News from Ft Knox

[Doug_Kibbey]

- Joe_D

There was an M24 at the Brick Mess around the late 90's. It's the place we sometimes called the "Leaders Club" when I was there. It's real close to the CG's HQ building and behind the old theater there.

Here's where I saw her last in 1998.
Grid: 37.894838,-85.953678

I recall three theaters from back-in-the-day...Olive (still operating in 2006, in "Disneyland" area), Waybur (still present in '06, but not operating as such, on Brooks Field across from the M4 and flag area) and a really old, decrepit one that I don't recall the name or location of, and I think it was wood...can't imagine it still exists today. I think I saw Dennis Hopper's 'The Last Movie" in that one, and it might have been just that.

I'm guessing you're talking about the area behind Waybur Theatre.

[JWB2]

What a beautiful old structure. Now that Knox is almost abandoned what will come of it?

[Dontos]

- JWB2

What a beautiful old structure. Now that Knox is almost abandoned what will come of it?

Although the Armor Center is leaving, the post is far from abandoned.

Actually (I think) the assigned population has increased.

I do know oppost traffic has increased.

Doug
Olive Theater is still there and a functional movie theater. I believe Wayburn is a briefing hall of some sort. No longer a functional movie theater.

Regards
Don

[Doug_Kibbey]

- Dontos

- JWB2

What a beautiful old structure. Now that Knox is almost abandoned what will come of it?

Although the Armor Center is leaving, the post is far from abandoned.

Actually (I think) the assigned population has increased.

I do know oppost traffic has increased.

Doug
Olive Theater is still there and a functional movie theater. I believe Wayburn is a briefing hall of some sort. No longer a functional movie theater.

Regards
Don

What surprised me was "Kelly Shooting Range" (presumably handguns or rimfires). That structure was a bowling alley "back in the day", just across the road and a field from what was then the NCO academy.

[TrevorLarkum]

- Dontos

Unique ID 1306: Fort Knox (Officers Club, Chaffee Avenue) M24

This M24 may be the one located at the 'Chaffee Gate' (on Bullion Blvd)

- Joe_D

There was an M24 at the Brick Mess around the late 90's. It's the place we sometimes called the "Leaders Club" when I was there. It's real close to the CG's HQ building and behind the old theater there.

Here's where I saw her last in 1998.
Grid: 37.894838,-85.953678

Thanks - that clears up part of it, if the "Brick Mess" and "Leaders Club" are the same place. Also, the grid you give is exactly the spot I have for the M24 in front of the building that I refer to as the "Officers Club". So we are definitely all talking about the same M24.

[Oddly, when I look at it in Google Maps it clearly shows a label 'Leaders Club'. However, as I zoom in and out there is just one zoom level where another label appears to the left saying 'Officers Club' - blink and you miss it - can anyone else see it? Spooky!]

So that just leaves the question of whether it's the same M24 now on Bullion Boulevard. Don's suggestion is persuasive, since that one appeared soon after the other the other one disappeared not far away. I have therefore rewritten the text in a way that I think is most appropriate - please comment if you disagree:

Unique ID 1306: Fort Knox Chaffee Gate (ex Leaders Club) M24

If anyone has any photo's of this vehicle since 1983 I'd love to add them.



Meanwhile..

- Dontos

Here is a fairly recent shot of the M41A3 that was in the LST building and is now in RMP

Don - thanks, added:

Unique ID 1299: Fort Knox M41A3

I've also added your picture of the QM41, thanks:

Unique ID 1303: Fort Knox QM41

[Dontos]

Trevor

I have a shot of the M24 mounted on the built up platform at Chaffee Main Gate (Bullion Blvd) that was taken soon after the gate reopened. Just can't seem to find it. When I get something I'll post it.

I've gone thru 5 hard drives (computers) since 2003, all of which I still have onhand. Just gotta access them and find the 'missing' photos.

Regards
Don

[Doug_Kibbey]

- JWB2

What a beautiful old structure. Now that Knox is almost abandoned what will come of it?

Some life in the old girl yet....

aec.army.mil/usaec/new...n0907.html

"Fort Knox Finds Adaptive Reuse for Historic Movie Theater
Installation saves $1 million as it prepares for BRAC changes.
By R. Criss Helmkamp and Matthew D. Rector Fort Knox Environmental Management Division
The Waybur Theater on Fort Knox resembles its 1940s façade (above) but contains a state-of-the-art conference center.
Courtesy Fort Knox
The Waybur Theater on Fort Knox resembles its 1940s façade (above) but contains a state-of-the-art conference center.

Waybur Theater was constructed in 1936 during the first phase of permanent construction at Fort Knox, Ky. Built in the classical revival style, its zenith as a movie house coincided with the Golden Age of American cinema.

But by 2004, the era of the large, single-screen movie palace was long gone. Unused and vacant for over a decade, Waybur Theater had fallen into disrepair, another drain on the Garrison's already-stretched maintenance budget.

When it turned up on the fiscal 2004 installation demolition plan, its fate appeared to be sealed. However, the Fort Knox Cultural Resources Office requested a final opportunity to find an appropriate adaptive reuse.

The odds were slim. An attempt had been made to turn the building into administrative space, but a large theater does not lend itself to cost-efficient reuse in that way. Engineering such a transformation was unwieldy and the costs were clearly unfeasible.

