Camp O'Ryan
Encyclopedia
Camp O'Ryan, a 375 acres (1.5 km²) former New York
United States National Guard
training area, also known as the North Java
Rifle Range and the Wethersfield
Rifle Range, located 3 miles (4.8 km) east of North Java, in the Town of Wethersfield
, in the County of Wyoming
in New York State.
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Camp O'Ryan, which was opened in late 1949 or early 1950, was initially called the Wethersfield training area. It was designed for the New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs
by the Army Corps of Engineers
, and was almost completely built by the end of 1949. The New York National Guard was the primary occupant, but it has also been used by the Naval Militia, the Army Reserves, Air Force and the New York State Police. It was later renamed Camp O’Ryan in honor of Major General John F. O'Ryan
at a dedication ceremony on June 7, 1952, with General O'Ryan in attendance. Major General Karl F. Hausauer, chief-of-staff to Governor Dewey and commanding general of the NYNG spoke at the occasion. He described the Wethersfield camp at that time as "the home grounds of the present 27th Infantry Division." He then read a letter from Governor Dewey which said in part "I know that your name—given to this New York National Guard camp—will serve to keep those soldierly qualities which you represent forever present in the minds of all the young and patriotic citizen-soldiers who will train here through future years." Also in attendance was the First Battalion of the 174th Infantry Regiment, the 27th Infantry Division Military Police Company, the 27th Infantry Division Band, as well as Brig. Gen. William H. Kelly, vice chief-of-staff to the governor and state adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Hampton A. Anderson, deputy vice chief-of-staff to the governor, Brig. Gen. Gerard W. Kelley, chief-of-staff, headquarters, NYNG, and Brig. Gen. Alfred H. Doud, commander 105th Anti-aircraft Artillery Brigade.
During the Korean and Vietnam Wars, the use of Camp O'Ryan increased as many National Guardsmen trained at the site. A multipage article in the Buffalo Courier-Express, run on Nov. 10, 1968, depicted some of the training done at this camp. This included rifle target practice as well as pistol training.
Training there ceased in 1974, although may have been used by other agencies as late as the mid 1980s.
Originally a rifle range, it was later expanded for wider activities over the following years.
The property was owned by Edward N. George Jr. (a.k.a. Ed Don George
), wrestler, promoter, and naval commander. He leased it to the Federal Government for 25 years almost immediately after purchasing the property from Charles R. Greenan in 1949.
Photographs of this site indicate there was an active burial site of approximately 200 by 300 feet (91.4 m) in the mid 1950s through the mid 1960s.
In addition to these alleged burial sites, the 1954 aerial photograph shows the remnants of some type of construction, possibly a tank driving course, of approximately 60 feet (18.3 m) in width and 350 feet (106.7 m) in length.
Besides the alleged burials, lead waste
from expended ammunition is still present at the abandoned rifle range as of Spring 2007. It is possible this waste has contaminated local water supplies but this has not been documented.
The Corps of Engineers
' (New York) District were unable to locate the engineering and architectural plans for the camp in response to a freedom of information act request. The plans were produced by the Corps of Engineers' (New York) District Engineer in 1949.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
United States National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
training area, also known as the North Java
Java, New York
Java is a town in Wyoming County, New York, United States. The population was 2,222 at the 2000 census. In the 2007 estimate, this had declined to 2,153.Contrary to practice elsewhere, the name is pronounced "Jay-vuh"....
Rifle Range and the Wethersfield
Wethersfield, New York
Wethersfield is a town in Wyoming County, New York, United States. The population was 891 at the 2000 census.The Town of Wethersfield is centrally located in the county.- History :...
Rifle Range, located 3 miles (4.8 km) east of North Java, in the Town of Wethersfield
Wethersfield, New York
Wethersfield is a town in Wyoming County, New York, United States. The population was 891 at the 2000 census.The Town of Wethersfield is centrally located in the county.- History :...
, in the County of Wyoming
Wyoming County, New York
Wyoming County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. At the 2010 census, the population was 42,155. The county seat is Warsaw. The name is from a modified Delaware Indian word meaning "broad bottom lands"...
in New York State.
History
New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs
New York State's Division of Military and Naval Affairs is a New York State agency responsible for the state's New York Army National Guard, New York Air National Guard, New York Guard and the New York Naval Militia....
by the Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
, and was almost completely built by the end of 1949. The New York National Guard was the primary occupant, but it has also been used by the Naval Militia, the Army Reserves, Air Force and the New York State Police. It was later renamed Camp O’Ryan in honor of Major General John F. O'Ryan
John F. O'Ryan
John Francis O'Ryan was Commanding General of the 27th Division during World War I.-Career:During the mid 1920s O'Ryan was New York State Transit Commissioner, and was also involved in the early passenger aviation industry.He briefly held the position of New York City Police Commissioner from...
at a dedication ceremony on June 7, 1952, with General O'Ryan in attendance. Major General Karl F. Hausauer, chief-of-staff to Governor Dewey and commanding general of the NYNG spoke at the occasion. He described the Wethersfield camp at that time as "the home grounds of the present 27th Infantry Division." He then read a letter from Governor Dewey which said in part "I know that your name—given to this New York National Guard camp—will serve to keep those soldierly qualities which you represent forever present in the minds of all the young and patriotic citizen-soldiers who will train here through future years." Also in attendance was the First Battalion of the 174th Infantry Regiment, the 27th Infantry Division Military Police Company, the 27th Infantry Division Band, as well as Brig. Gen. William H. Kelly, vice chief-of-staff to the governor and state adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Hampton A. Anderson, deputy vice chief-of-staff to the governor, Brig. Gen. Gerard W. Kelley, chief-of-staff, headquarters, NYNG, and Brig. Gen. Alfred H. Doud, commander 105th Anti-aircraft Artillery Brigade.
During the Korean and Vietnam Wars, the use of Camp O'Ryan increased as many National Guardsmen trained at the site. A multipage article in the Buffalo Courier-Express, run on Nov. 10, 1968, depicted some of the training done at this camp. This included rifle target practice as well as pistol training.
Training there ceased in 1974, although may have been used by other agencies as late as the mid 1980s.
Originally a rifle range, it was later expanded for wider activities over the following years.
The property was owned by Edward N. George Jr. (a.k.a. Ed Don George
Ed Don George
Edward Nicholas "Ed Don" George was an American professional wrestler and wrestling promoter.-Career:George was born in North Java, New York. He wrestled for both St. Bonaventure University and for the University of Michigan...
), wrestler, promoter, and naval commander. He leased it to the Federal Government for 25 years almost immediately after purchasing the property from Charles R. Greenan in 1949.
Environmental concerns
Photographs of this site indicate there was an active burial site of approximately 200 by 300 feet (91.4 m) in the mid 1950s through the mid 1960s.
In addition to these alleged burial sites, the 1954 aerial photograph shows the remnants of some type of construction, possibly a tank driving course, of approximately 60 feet (18.3 m) in width and 350 feet (106.7 m) in length.
Besides the alleged burials, lead waste
Lead poisoning
Lead poisoning is a medical condition caused by increased levels of the heavy metal lead in the body. Lead interferes with a variety of body processes and is toxic to many organs and tissues including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems...
from expended ammunition is still present at the abandoned rifle range as of Spring 2007. It is possible this waste has contaminated local water supplies but this has not been documented.
The Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
' (New York) District were unable to locate the engineering and architectural plans for the camp in response to a freedom of information act request. The plans were produced by the Corps of Engineers' (New York) District Engineer in 1949.