Picatinny Arsenal in Dover in Morris County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Naval Commander's Home

Photographed By Jason Huggan, December 18, 2009

1. Naval Commander's Home Marker

Inscription. Built in 1890 for the Commander of the Naval Detachment situated here from 315 acres ceded by the Army. The house is made of blue puddingstone, a quartz conglomerate. Its first occupant was Commander J.B. Coghlan. The flagpole was made to look like the mast of a ship. The Lake Denmark Station was to last 69 years from a powder storage depot to an air rocket test facility. In 1960, the Navy decommissioned its installation.

Erected by U.S. Army Armament Research and Development Center (ARDC) Historical Office.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Military. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.

Location. 40° 57.002′ N, 74° 32.272′ W. Marker is in Dover, New Jersey, in Morris County. It is in Picatinny Arsenal. Marker is on Main Road, 0.1 miles Lake Denmark Road, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located on Federal property. A Visitor Pass is required from Picatinny Arsenal to view historic marker(s) on the U.S. Army Garrison site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3250 Main Rd, Dover NJ 07801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. 1500 Former Army Rocket Test Area Historic District (1946-1989) (approx. 0.4 miles away); NARTS Test Area D & E Historic Districts (1946-1989) (approx. 0.9 miles away);

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600 Ordnance Testing Area Historic District (1928-1948) (approx. 1.1 miles away); Walton Burial Ground (approx. 1.3 miles away); Mount Hope (approx. 1½ miles away); Administration and Research Historic District (approx. 1½ miles away); Ford – Faesch Manor House - 1768 (approx. 1½ miles away); M153 - Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dover.

More about this marker. While the actual year the marker was erected is currently unknown, we can deduce from the erecting organization that it was 1986 or earlier. In 1986, the Army ordered all its R&D centers to recognize their engineering role and change the name from ARDC (as noted on the marker) to ARDEC, the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center.

Photographed By Jason Huggan, November 24, 2009

2. Naval Commander's Home Marker

Vintage photo of the Naval Commander's Home and surrounding area image. Click for full size.

3. Vintage photo of the Naval Commander's Home and surrounding area

Behind the Naval Commander's Home can be seen building 3316. Building 3316 was constructed in 1903 as a stable but was later converted to a fire house.

Photographed By Jason Huggan, September 7, 2008

4. Naval Commander's Home Marker

While the flagpole has been removed, this stack of cannon balls still remain, as well as naval artillery shells near the entrance (one can be seen on the right of this photograph).

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 18, 2009, by Jason Huggan of Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,219 times since then and 72 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 18, 2009, by Jason Huggan of Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.