Augusta Arsenal
(Augusta State University)
In January 1861,
U.S. Troops
surrendered the
Arsenal to the State of
Georgia, soon to be part
of the Confederacy. That
year Confederates
constructed a large shop building
near the eastern wall to house
several functions: Part was a hospital
part was a storehouse, and the remainder
contained a blacksmith shop, tin shop and the
harness and equipment department for the field
artillery.
(Left Panel)
By the late
1800s / early 1900s
the shop building
provided storage for
the ordnance as well as
housed a machine shop and
foundry at this time. The
arsenal manufactured cast iron
shells, cavalry equipment and
seacoast targets. Its works also
included reconditioning small arms.
Cast iron scraps and steel were smelted
in the foundry. A small portable brass foundry
made brass castings.
(Right Panel)
In World War II
the machine shop
workers in the
south wing of the old
Confederate building
reconditioned rifles and small
arms. Cast iron shells were made
in the foundry. In 1969 the college
demolished the north and south wings
of the building for college parking. The
final portion of the building, its center, came
down in the winter of 1971 - 1972.
Marker is on Katherine Street, on the left.
Courtesy hmdb.org
