Seabee Museum Davisville, R.I. II Barracks and Quonset huts, "Home away from Home"

At various other times and places since the first Quonset huts were assembled everywhere our military forces went in WWII, troop housing evolved into more spacious and comfortable accomodations, situation permitting. Large concrete, brick, or wooden structures were erected at secure locations on bases at home and around the world. The large photo of the barracks at CBC, Davisville being demolished represents the end of the era which began at that location sixty years prior. Part of the Seabee fame comes from the miracles of construction made possible by the easily transported, quickly assembled, and infinitely adaptable metal shelters known as "Quonset Huts". Adapted from a similar British design by civilian contractor engineers at Quonset Point , R.I. early in WWII, they provided living space, office space, storage space, and many other needed types of shelter in every corner of the world. Several examples have been preserved at the Seabee Memorial Park and are being restored to house displays of typical Seabee life. The Quonset huts themselves though, served all branches, not just the Navy. A reserve Seabee unit from Naval Station, Newport, R.I. is providing construction support to erect and outfit the huts as well as remodel the Chapel-in the P.

--Normand Dupuis EOC USNR-(Ret.)

The last of the troop housing on CBC, Davisville is razed in April of 2002. Piles of rubble in foreground are all that remain of the former "home away from home" of countless brave and skilled Navy SEABEES.

"Closed-in" and painted Quonset huts awaiting interior finish. Concrete slab in foreground is ready for another hut to sit on top of it.	Two Quonset huts in various stages of completion. Note modern long-lasting metal members replacing original "temporary" wooden ones.
Three stages of Quonset hut assembly. Initial foundation formwork in the rear. Partly assembled rough finish huts on the left, and closed in and exterior finished huts on the right.	Closeup view of the first groundwork that will later result in a solid concrete slab foundation. In wartime, huts usually had either dirt or wooden floors.

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