East face

In 1973, Augusta College named three of the

original arsenal buildings in honor of

commandants of the arsenal. Payne Hall,

storehouse and later headquarters for the

arsenal and administrative building for the

university, was named for Matthew Payne,

first commandant of the arsenal from 1819

to 1827. He oversaw the purchase of the

Walker family land and plans for the relocation

of the arsenal from the Savannah River.

North face

The Benet House, the arsenal commandant's

home, the college president's home from 1960

to 1987, and administrative offices, became a

National Historic Landmark in 1973. Arsenal

Commandant J. Walker Benet served here

from 1911 to 1919. His son Stephen Vincent

Benet wrote poetry here while attending

Summerville Academy. Stephen won two

Pulitzer Prizes, and his brother William Rose

won one.

West face

Rains Hall, once Officers' Quarters, bears

the name of George Washington Rains,

Confederate Commandant from April 1862

until the arsenal's reoccupation by Union

troops in May 1865. Under his supervision,

the arsenal manufactured Confederate

weapons and other supplies. Rains also

choose Augusta for the Confederate

Powder Works. Rains Hall has served

the university mainly as administrative

offices.

Marker is on near Patriot Drive near near Arsenal Avenue.

Courtesy hmdb.org

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