'History before the Quehanna Boot Camp facility' History

History before the Quehanna Boot Camp facility

Jason S. Krone (64.235.182.151) -

I am just wondering if anyone has any information on the history of the site that the Quehanna Boot Camp facility now inhabits. I have heard from the staff at the Boot camp program that the site was once a testing facility for the testing of jet engines which was German owned. If anyone has any information on this site I would be very grateful to learn more about it. I am a gradute of the Quehanna Boot Camp and have seen several pictures of the historical site while at the boot camp but never really got to learn anymore about the area. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Reply #1 Bill Taebel (72.251.76.64) -

In 1955, 50, 000 acres of state forest land was sold to Curtiss Wright Corporation which developed jet engines and conducted research in nuclear, nucleonics, metallurgy, electronics, chemicals and plastics.

Quehanna was a research engineering development facility for the Curtis Wright Corp. It was built in the 1950s and employed a large number of people. Most of the engineering staff lived in Pine Glen - the houses there were built by Curtiss Wright.

There were 2 jet engine test facilities on the site along with a "pool type" nuclear reactor and an airstrip. Also a large machine shop and a facilty for development of berillium oxide materials along with administrative functions. The first building on the left on entering the property was the home of the site facilities manager. Next building was the hotel and restaurant where visitors could stay when visiting the site.

Next building was the machine shop area. On the right was the postoffice and then another development building.

I lived in Pine Glen from 1961 to 1963 and worked at Quehanna during the summer with my Dad who was employed there.

• Quehanna site cleanup

Reply #2 Bruce M. Reed (97.115.16.203) - 09/18/09 12:38

Fromer Pennsylvania resident, now living in Washington State.

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