Camp Merritt, New Jersey facts for kids
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Camp Merritt was a large military base in Dumont and Cresskill, New Jersey. It was built for World War I. The camp could hold 38,000 soldiers at a time. It was one of the main places where troops gathered before sailing to Europe.
Soldiers traveled to the Hoboken, New Jersey piers in two ways. Some took local trains. Others marched for about an hour to Alpine Landing. From there, they took ferryboats to Hoboken. About one million American soldiers passed through Camp Merritt during World War I. The camp closed in 1919.
Contents
How the Camp Started
From Camp Tenafly to Camp Merritt
Camp Merritt was first called Camp Tenafly. This was because early talks about building the camp happened in Tenafly, New Jersey. Later, the camp was renamed to honor Major General Wesley Merritt.
General Merritt was a brave soldier from New York. He served in the American Civil War, Indian Wars, and the Spanish–American War. He fought in many important battles, like the Battle of Gettysburg. He became a Major General at age 27. He also led the United States Military Academy at West Point. General Merritt retired in 1900 and died ten years later. He was buried with full military honors.
Choosing the Location
The U.S. Army needed a place to gather soldiers for the Western Front in World War I. In 1917, General William Wright chose a spot in Bergen County, New Jersey. Camp Merritt was about ten miles from New York City. It was located between Cresskill and Dumont.
The site was good because it had easy access to railroads. It also had good water, sewer, and lighting systems. The land owners agreed to lease their property to the government. The camp's location was perfect for sending soldiers to Hoboken. From Hoboken, they would board ships for Europe.
Building the Camp
Construction on Camp Merritt started on August 20, 1917. The first plans included buildings for soldiers, warehouses, and a hospital. The plans were approved in December 1917. MacArthur Brothers Company built the camp. Many local workers, like carpenters and electricians, helped too.
The camp cost about $11 million to build. It covered 770 acres of land. Camp Merritt could hold 42,000 soldiers. There were about 1,300 buildings on the site.
Buildings at the Camp
Camp Merritt had 1,302 buildings in total. There were 611 two-story barracks, where 60 soldiers could live in each. The camp also had 165 mess halls (dining areas) and 40 buildings for officers. There were 27 administration buildings and 4 fire stations. The hospital area had 93 buildings.
The camp also had four YMCA buildings and American Red Cross buildings. These groups helped support the soldiers. In spring 1918, the Liberty Theatre opened for entertainment. Merritt Hall, a large club for soldiers, opened in January 1918. Major General David C. Shanks called it "the finest soldiers club in America."
The Post Hospital
The camp's hospital opened on January 9, 1918. It had about 300 nurses and many doctors. They treated over 55,000 soldiers. They cared for many illnesses, including pneumonia, measles, mumps, and especially the flu.
The 1918 Flu Pandemic
In fall 1918, the influenza epidemic reached Camp Merritt. It caused many soldiers to get sick. The first flu case in New Jersey was at Fort Dix. From there, the disease spread quickly. By the end of 1919, about 675,000 Americans had died from the flu.
At Camp Merritt, the flu outbreak began in September 1918. On September 19, 58 soldiers were admitted to the hospital with the flu. Three weeks later, about 1,000 cases were reported. There were also 265 deaths. Some sick soldiers were sent to local hospitals. Many soldiers became ill just before leaving for Europe.
Units
- Hoboken Casual Company (often called Hob Cas Co). These were groups of soldiers formed at Camp Merritt.
Closing of the Camp
Camp Merritt officially closed in January 1920. The last soldiers arrived from overseas on January 26, 1920. After that, the U.S. military decided to take the camp apart. Any remaining troops were sent to Fort Dix.
The camp was sold to the Harris Brothers Company for $552,524. This happened after many companies made bids.
Fires at the Camp
After Camp Merritt was taken apart, it had three big fires. The cause of these fires is still unknown. The fires started in one area and destroyed over 150 buildings. More than eighteen fire companies, including some from New York City, helped fight the fires. There were rumors of dynamite explosions, as dynamite was stored for tearing down the camp. No one was hurt in the fires, but what was left of the camp was destroyed.
Camp Merritt Memorial Monument
To honor the soldiers who passed through Camp Merritt, a monument was built. It stands where Madison Avenue and Knickerbocker Road meet, between Cresskill and Dumont. The monument is a 66.6-foot tall granite obelisk. It looks like a smaller version of the Washington Monument.
The monument lists the names of 578 people who died at the camp. Most of them died from the worldwide influenza epidemic of 1918. Robert Ingersoll Aitken created a sculpture of a soldier's helmet at the base of the monument. The monument was dedicated on Memorial Day, May 30, 1924. General John J. Pershing gave a speech to about 20,000 people at the event.
