Camp Murphy Southern Signal Corps School
Encyclopedia
The United States Army Signal Corps
established Camp Murphy, a top-secret radar training school in 1942. Camp Murphy was located between Stuart
and Jupiter
in what is now Jonathan Dickinson State Park
in Martin County
in southeastern Florida
, at coordinates 27°0′17"N 80°07′45"W.
The camp included over 1,000 buildings and housed more than 6,000 officers and soldiers. The camp was deactivated in 1944 after less than two years of operation. All but three of the camp buildings have been torn down or removed but some of the building foundations remain. One foundation structure still to be seen is the vault to the First Atlantic Bank that was in the Provost building. This is an intact two-room walk-in vault although the vault doors have been removed. One of the vault doors apparently had to be forced open from inside—there is a man-sized hole in the roof immediately above the doorway with the concrete re-bar bent inward.
In addition, on the western side of the railroad tracks, the remains of the water treatment facility are still visible, although very run down. Throughout the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches, there are still former Camp Murphy buildings in use which were obtained as surplus shortly after the war. Also, the former USO club buildings are still standing in nearby communities of Hobe Sound and Stuart. One of the Jonathan Dickinson camping areas is located in the area that was the Camp Hospital. One interesting fact is that local legend "Trapper" Nelson was actually assigned to the base as a member of the military police. There are several sites you may observe. The former ammo dump is just to the east of the train tracks, it has been sealed shut but you can see the top of the structure.The building across from Hobe Hill is a former barracks. The park office, located just west of the camp area, was a secret bomb shelter for government persons during the Kennedy administration. Walking south along the tracks, the former gun range still has a wall standing; walking along the hills you can find bullets. In the back of the park's riding trail you can see a steam engine that was used in the 1800s to cut cypress logs for the F.E.C.railway. Also the small home near the maintenance shed was the former camp commander's quarters. The ammo dump was used as a fallout shelter for years by park employees; it had 2 rooms and a second level accessed with a stairwell.
United States Army Signal Corps
The United States Army Signal Corps develops, tests, provides, and manages communications and information systems support for the command and control of combined arms forces. It was established in 1860, the brainchild of United States Army Major Albert J. Myer, and has had an important role from...
established Camp Murphy, a top-secret radar training school in 1942. Camp Murphy was located between Stuart
Stuart, Florida
Stuart is the only incorporated city of Martin County, Florida, on Florida's Treasure Coast. The population was 14,633 at the 2000 census. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 15,964....
and Jupiter
Jupiter, Florida
Jupiter is a town located in Palm Beach County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 39,328. The estimate population for 2009 is 50,606. As of 2006, the population had grown to 50,028, according to the University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research....
in what is now Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Jonathan Dickinson State Park is a Florida State Park and historic site located in Martin County, Florida, between Hobe Sound and Tequesta. The park includes a variety of natural communities, such as sand pine scrub, pine flatwoods, mangroves, and river swamps. The Loxahatchee River, which was...
in Martin County
Martin County, Florida
Martin County is a county in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 126,731. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county is 138,660. Its county seat is Stuart, Florida.- History :...
in southeastern Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, at coordinates 27°0′17"N 80°07′45"W.
History
In 1942 the federal government opened Camp Murphy. It was the home of the Southern Signal Corps School during WWII and served as a US Army base for instruction in radar operation in the early course of the war. The post was named in honor of Col. William Herbert Murphy, a pioneer in the development of radio beams and equipment for military aircraft. Camp Murphy consisted of 11364 acres (46 km²) and accommodated 854 officers and 5,752 enlisted men. The camp had close to 1,000 buildings that included a bank, movie theater, church and bowling alley. Camp Murphy was officially decommissioned in 1944 and used for migrant housing during the fall and winter of 1945. Buildings not already dismantled after the camp's deactivation were sold and carted away beginning in 1948. On June 9, 1947, the property was transferred from the US Govt. to the State of Florida for a State Park. In 1950 Jonathan Dickinson State Park opened to the public.The camp included over 1,000 buildings and housed more than 6,000 officers and soldiers. The camp was deactivated in 1944 after less than two years of operation. All but three of the camp buildings have been torn down or removed but some of the building foundations remain. One foundation structure still to be seen is the vault to the First Atlantic Bank that was in the Provost building. This is an intact two-room walk-in vault although the vault doors have been removed. One of the vault doors apparently had to be forced open from inside—there is a man-sized hole in the roof immediately above the doorway with the concrete re-bar bent inward.
In addition, on the western side of the railroad tracks, the remains of the water treatment facility are still visible, although very run down. Throughout the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches, there are still former Camp Murphy buildings in use which were obtained as surplus shortly after the war. Also, the former USO club buildings are still standing in nearby communities of Hobe Sound and Stuart. One of the Jonathan Dickinson camping areas is located in the area that was the Camp Hospital. One interesting fact is that local legend "Trapper" Nelson was actually assigned to the base as a member of the military police. There are several sites you may observe. The former ammo dump is just to the east of the train tracks, it has been sealed shut but you can see the top of the structure.The building across from Hobe Hill is a former barracks. The park office, located just west of the camp area, was a secret bomb shelter for government persons during the Kennedy administration. Walking south along the tracks, the former gun range still has a wall standing; walking along the hills you can find bullets. In the back of the park's riding trail you can see a steam engine that was used in the 1800s to cut cypress logs for the F.E.C.railway. Also the small home near the maintenance shed was the former camp commander's quarters. The ammo dump was used as a fallout shelter for years by park employees; it had 2 rooms and a second level accessed with a stairwell.