9032 Signal Administration Annex - Camp Evans - Wall, NJ
Posted by: 
94RedRover
N 40° 11.233 W 074° 03.597
18T E 580023 N 4448960
Camp Evans was once American Marconi Wireless Company, the first trans-oceanic wireless station, the home of the invention of radar, and the site that first sent radar to the moon. Added to the NRHP in 2002, it now houses museums and exhibits.
Waymark Code: WM66W4
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 04/14/2009
Views: 4
Camp Evans along Marconi Road in Wall Township, New Jersey was the site where Guglielmo Marconi constructed a wireless communications station for the purposes of commercial wireless communications. The first trans-oceanic wireless communication was received here.
The Navy took commission of the station during World War I, as a base for trans-Atlantic communication. The military data sent and received here played a vital role in the war effort. When World War I ended, the Navy returned the site to Marconi, whose company had changed its name to Radio Corporation of America (RCA). The need for the strategically placed wireless station was no longer a priority of Marconi's business, and by 1924 the site had been abandoned.
Just before the United States entered World War II, this research facility once again became a military installation for Signal Corps. In 1942, this installation was rebuilt and named Camp Evans after Lt. Col. Paul W. Evans, a pioneer in the growth of the Signal Corps.
The research done at Camp Evans during World War II developed the single most important technological advantage that turned the war towards the Allied - RADAR. Radar used to detect aircraft, submarines and ground units was developed, tested and perfected here.
We were taking pictures of the Camp Evans sign when we ran into Stephen Goulart of Infoage, the Information Age Science and History Learning Center. Just weeks ago, Infoage was given the keys to the newly demilitarized site, as a place to house military and technology museums, educational exhibits and research centers. Stephen gave us an impromptu, all access tour of the displays and provided a complete (almost too overwhelming) history of the installation.
This building, the Signal Administration Annex, is an L shaped building 30 feet in width, and attached to the hotel that Marconi built for employees. It acted as the actual site for sending and transmitting, and during WWII was the laboratory where radar was developed and perfected. Now, this historic building houses the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the Radio Technology Museum.
The Radio Technology Museum, presented by the New Jersey Antique Radio Club Association, is devoted to the history of radio communications. The earliest examples of transistors and wave radios, to the advancements of recording and television make this an educational and reminiscent look at the history of radio.
The museum is open Sundays 1-4 pm or by appointment. There is no charge for the museum, but donations are gladly accepted.
Name of Historic District (as listed on the NRHP): Camp Evans Historic District
Link to nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com page with the Historic District: [Web Link]
Address:
2201 Marconi Road
Wall, NJ 07719
How did you determine the building to be a contributing structure?: Narrative found on the internet (Link provided below)
Optional link to narrative or database: [Web Link]
NRHP Historic District Waymark (Optional): Not listed
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