the southeast corner of the room may also have been associated with a urinal. However, 

the chances are much greater that a sink was originally located in this position. Partitions and a second 

toilet may have originally been located along the north wall of the room, or a urinal now removed, may 

have been located where the sink now exists. 
37

Figure 36. View of southeast 

corner of bathroom. Note 

early heating pipes near ceiling 

of room and differing floor 

tiles. 

Figure 37. Detail of 

disconnected drain pipe 

found in southeast corner 

of bathroom. 
38

Figure 38. View of 

converted shower 

in room 106. 

Figure 39. View of 

north wall of bathroom 

and modern fixtures. 
39

Room 107 (First Story of Watchtower and Annex)

As originally constructed, the watchtower and annex do not appear to have been connected 

to the main building of the gatehouse, which measures 24 by 52 feet by one story high (Fig. 

40). Instead, it appears that the watchtower annex, which makes up the western part of 

room 107, had exterior doorways in the north and south walls of the structure. A bathroom 

for the sentry was also once located along the north wall of the room in the tower section of 

the room (Fig. 41), which is divided from the annex portion of the room by an interior 

partition wall between the two spaces. This partition wall likely contains a steel beam above 

the opening between the two spaces, which carries the weight of the west wall of the tower 

down to the side walls of the partition, where it is in turn transferred to the building’s 

foundation. 

Floors: 9- inch brown tiles. Existing tiles likely date to time when the doorway in the 

west wall of the room was created (ca. 1960s), which likely precipitated the 

removal of the doorway from the north wall of the annex (see 

“Developmental History” of building for further details). 

Baseboards: 3 1⁄2 - inch painted boards. 

Walls: Plasterboard and plaster. 

Moldings: A quarter- inch by 2- inch ceiling molding. 

Ceiling: Plasterboard. 

Doorways: Doorway D- 104, in the west wall of the room, does not appear to be original. 

This is based on its casings, which have interior rounded edges like the 

original casings, but which are only 3 1⁄2 inches wide, instead of 5 inches wide. 

The opening contains a modern, hollow- core door. A second doorway 

associated with this space is doorway D- 105, located at the foot of the 

stairway to the watchtower. It is not thought to be original to the structure: it 

has simple trim boards 1 1⁄2 inches wide and a door made of half- inch 

plywood. 

 As a side note, original doorways to the annex portion of the room appear to 

have been located in the north and south walls of the room. The north 

doorway was likely removed when the doorway in the west wall of the room 

was created (ca. 1960s); the south doorway was likely converted into the 

existing window in the 1970s. 

 

Windows: Window W- 104 is found in the south wall of the gatehouse annex. It 

measures 31 by 52 inches, has casings 5 3⁄4 inches wide, and contains 1/1 

double- hung sashes. This window is not original to the construction of the 

building, and in fact is located where an original exterior doorway for the 

annex was once located. Window W- 103, located in the south wall of the 

tower portion of the room, also measures 35 by 52 inches; it has 6- inch 

casings and replacement trim, and contains 1/1 double- hung sashes. In all 

likelihood, the sashes associated with this window are also replacement units 

installed in 1993 after a winter storm blew out six of the building’s windows. 

Window W- 102, located in the east wall of room 107, also measures 35 by 52 
40

inches; its 1/1 double- hung sashes were apparently also replaced in 1993. 

Window W- 101, located in the north wall of the room, measures 22 by 34 

inches and has 1/1 double- hung sashes. It appears to be an original window 

that once illuminated the now- missing watchtower bathroom. 

Other: One incandescent light fixture and one ceiling- mounted smoke detector 

exist in the room. A newer 200- amp circuit breaker box is located in 

southwest corner (Fig. 42). A large safe, likely dating to the days when the 

New Jersey Parks Department occupied the building (1962- 1972), sits along 

the north wall of the annex portion of the room (Fig. 43). An enclosed 

stairway to the second story of the watchtower is located in northeast corner 

of the room (Fig. 44). 

Evidence of original 

water- closet located 

in northwest corner 

of watchtower. 

Figure 41. Detail of 

location of early toilet 

stall in room 107. 

Figure 40. View 

of room 107, 

looking east.
41

 

Figure 42. Southwest corner of room 107. Figure 43. Safe in northeast corner of annex. 

Figure 44. Enclosed 

stairway leading to 

second story of 

watchtower, located 

in northeast corner of 

room 107. 
42

Room 201 (Watchtower)

Room 201 consists of the second- story room in the gatehouse’s watchtower. With large 

windows containing 1/1 double- hung sashes in each wall of the room, the room would offer a 

sentry assigned to the post an unobscured 360- degree view of the surrounding ocean and 

land (Fig. 45). 

Floors: Plywood. Evidence of 12- inch tiles, possibly original to the structure, can still 

be seen on the plywood substrate. 

Baseboards: None. 

Walls: Plaster. 

Moldings: None. 

Ceiling: Plywood. 

Doorways: None. 

Windows: Room 201 contains six windows, all containing 1/1 double- hung sashes. Five 

of the windows measure 38 by 51 inches. These are: window W- 201, centered 

in the south wall of the room; windows W- 202 and W- 203, in the west wall 

of the room; and windows W- 204 and W- 205, in the east wall of the room. 

