Fort Slocum on Facebook
August 18th, 2009There is a new Facebook site that was started in July. Check it out and look over the photos (over 180) and maybe add something for the alumni and miltary brats.
Re: Donald Nealon
July 16th, 2009There was a nice story about Donnie in the Boston Globe today, 7/16, that tells much more about him than the obituary does. Search: boston.com and Donald Nealon.
The passing of Donnie Nealon June 25, 1949 to July 1, 2009
July 13th, 2009It is with sadness that I am announcing the passing of one of my best friends from the Ft Slocum era of 1961 to 1965. As I was searching for my friend on the web, like I did periodically, just to know about him. I came across his obituary on a Facebook link. I am deeply saddened by this loss and I will miss him forever. May he rest in peace, in the glory of God.
Hasta la vista my friend.
Biography
Mr. Donald P. Nealon, 60, of Arlington MA, died Wednesday (July 1, 2009) at the Lahey Medical Center in Burlington MA after an illness.
Mr. Nealon was born in Carlisle Barracks PA, the son of the late Lt. Colonel Arthur J Nealon and the late Wilma (Baker) Nealon. He was a graduate of Radford High School located in Oahu, Hawaii. He was also a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester MA, Class of 1974, where he majored in religious studies. He also attended Harvard University Divinity School and Boston College. He was an associate member of the Harvard University Alumni Association.
Mr. Nealon was a dedicated educator and beloved teacher who worked for over thirty years for the Archdiocese of Boston. He was first employed as Director of Religious Education at St. Joseph’s Parish located in Medway MA and then became the resident director for five years of the “A Better Chance” Residential Program which was located in Winchester MA.
Mr. Nealon had also worked as the Director of the HESED Program which encompassed the greater Metropolitan Boston area. He later taught at the Newton Country Day School.
Mr. Nealon then went on to serve as the Religious Education Director at St. Joseph’s Parish in Somerville MA; then at St. James Parish in Arlington MA; St. Peter’s Parish in Cambridge MA and finally at St. Malachy’s Parish in Burlington MA.
Mr. Nealon had been employed since 1994 as a professor of Theology at Austin Preparatory School located in Reading MA and was presently serving as President of the Austin Preparatory School Teachers Union. He had also served as a coach for the ski team and tennis team at Austin Preparatory School over the years.
Mr. Nealon is survived by his 2 Daughters: Kaitlin A. Nealon and her husband Kevin Cardone of Hudson MA, and Christy Nealon of Arlington MA; 2 Grandchildren: Madeleine Josephine Cardone and Patrick McWhorter Cardone of Hudson MA; 6 Brothers and Sisters: Barbara, wife of Donald Renaud of Barnstable MA, Michael Nealon and his wife Gail of Seattle WA, Kathy Nealon of Suffield CT, Gayle Nealon of Whitinsville MA, Debbie, wife of James Ferguson of Milford MA and Dennis Nealon and his wife Sue of Medway MA; 1 Aunt: Mrs. Mary Andreola of Milford MA; many nieces and nephews; his longtime companion: Kathy Haley of Arlington MA and his former wife: MaryJo Curley of Rockport MA.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial on Monday (July 6th) at 11am in St. Malachy’s Church, 99 Bedford Street in Burlington MA. In accordance with his wishes, cremation will follow. A visitation period will be held Monday morning from 10am to 10:45 am at the Chapel of St. Malachy’s Church in Burlington MA, prior to his Funeral Mass.
Visiting hours will also be held Sunday (July 5th) from 2pm to 4pm at the Edwards Memorial Funeral Home, 44 Congress Street, Milford MA.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to The Donald P. Nealon Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Mr. James Dowd, Austin Preparatory School, 101 Willow Street, Reading MA 01867.
Facts
Born: June 25, 1949
Place of Birth: Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
Death: July 1, 2009
Place of Death: Burlington Massachusetts
Occupation: Professor of Theology
Organizations: President of the Austin Preparatory School Teachers Union
From Michael Cavanaugh
May 14th, 2009Name: Michael Cavanaugh | E-mail: michaelacavanaugh@earthlink.net
Hello all,
Been a while since I checked in so let me invite all the new guys to join the Ft Slocum Alumni & Friends. We are a network that exchanges photos, stories etc about the island. Visit the website at www.home.earthlink.net/~michaelacavanaugh and/or email me at michaelacavanaugh@earthlink.net. Next month there will be a more professional website hosted by NR/Westchester; look for a link on the first page of my site.
