Historic Chaffee Medical Complex Fire part 2

Firefighters try to put out the unfortunate fire which eventually brought all of the medical complex buildings to the ground. The complex was part of the initial constructed buildings at Camp Chaffee in 1941 and early 1942. It was a snapshot in time of the era and military designed buildings. All 111 buildings were connected by covered walkways and halls. In addition to typical medical facilities, the complex also housed 3 mess halls, a PX shop, dance hall, post office, bowling alley, and chapel. It was for the most part closed in the mid 1970s, but still utilized during the Vietnamese refugee resettlement operation, and then again during the Cuban refugee processing in 1980-1982. The last use was of a few buildings on the north end during JRTC training in the 1980s and early 1990s. It had recently become the site for many paranormal groups, and their investigations produced surprising and coincidental evidence. In June 2010, the Travel Channel program "Ghost Adventures" filmed footage at the complex for what would become an episode aired in November of that year. Plans were under way to salvage remaining artifacts such as unique and vintage doors, fixtures, and murals that were painted on walls. The items would have been presented in an museum exhibit in the Chaffee Crossing Historic District.

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Travel & Events

Tags:

• Chaffee
• Crossing
• Fort
• Camp
• Medical
• Complex
• Fire
• History