Pine Camp Fort Drum

the leray mansion, built in 19th century, named after james leray de chaumont. throughout years mansion served post commander s quarters, visiting dignitaries quarters , location formal military receptions. today mansion used house high ranking visitors, has encouraged continued upkeep of mansion. leray mansion registered national register of historic places.

world war ii expansion

with outbreak of world war ii, pine camp selected major expansion. additional 75,000 acres (30,000 ha) of land purchased, displacing 525 local families. 5 entire villages eliminated, while others reduced one-third one-half size.

by labor day, 1941, 100 tracts of land taken over. 3 thousand buildings, including 24 schools, 6 churches , post office, abandoned. contractors went work, , in period of 10 months @ cost of $20 million, entire city built house divisions scheduled train @ pine camp.

eight hundred buildings constructed, including 240 barracks, 84 mess halls, 86 storehouses, 58 warehouses, 27 officers quarters, 22 headquarters buildings, , 99 recreational buildings guardhouses , hospital. construction workers paid price, winter of 1941-42 1 of coldest in north country history.

the 3 divisions train @ pine camp included 4th armored division (gen. creighton abrams battalion commander there @ time), 45th infantry division (united states) , 5th armored division.

the post served prisoner of war camp captured italian , german troops. of prisoners died here, 1 italian , 6 germans buried in sheepfold cemetery near remington pond.

pine camp became camp drum in 1951, named after lieutenant general hugh a. drum chief of staff of first united states army during world war i. during , after korean war number of units stationed , trained here take advantage of terrain , climate.

in 1959, testing of agent orange began on over 1,000 acres (405 ha) of fort drum. several communities @ or near agent orange manufacturing or storage sites continue report dioxin levels above recommended safety standards, including fort drum.