Window W- 206, which is centered in the north wall of the watchtower, 

measures 49 by 50 inches and is a replacement unit. All window casings in 

this room are also replacement elements. 

Other: One- incandescent light fixture. Wooden benches found along west and 

south walls of room and on south portion of east wall. Cast- iron vent pipe 4 

inches in diameter originally associated with bathroom in room 107 located in 

northwest corner of room (Fig. 46). Parged- over flue opening between two 

east windows suggests room was originally heated by a small stove. Stairway 

descending to room 107 located in northeast corner of room (Fig. 47). 

Figure 45. View of 

Sandy Hook 

peninsula and the 

Atlantic Ocean, 

looking north from 

watchtower. 
43

Figure 46. View of 

northeast corner of room 

201, showing cast- iron 

vent pipe, sentry bench, 

and replacement 

windows and trim. 

Figure 47. View of 

stairway in northeast 

corner of watchtower 

descending to room 

107. 

45

Part II. 

TREATMENT AND USE 

Character- Defining 

Features 

The following elements of the Fort Hancock Gatehouse at Sandy Hook are considered the 

building’s character- defining features (CDFs), and should be retained to preserve the architectural 

integrity of the structure. 

Exterior CDFs 

x Existing red- brick wall surfaces of the main building of the Gatehouse, the annex and the 

first- story level of the watchtower; also the stuccoed wall surface on the second story of 

the watchtower. 

x Existing exterior window trim and double- hung sashes of the Gatehouse. 

x Existing cast- stone lintels and sills of the Gatehouse. 

x Existing roof and eave configurations of the Gatehouse. 

x Existing louvered vents at gable ends of the main building of the Gatehouse. 

x Existing chimneys associated with the Gatehouse. 

x Existing sidewalks leading to the Gatehouse. 
46

Interior CDFs 

x Original plaster wall and ceiling surfaces of Gatehouse. 

x Original 5- inch- wide doorway and window casings with rounded interior edges, and 

original 5 1⁄2 - inch baseboards with rounded top edges. 

x Original five- panel interior doors. 

x Existing stairway to the second story of watchtower. 

x Existing benches in the second story of watchtower. 

x Existing floors found throughout the Gatehouse. 

x Original room configurations of the Gatehouse that remain in place today. 
47

Treatment 

Recommendations 

The following treatment recommendations regarding the Fort Hancock Gatehouse at Sandy 

Hook are based on the park’s desire to renovate and enlarge the existing building, which is 

considered a contributing structure to the Fort Hancock National Historic District. 

x Given the historical visual significance of the building’s east and south elevations, any 

contemplated addition to the existing structure should only be placed along the north or 

west elevations of the building. 

x In order to limit the visual impact an addition would have to the original Gatehouse 

structure, an addition to the structure should be limited to one- story in height and 

should be set back no less than 8 feet from the Gatehouse’s south elevation, and no less 

than 12 feet from the building’s east elevation (see Appendix B). 

x Following the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, the design of any 

addition to the Gatehouse should be in keeping with the architectural integrity of the 

existing structure. Further, the new work shall be differentiated from the old, and will be 

compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale and proportion, and massing, 

to protect the integrity of the property and its environment. 

x Preservation of the Gatehouse’s character- defining features listed in this report should 

take precedence over the design of any addition to the building, or any treatment 

strategy. 

x Lastly, if desired, removal of the security bars from the windows of the structure 

(installed ca.1983) is permissible. 

49

APPENDIX A: 

Existing Room Configuration
50

APPENDIX B: 

Acceptable Location for One- Story Addition to Gatehouse 
51

Bibliography 

Kroll, Naomi, and Sharon Ofenstein. Building 25 Enlisted Men’s Barracks, Fort Hancock, Historic 

Structure Report. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 2002. 

Renner, Lisanne Lee. “Taps or Reveille for Fort Hancock.” Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of 

the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Historic Preservation, Graduate School of 

Architecture and Planning, Columbia University, 1997. 

Simpson, Susan et al. Historic Structure Report: Architectural Data Section (Volume III), Fort Hancock 

Structures, 1918- 1978, Sandy Hook Unit, Gateway National Recreation Area, New Jersey. U.S. 

Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1988. 

Repositories and Archives Consulted 

Library of Congress (Manuscripts; Prints and Photographs; and Geography and Map Divisions) 

Washington, D.C. 

National Archives II (Still Pictures Research Room; Motion Picture, Sound & Video Research Room; 

Cartographic & Architectural Research Room; Textual Research Room, Record Group 77), 

College Park, MD 

National Archives, New York, NY 

United States Army, Corp of Engineers, Office of History, Alexandria, VA 

U.S. Army Center of Military History, Washington, D.C. 

United States Army records at Fort Hamilton (Post Engineers Office/Curator), New York, NY 

New Jersey State Archives, Trenton NJ 

New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry archives, Trenton, NJ 

New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office files, Trenton, NJ 

Newark Public Library, Newark, NJ 

Columbia University, Avery Library, New York, NY 

NPS Museum Services Library, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown, MA 

NPS Historic Architecture Program Library (formerly a part of the Northeast Cultural Resources 

Center), Lowell, MA 
52

Gateway National Recreation Area Museum Collection and Sandy Hook Unit maintenance records, 

Sandy Hook, NJ