Historic California Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields

Emeryville Ordnance Depot

(Emeryville Ordnance Motor Supply Depot; Emeryville Storage Area, San Francisco Port of Embarkation)

 

Beginning 15 March 1942, the War Department acquired 42 acres which comprised the Emeryville Storage Area, San Francisco Port of Embarkation bound by 65th Street to the north, Doyle and San Pedro Streets to the east, 45th Street to the south, and Southern Pacific Railroad main line tracks to the west. The northern most contiguous parcel was within the bounds of 65th Street to the north, Doyle Street to the east, 63rd Street to the south, and the Southern Pacific Railroad main line tracks to the west. The middle contiguous parcel was within the bounds of 62nd Street to the north, Doyle Street to the east, 45th Street to the south, and Green Street to the west. The southern most contiguous parcel was within the bounds of Stanford Avenue to the north, San Pablo Avenue to the east, 45th Street to the south, and Hollis Street to the west.

 

The function of the Depot was to receive, inspect, service, and prepare, for shipment all wheeled vehicles passing through the San Francisco Port of Embarkation for overseas destinations. The design of the Depot called for the capacity to process fifteen-hundred vehicles daily on a 24-hour basis. The plant was equipped to handle more than 200 different types of wheeled vehicles ranging from motorcycles to tanks. The location selected was ideal due to rail traffic from the north and east arriving first at Emeryville. Throughout the war, Depot personnel inspected for mechanical defects or processed, for overseas shipment, approximately 200,000 vehicles.

 

The Emeryville Depot was abandoned in 1946 and its personnel transferred to Oakland Army Base where the processing continued on a limited scale. The Emeryville Ordnance Depot occupied a 72,000 square foot building, of which, 500 square feet were used for office space. Additionally, a motor pool and parts storage area was noted within the documentation. The Depot consisted of 1,181,115 square feet of paved utilized vehicle storage

 

 

US Army Corps of Engineers History

 

Property Description: The 42.415-acre site is located in the city of Emeryville, California. The site consisted of three separate parcels of real estate, bound by 65th Street to the north, Doyle and San Pedro Streets to the east, 45th Street to the south, and Southern Pacific Railroad main line tracks to the west. The Depot is now utilized by light industry and commercial interest. Much of the area is used for office space and very little remains that might indicate prior U.S. ownership.

Property History: The site was acquired on 15 March 1942 in response to wartime needs for reliable and speedy delivery of vehicles to overseas bases of operations. The function of the depot was to receive, inspect, service, and prepare for shipment, wheeled vehicles passing through the San Francisco Port of Embarkation for overseas destinations.

 

The site was declared surplus, and 37.335 lease acres, 1.980 permit acres, and 0.10 license acres were disposed by lease, license, or permit termination by 15 October 1946. Tract lease 20, Lease No. WO4-193-ENG-3976 consisting of three lease acres was transferred to the U.S. War Shipping Administration located on Oakland Army Base.

 

 

Source: Corps of Engineers Public FUDS GIS Site, Los Angeles District, Corps of Engineers

 

 

US Army Center of Military History Post Camp and Station Historical Data Card

 

 

 

Army Units Assigned to Camp Haan

Data Source	Date(s)	Unit(s)
Army of the United States Station List	1 June 1943	1955th Service Command Unit (Ordnance Service Command Shop)

AAF - Army Air Forces units | AGF - Army Ground Forces | ASF - Army Service Forces units | WDC - Western Defense Command

 

Search our Site!

Search the Web Search California Military History Online

 

Questions and comments concerning this site should be directed to the Webmaster

 

Updated 8 February 2016