Newsmann: if you would like pix of the ferries, we have some in our collection. Also Bill Waterhouse & George Willhite have tracked down a nice video which opens with shots of the (old) ferry, BSP 1773. The PX at Worden is a clone of the Slocum PX except in wood; but the officers’ apartment (in brick) is a complete clone.
ldaquila: our collection does include a photo of Pineapple on the O Beach, ca. 1961-92.
In addition to convening the alumni network & keeping custody of the photos & documents, I am also writing a full-length history of the post, so thx in particular to:
Don T.: Thx for the note about Vaughn Monroe. He had been in an Army band in WWII, recording V-Disks, and about the time you would have seen him, had a hit with “Sound Off,” which originated on Slocum in 1944. I don’t know if he or the Slocum audience would have known that however.
Kenneth: Thanks for the note about Mark Clark.
If anyone has any info or photos to share for the history, I would be grateful. Likewise I would be happy to supply photos from the collection. They are all digitized (mostly jpg format).
Posted May 14, 3:46 PM | Edit Comment | Delete Comment — Edit Post “Hello Fort Slocum Alumni, Friends and oh yes Brats too” | View Post
Ft Slocum December 29, 2008
December 29th, 2008This is the most recent news I was able to find, ironically it was written today.
Ft Slocum Video
December 29th, 2008I found this “Ft Slocum Ruins” video on U-Tube; enjoy:
Ft. Slocum June 18, 2008
December 29th, 2008On June 18, 2008 the US Army Corps of Engineers, published a brief historical summary of Davids Island/FT. Slocum. You can read it at:
http://www.nan.usace.army.mil/front/davids.pdf
I hope the attachment I uploaded works, if not above is a link to the publication.
I’ll be looking for more publications that may me of interest to you, now that I have a little more free time.
Tito on December 29, 2008
FORT SLOCUM TO BE GONE BY END OF 2008
February 27th, 2008From information we received, ALL of the buildings on Davids Island will be torn down by the end of this year. The city council in New Rochelle has voted not to spend any money on preserving any of the buildings still standing. This news became available early in February, even though the vote was taken in December.
So all we can do now is look at photographs and try and remember what it looked like in the old days.
Bill Waterhouse
slocumreunion@yahoo.com
New Fort Slocum 2007 pictures
October 2nd, 2007See pictures of our Sept. 13, 2007 trip to Davids Island on a new website, Fort Slocum Friends@yahoogroups.com and join our group. Welcome to anyone with an interest in Fort Slocum, NY.
Visit to Davids Island, Thu., Sept. 13 Directions to Corps of Engrs. dock in New Rochelle
August 30th, 2007
Hi Ex-Slocumites:
Nancy Brighton of the Corps of Engineers has told us that the dock the Corps uses to reach Davids Island is not out old Neptune Dock, but a dock at the city marina.
The marina is at 22 Pelham Road (get to Pelham Road anyway you can, then wind toward 22 Pelham (it’s a short distance northeast from the intersection of North Avenue and Pelham Road (you can use MapQuest if need be).
Parking is on the upper deck at the “On The Waterfront” restaurant, which is at 2 Pelham Road.
“We will be meeting in the parking deck area at 2 Pelham Road, New Rochelle, by 10 a.m.,” Ms. Brighton says. “Take the staircase from the top parking deck down to the Marina “Dock A.”
So there you have it.
After the tour, Bill Waterhouse is checking on lunch potentials, and Barbara Davis will have the conference room at the New Rochelle public library reserved for us to have an afternoon gathering to swap tall tales, If you have any Slocum memorabilia you are willing to part with, Ms. David (who will be on our tour) is New Rochelle’s official historian and is collecting Davids Island material–which will put it in a permanent collection that can be used by future generations.
We have nine persons thus far who say they will attend. Our maximum is 12. If you plan to attend but haven’t told Bill Waterhouse, please do so ASAP. We need to give Corps a list of participants earlier that week.
Michael Cavanagh: please pass along to your list.
Bill W.: have i missed anyone in e-mail list?
