Quartermaster's Quad

Quartermaster's Quad. . Since 1775 Quartermaster's Corps has been responsible for supplying the U.S. Army with food and supplies. The Quartermaster Depot in Jeffersonville was used during five wars, from the Civil War through the Korean conflict. Jeffersonville was originally a supply enter for Union armies, and there were installations throughout the city. In 1867 plans were made to consolidate these stations into one – The Quartermaster Depot. Designed by Quartermaster General Montgomery C. Meigs and first occupied in 1874, it was called the Western Arsenal of the Quartermaster's Department. When built, these buildings had a capacity of 2.7 million cubic feet. Until 1957, the buildings were used for the manufacture of equipment and supplies for the army, which closed the complex in 1958. The Depot was particularly known for its clothing manufacture., Between 1915 and 1918, more than 20,000 women were employed here making shirts. During World War I, 200 new buildings were added to the facility, filling more than 10 blocks along Tenth Street, and covering approximately 256 acres., The southeast corner of the original complex was destroyed by fire in 1992, and the then vacant site was threatened by demolition., The City of Jeffersonville acquired the site and found a private developer to adaptively re-use the historic buildings for various commercial uses. The centerpiece of the site is a three-story administrative building that now houses Jeffersonville City Hall., By the Way: The last and most important architectural work by General Montgomery C. Meigs was the spectacular Pension Bureau Building in Washington DC, now home to the National Building Museum.