Profile: Sand Point Naval Station Commissary

June 4th, 2007 @ 6:44 pm by Cliffe | Sorted Historic Buildings |
Before getting to this profile, I have to apologize for the relative lack of activity. I’m still in the midst of moving and have no Internet access until Wed. Posting this from work — I’m such a rebel. Anyway, let’s concentrate on the old Sand Point Naval Air Station Commissary Store, which was located at the Warren G. Magnuson Park boat ramp entrance. It’s now gone. It was torn down in January (you can check out the Seattle Times story on the demolition over here). Luckily, I was able to take some shots just days before it was taken down for good. It was built in 1943 and the Commissary was shut down in 1995. Looks like Seattle Parks & Recreation is planning to turn the site into ball fields, trails, and marsh ponds. Click on the images for a larger view:
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Back side exterior of the building. Most windows had been smashed and debris littered the site. Front entrance. Graffiti covered most of this side of the building.
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Interior of the building. I was unable to travel any further into the center of the structure due to the asbestos. Right side of the building. This is the face of the building that could be seen from the Magnuson Park road heading to the water.
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Alternate angle of the back of the structure. Some of the demolition crew told me that former Navy officers who had been stationed at Sand Point attended the demolition ceremony. Vintage Commissary Store sign. It looks as though no attempt was made to match the yellow paint during graffiti removal.

10 Responses to “Profile: Sand Point Naval Station Commissary”

  1. Ryan says:

    Thanks for posting this; my grandfather worked at that commissary during parts of WWII.

  2. [...] of the old Sand Point Naval Air Station Commissary building. If you haven’t yet, check out my original post on the imminent demolition. Sure enough, it’s gone. Way gone. Not even so much as a piece of rubble to remind anyone [...]

  3. Pete Skirbunt says:

    I’m the historian for the Defense Commissary Agency, and Ryan’s response caught my eye…

    During the war the building was a seaplane hangar. So if Ryan’s grandfather worked in the base commissary during World War II, he actually worked in a different building….

    nonetheless, anything Ryan might remember about his grandfather working in the base commissary would be much appreciated.

  4. Steve Hilby says:

    I just saw this site on the web. I worked at the commissary as a bag boy during the summer of 1974, after graduating from college. There were 12 lines, or registers, and 2 of us worked each line. About half were retirees, the rest were usually kids 16 and up. One retiree was in charge of who worked the lines, and the lucky few whom he chose worked the same line every day. Besides the 24 of us regulars, there were always another dozen or so, usually kids, waiting along the wall for one of us either to not show up, or to take a break, or to leave early.
    As to the ladies who ran the registers, they were the fastest clerks you ever saw. And the registers were the old style manual ones. the ladies were quick, and we were expected to keep up with them, which was a real chore. But you either did, or you would find yourself in the line along the wall.

  5. TiewKeple says:

    If you’re sitting in a swivel chair, spin [url=http://mrappliances.info/appliance] around [/url] singing “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” whenever there is processing time required.

  6. Horrepogemi says:

    We just went to see UP 3D! Though it was Monday and 9:50 it was packed! More tickets were sold that they could handle But the movie was so worth it! I Recommend!

  7. Gundeflan says:

    I want to listen good music. Help me please.

  8. Larry Witt says:

    Was stationed at Sandpoint for 2 years 1976-1977. Great place. The commissary photos bring back memories. Went back for a visit in 2007 had been 30 years, but seemed like yesterday as I walked around the base. Best duty station ever.

  9. Kevin says:

    I don’t know what half of the gibberish that people have posted in the comments here is all about. Looks like you have some kinda’ SPAM counter. I am greatly saddened by the demolition of ANY of the buildings on the site of the old Sand Point Naval Air Station. Even worse is that no one seems to give a damn about this great Air Station. They just want to erect another rock climbing wall or a Swallow sanctuary or anything else that has little to nothing to do with what this area once was. Ever since the great migration of Californians to the North end of Seattle the things I treasure as a kid have been removed and demolished in favor of the modernization of Seattle. Good day and clean up your ” Response “area here. It looks like shit. and is a disgrace to Naval Aviation and Seattle History.. Good day.

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