Then came the 2005 round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). BRAC changed many of the most fundamental aspects of Fort Knox. The Armor School was to relocate to Fort Benning, Ga. The Human Resources Center of Excellence, an Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and several Reserve commands were coming to Fort Knox. The net result was significant growth for Fort Knox. Among the assets required to accommodate the increased mission requirements was a need for a new conferencing center.

Remodeling Waybur Theater into the Waybur Theater Conferencing Center required extensive planning and coordination on and off post. Pat Appelman, Engineering and Services Division chief, served as project manager and architect.

The building is equipped for secure and non-secure briefings and seats 674. It features a 30-foot screen, high definition cameras and projectors, and a state-of-the art sound system. New fire alarms, sprinklers, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, lighting and seating provide maximum comfort and safety. Conferencing tables at the front of the auditorium are equipped with microphones, power strips and Internet connections.

The renovation preserved the building's historic integrity. Exterior features such as masonry and windows were not altered. Existing terrazzo floors were saved, compatible slate flooring was installed in other areas, and the hardwood surface of the stage was restored. And, perhaps most important, the Art Deco-inspired "feeling" of the main auditorium was preserved.

By transforming Waybur Theater into a 21st Century conference center, the Army saved more than $1 million compared to the cost of a new building. It also preserved a significant heritage asset and gained a facility to support many facets of Fort Knox's new mission."

[panamadan]

An actual good gov't plan in action!
Dan

[JWB2]

- panamadan

An actual good gov't plan in action!
Dan

For once!

[Doug_Kibbey]

- panamadan

An actual good gov't plan in action!
Dan

Saw some great old films in Waybur...."Chato's Land", "Valdez is Coming", "Blackula" (OK, not Oscar material) and a few others.

Over at Olive it was "The Godfather", "The Abominable Dr. Phibes", "American Graffittii". I have pictures of a buddy and I doing our best "Igor" impression from Dr. Phibes...these do not bear viewing today.

...and several first run films at hangars and outdoor theaters sitting on rotor blades in VN. "The Cowboys", "Mephisto Waltz", "Gimme Shelter", "The Omega Man" and even the Costa-Gavras classic political thriller "Z".

[Dontos]

Geeez Doug, you are showing your age!

I seem to remember seeing 'Stripes' at Disney Theater. It wasn't a first run as I was doing OSUT (One Station Unit Training... Basic & AIT together) in 1985.

Regards
Don

[C_Sherman]

- panamadan

An actual good gov't plan in action!
Dan

Even a blind skwirrel finds an acorn now and then...

Chuck

[TrevorLarkum]

- TrevorLarkum

So that just leaves the question of whether it's the same M24 now on Bullion Boulevard. Don's suggestion is persuasive, since that one appeared soon after the other the other one disappeared not far away. I have therefore rewritten the text in a way that I think is most appropriate - please comment if you disagree:

Unique ID 1306: Fort Knox Chaffee Gate (ex Leaders Club) M24

If anyone has any photo's of this vehicle since 1983 I'd love to add them.

Ask and ye shall receive! An article has just been posted on Army.mil about the rebranding of Fort Knox, with a picture of this very tank. I've added the picture to the profile page:

Unique ID 1306: M24 at Chaffee Gate, Fort Knox

I'm now convinced it's the same one as was on Chaffee Avenue, not least because of the MG on the turret roof and the distorted front right mud flap.

Sad to say, though, according to the article they will be deliberately taking the 'armor' out of Fort Knox: "Although no names that memorialize heroes will be changed, some of the present nomenclature is a nod to armor traditions. By re-naming buildings or streets in their areas, workers-military or civilian-can identify more readily with their mission."

[Dontos]

Trevor

That is the one formally at 'the Brick Mess / Officers Club / Leaders Club'

As for the article,......'Rebranding' !?, thats revisionism at its worst.....

Yesterday while getting my new vehicle on-post registration sticker at the 'Welcome Center' at Chaffee Gate (aka Bullion Blvd entrance...) I noticed a sign,....."NO TOURING, FT KNOX IS A CLOSED POST!".

Sounds like they're not really interested in 'welcoming the neighbors' as is mentioned in the article. (!?)

Regards
Don

[TrevorLarkum]

- Dontos

Trevor
As for the article,......'Rebranding' !?, thats revisionism at its worst.....

Yesterday while getting my new vehicle on-post registration sticker at the 'Welcome Center' at Chaffee Gate (aka Bullion Blvd entrance...) I noticed a sign,....."NO TOURING, FT KNOX IS A CLOSED POST!".

Sounds like they're not really interested in 'welcoming the neighbors' as is mentioned in the article. (!?)

Regards
Don

It is a sad state of affairs, particularly the 'closed post' situation. When I visited in 1983 I was 18 and spent a week or so just walking around the base exploring and taking photographs (I was supposed to be cycling but my bike had been lost on the flight from NY). IIRC I just camped each night, either in the base or just outside it. Anyway, as you know, it was like an Aladdin's cave - each corner you turned would throw up another tank. No-one ever bothered me, except one time some young guys saw me hanging around and invited me back to their parent's home for dinner (I still remember they had a pet pig, and we discussed the Falklands War). I guess those days are just gone, and won't return.