Questions? Slocumreunion@aol.com
thnx,
george
Decision coming on saving Davids Island
May 9th, 2007By KEN VALENTI - THE JOURNAL NEWS - (Original publication: February 19, 2007)
On Saving Ft. Slocum’s Buildings
March 4th, 2007
Decision coming on saving Davids Island buildings
By KEN VALENTI - THE JOURNAL NEWS - (Original publication: February 19, 2007)
NEW ROCHELLE
Workers already are removing some of the crumbling buildings on Davids Island where soldiers once lived, prayed and played, and the time has come to choose which buildings, if any, should stay. The head of the Army Corps of Engineers-led cleanup, Gregory Goepfert, plans to meet in the next few weeks with representatives of the city, county, state and an association of people who once lived at the former Fort Slocum, which operated on the island for about a century.
History buffs say it would be a shame to lose all of the buildings. “That’s the last bit of American soil on which a lot of (soldiers) set foot in the 20th century,” said Michael Cavanaugh, a California resident who lived on the island for three years as a child. He founded an association of people who once lived there, and he is included in the circle of people Goepfert consults with on questions of what to do with the former fort. The problem is money. The Corps of Engineers could leave buildings standing, but a study commissioned last year by the agency showed that shoring up several buildings could cost millions of dollars. The former post headquarters alone, for example, could cost as much as $4.5 million to renovate.
Westchester County officials did not count on those costs - or the expense of maintaining buildings and protecting them from graffiti - when County Executive Andrew Spano agreed several years ago to buy the 78-acre island from New Rochelle to create a park, said Gina D’Agrosa, the Westchester County watermaster. “I don’t think we ever envisioned that that park would be a historic monument to Fort Slocum,” she said. D’Agrosa said a better plan would be to compile a video presentation with photographs of the buildings to capture the island’s history. “We were hoping that rather than spend millions of dollars for the restoration of one building, spend a small portion of that and preserve the experience of the island as a fort,” she said. “We thought that would be more efficient and reasonable.”
D’Agrosa said the county did not specifically advocate removing all of the buildings, but “if they all go, we’re not going to fight it.” Barbara Davis, New Rochelle’s acting city historian and another participant in the discussions, said it would be “morally irresponsible” to leave none of the buildings from the days when Fort Slocum was an important military post. A video recording of the history is not the same as having the buildings in place, she said. “You really can’t sense it or feel it until you see the actual structures and the landscape to give people a sense of what the base was like,” she said.
The island’s military history began when it was used as a hospital during the Civil War, and continued into the 1960s. The Corps of Engineers is cleaning up the island with $18.1 million in federal funds. So far, workers have demolished about half of the 93 buildings there, but they included the smaller, flimsier ones and those with few structural remains left, Goepfert said.
The Corps of Engineers is consulting with the county, the city, the state Historic Preservation Office, Cavanaugh and Davis. Goepfert has asked them to suggest which buildings should be left standing. Several buildings make most of the lists - the post headquarters, a tile-roofed chapel and a former YMCA building among them. Goepfert is seeking museums that display military or coastal history to find some that might want a door or keystone from one building or another so they would live on in some way.
The Corps of Engineers’ study of the costs showed the brick headquarters, built around 1910 in a Classical Revival style, would cost some $3.6 million renovate for a modern use, or $4.5 million to rebuild a historical interior. To preserve the outside walls as they are, while removing the collapsed roof, interior walls and floors, would cost about $1million.
The 1913 chapel, with its stucco sides and partially collapsed clay tile roof, would cost $1.6 million to renovate for use - or $2 million if it were restored to a historically accurate look. Preserving what’s left without renovating it would cost about $700,000. Even preserving the footprint of the buildings with ground markings carries a cost: $61,000 for the chapel, more than $230,000 for the YMCA building. After consulting with historical organizations in the county, Davis suggested that those three buildings and 18 others be left standing. Others include the barracks buildings, a drill hall and gymnasium and the rusting water tower that is the tallest structure on the island and a visual landmark that can be seen from the shore. Davis said it was difficult to
determine exactly what should be saved when no one has decided exactly what to do with it once the county obtains it for parkland. Cavanaugh submitted a plan with several versions that centered on the parade grounds, a
long, broad rectangle that runs up the west side of the island. The meeting to decide which buildings to save will not be open to the public, Goepfert said. But people who want to offer their opinions may write to him. Jim Nordgren, a vice president of the Federated Conservationists of Westchester County, said the organization hoped at least one building is saved and renovated into a visitors center. He said his group did not take a position on which building it would be, but he envisioned it holding displays to highlight the island’s past and the history and ecology of Long Island Sound. It could be fitted with a solar power system and a geothermal system for heating and cooling. He said grants were available for such projects. “It’s such a great cause, I would think there would be a lot of people willing to step forward and be willing to contribute,” he said.
