Area 2
Area II
This group of buildings is located along South Campus Drive, formerly known as Hempstead Road. These buildings were originally used for military purposes associated with Fort Douglas and World War II. Some of the buildings were used for administration, housing, motor pool, and dining, to name a few. During WWII, Fort Douglas played a pivotal role in the war effort. It housed a Prisoner of War camp, served as an Induction, Reception, and Separations Center as well as being the headquarters for the Ninth Service Command out of San Francisco. Not only did Fort Douglas play an important part in the war effort, it also had an impact on the community. During 1943, its peak employment year, the post employed 1,000 military personnel and 2,000 civilians.
The buildings in this area were built in the early 1940s specifically for the purposes required of the fort for the war effort. The Reception and Induction Centers, established in 1940, were vital for processing new recruits. Men arrived civilians and exited soldiers, often only staying at Fort Douglas a short while before being sent on assignment. The Reception Center processed inductees from Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Montana. Of these processing buildings, only the Induction building (Building 113) remains, nevertheless, some of the many support buildings that were required still stand. Towards the end of the war, in 1944, a Separation Center was also established at the fort which completed the circle of a soldier's life, sending him back to civilian duty. At the end of the war, much of Fort Douglas was declared surplus and divided up among different agencies, including the University of Utah.
The University of Utah acquired 289.59 acres of Fort Douglas land sometime between 1947 and 1948; there are numerous sources, all with differing dates. This was North of Hempstead Road (South Campus Drive) and included sixty-one buildings. Forty-five buildings located on the "Church Triangle" were also purchased. The sixty-one buildings were acquired at no cost, along with the golf course. The forty-five buildings were bought at discounts from 40 to 95 percent. The War Assets Administration cited the buildings and land value at $1,800,987 which would be sold at the value price of $628,925. The off-site buildings, located on what is called "The Church Triangle" south of Hempstead Road (south of the current Jon Huntsman Special Events Center), valued at $671,105 would be sold for $82,592.
These buildings were used to supply classroom and support space for new and expanding programs at the University of Utah. Nursing, some medical, Art, Architecture, Biology and General Education were housed in these buildings until 'permanent' buildings could be constructed and the various disciplines could move into their new facilities. Many of the buildings have been torn down or moved as either the University of Utah or the LDS Church needed the land.
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