Reach Ken Valenti at klvalent@lohud.com or 914-696-8255.
Give your opinion
People who have thoughts about which buildings on Davids Island should stay may write to Gregory
Goepfert, project manager, at: Gregory Goepfert U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278
Update and Recent News on Ft Slocum
November 23rd, 2006Hello Everyone,
I found a couple of recent articles on Ft. Slocum (Davids Island and thought I would share them here.
The first one Titled Remembering life on Davids Island is an article published in “The Journal News”, dated Sep 16, 2006, is in pdf format. A reunion was to take place. Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to, I could not attend.
The second one, simply Titled Davids Island is date October 6, 2006. I thought I’d share it with you, as well. Take a look…
My best regards to you all, have a nice Thanksgiving Day.
Tito
November 4th, 2006
I just received this from BW :
—–Original Message—–
From: William Waterhouse
Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2006 11:01 AM
To: gicco@gicco.com
Subject: fort slocum
Hi, The New Rochelle Public Library is having a Veterans Day exhibit about Fort Slocum on Friday, Nov. 10th at 2PM. It should last a couple of hours.
Bill W. (MA) 1961-63
James J. Braddock at Ft. Slocum
September 4th, 2006I am trying to find out for a coworker an answer to the question, “What did James J. Braddock, the “Cinderella Man” do during WW II? This link shows he trained at Ft. Slocum:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_J._Braddock#Retirement.2C_World_War_II
but did he end up serving there? Can anyone here answer this question or direct me where I might find that answer?
Thank you for your reply,
Leo Horishny
Sun Valley, NV
Fort Slocum › Create New Post — WordPress
September 4th, 2006Deck Hand
August 6th, 2006I was stationed at Ft Slocum from Mar - Nov 62, I was a deck hand on the Ferry, till I was transferred overseas
Fort Slocum Reunion - 15-16 SEP 2006
August 2nd, 2006I just received this email:
Fort Slocum Reunion
We’ll gather in New Rochelle, NY, on Sept. 15-16, 2006.
The Marriott Residence Inn, 33 Lecount Pl., New Rochelle, NY 10801
(914-777-3456) is our “headquarters” hotel inasmuch as it was the closest hotel to Neptune Dock found in an on-line hotel guide. It is filling up fast for the time we’ll be there. No hotel in New Rochelle has many rooms for the weekend we’ll be there, but you should be able to find something. Or, if you intend to see some shows or do sightseeing in New York over the weekend, you may want to stay closer to Manhattan.
The delay in completing plans was because months ago the Corps of Engineers spokesman in the New York are had said it would be mid-July before he could say whether we could get on the island. The message is that it is up to the City of New Rochelle as to whether we can have access. The city has said no, because the island is an active work site, etc., etc. and so forth. We’ll keep working on that. Anyone know someone with a boat in Long Island Sound who would cruise us around the island on Friday if we can’t get on the island?
If we do get on the island, it will be on Friday, Sept. 15—the Corps crew doesn’t work on weekends and doesn’t want to incur overtime. We’ll get together for dinner that night—bring along any memorabilia you want to share.
Saturday, Sept. 16, will be spent just visiting. Is that pub still on Boston Post Rd.? Is the Mayflower still open?
Please let George Willhite or Bill Carlson know if you will be attending (and if you’ll be accompanied by a spouse or significant other) so that we can (a) let the Corps know how many we will be if we do get access and (b) have the right size place for our dinner.
George Willhite
1116 W. Union St.
Champaign, IL 61821
217-359-5341
georgewillhite@aol.com
Bill Carlson
33000 Ledge Hill Dr.
Solon, OH 44139
216-287-5142
wrcarlson@adelphia.net
(the dinner probably will cost you about $20–we’re awaiting menus from the hotel and probably will select something relatively bland to avoid distressing anyone’s digestive system. if you are a vegetarian or have other dietary requirements, let us know in your reply. thanx)
Fort Slocum
April 17th, 2006My name is Sgt. Tom Carey, I am a police sergeant with the New Rochelle PD, Harbor unit commander. I have been out to Fort Slocum several times during the past two years with the Army Corp and local politicians. It’s a shame what happen to island over the years. Hopefully things will change in the future. The New Rochelle PD is currently in the process of building a new harbor unit headquarters at hudson park this year. The PC wanted to display marine/ historic items around the new buliding. I located two old cleats from whats left of the dock at Ft Slocum and the pulleys from the crane, my plan is to restore them and place them IFO the new building. I believe that one of the cleats is from the original dock(late 1800) and the other from the 1920’s. If anyone had further information or any photographs of the dock, I would love a copy to make a guide to these items. I also have several photo’s of the island today, that I could email to anyone who would like them. The Rodman gun is still there….My email is TCarey@ci.new-rochelle.ny.us or you can call 914-235-3970
Air Force
April 9th, 2006I was stationed on the island the later part of 1951 and early 1952. I shipped out of Fort Slocum Feb. 52 for ETO service. Adm. Binford was the head officer on the island while I was there with the Air Force. The Korean War was raging so this was a busy time at the Fort. I was one of the lucky ones that was shipped to Europe as opposed to the a combat unit in Korea. I was twenty years old when I departed Fort Slocum. I have sent pictures last year and I don’t know if they are contained someplace on this site.
Simplifying Blog Usage
February 14th, 2006I am learning a little at a time in improving the Blog appearance and in making it user friendly so all can post easily. One of these days I’ll figure out how to place photos in this blog site background. For now, I’m content with what I did today. I promise I won’t post any more of these “blog newbie” posts.
You can post photos in the post (if you know the url location), by clicking quicktag [img].
Life on Ft Slocum
February 14th, 2006Comment:
Hi…I lived on Ft Slocum from 59-61 I was 15-17years old. We lived a protected life on this post. All us teenagers founded the teen club because we got so tired of bowling!! The last summer I lived there, we all would sneak out windows and meet at the beach to sit and talk. We all had the feeling it was our last one together so we promised to meet there again in 10 years. This never happened but we are connecting through emails since 2001. Being an Army Brat had such pros and cons when I look at it now…at 61 years of age. We got to see so much of the world and learn so much about other cultures. The downside is that we would bond with each other and then our Dad would get transferred so we would have to begin again. However life at Ft Slocum was our own paradise while the time allowed. I look forward to reading others comments. So lets tell everyone we know to join us! Bye for now.”
Fort Slocum Reunion - 15 SEP 06
February 14th, 2006There’s planning in progress for a Fort Slocum reunion for this September 2006. If interested send name and a mailing address or email address to me.
The Tentative plan is an island visit on Friday, Sept. 15 (pending Corps of Engineers approval, cooperation), probably a dinner that night, and informal stuff on Saturday.
Link to Blog: Fort Slocum
Link to Ft Slocum Chat: Slocum Chat
February 3rd, 2006
I lived at Fort Slocum from 1962 to 1965 at the ages of 12-15. It was a challenging time but having the community of other Army brats made it a little more do-able. We had the teen club, dances with other nearby army posts, and a number of activities that helped me connect with some kids my age. Still, I remember being quite lonely….maybe that’s the case with all adolescents.
I remember the cannon going off every day at 5:00.
Fort Slocum, NY, A Blast From the Past
February 2nd, 2006Welcome to the Fort Slocum Blog. This is my first attempt to create a blog, so wish me luck.
I lived on Ft. Slocum from Nov. 1962 to Nov. 1965, in the house next to the passenger ferry dock. In 1965, my father was relocated, to Ft Lee Virginia, due to the closing of Ft. Slocum. I basically spent my most important teen years there. Ft Slocum had a tremendous and positive impact on my life. Life at ages 14 to 17 is very difficult for most teens; I’m not an exception. Fortunately, the environment and people made those years memorable. This blog is for those ex Ft. Slocum residents and visitors to air out their experiences and to reunite perhaps with friends from the past.
Please take the opportunity to comment on any past, experience, anecdote or new development regarding Ft. Slocum. Get involved with what will happen to this jewel of an island and certainly a “National Historic Site” worth reconditioning for future visitors and generations, to come.
Hello Fort Slocum Alumni, Friends and oh yes Brats too
February 2nd, 2006Welcome to Fort Slocum Blog. Come join me and start blogging!