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  • June

    FORT NORFOLK, Va. -- War of 1812 reenactors dress in the fort's guardhouse June 9, 2012. The reenactors were part of OpSail 2012, which marked the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and brought international tall ships and naval vessels to Hampton Roads and other port cities. (U.S. Army photo/Kerry Solan)

    Fort Norfolk to host Battle of Craney Island reenactment

    Fort Norfolk will host the Battle of Craney Island anniversary reenactments 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

  • November

    FORT NORFOLK, Va. -- Fort Norfolk stands open for visitors June 1, 2012. The fort, which is maintained and preserved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is the last remaining of 19 harbor-front forts authorized in 1794 by President George Washington. (U.S. Army photo/Patrick Bloodgood)

    Fort Norfolk to temporarily close to visitors

    Fort Norfolk will close to visitors from Nov. 12-27 as contractors perform various landscape repairs to the historic War of 1812-era coastal fortification.

  • March

    NORFOLK, Va. -- James Baird Quinn became the commander of the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in late 1899. Quinn carried out work recommended by the Endicott Board, which had evaluated coastal defenses, and oversaw improvements to the harbor at Norfolk. (U.S. Army photo)

    Norfolk 135: James B. Quinn

    James Baird Quinn; born June 9, 1843; emerged from the U.S. Military Academy as a second lieutenant in 1866, the same year President Andrew Johnson formally declared an end to the U.S. Civil War.

  • August

    NORFOLK, Va. -- Gustav J. Fiebeger became the fifth in command of what would later become the Norfolk District when he took over as officer in charge on July 1, 1890. Under his command, the Norfolk office removed the wreck of the E.L. Pettengill from a local channel, dredged the Norfolk Harbor and reported "progress" on improving the depth and width of the Appomattox River. He left the Norfolk office Nov. 20, 1891.

    Norfolk District 135: Gustav J. Fiebeger

    Fiebeger became the fifth in command of what would later become the Norfolk District when he took over as officer in charge on July 1, 1890.
  • William Price Craighill became the fourth officer in charge of what would later become the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers when he took command July 1, 1887. Craighill became the Corps' first Southeast Division Engineer and established the camp for the Yorktown surrender celebration. (U.S. Army photo)

    Norfolk District 135: William Price Craighill

    William Price Craighill was the fourth officer in charge of what would later become the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He became the Corps’ first Southeast Division Engineer, overseeing coastal fortification projects in Hampton Roads.
  • Frederick A. Hinman was the third officer in charge of what would later become the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He became the officer in charge of the United States Engineer Office in Norfolk on March 16, 1884. During that time, he improved the approach to Norfolk Harbor and the navy yard between Lambert’s Point and Fort Norfolk and cleared sunken vessels that obstructed navigation in Virginia and North Carolina. Hinman left the Norfolk office in June of 1887. (U.S. Army photo)

    Norfolk District 135: Frederick A. Hinman

    Frederick A. Hinman removed sunken vessels “obstructing or endangering navigation,” including the barge Albemarle near Hog Island lighthouse in Virginia, the schooner Maria and Elizabeth near Cape Charles lighthouse in Virginia, the schooner Tarry Not near Craney Island near the mouth of the Nansemond River, the schooner Anthea Godfrey in “Lynn Haven Roads, Virginia” [sic] (which was destroyed by explosives after having shown the wreck and cargo were valueless), and the steamer Concord, which was burned and sunk in the Pamplico River near Washington, North Carolina.

  • July

    NORFOLK, Va. -- James Mercur was the second officer in charge of what would later become the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He took command as the Engineer in Charge of the United States Engineer Office in Norfolk on June 15, 1881, after the first commander, Capt. Charles B. Phillips, died while still in command. He served at the Norfolk office until March 15, 1884, after which he returned the the military academy to teach civil and military engineering until he died in 1896. (U.S. Army photo)

    Norfolk District 135: James Mercur

    On June 15, 1881, Capt. James Mercur took command as the second engineer in charge of the Norfolk office after Capt. Charles B. Phillips, the first engineer in charge, died while still in command. He was in charge of improving the Norfolk, Virginia and Beaufort and Edenton, North Carolina harbors; Cape Fear River and Currituck Sound
  • NORFOLK, Va. -- Charles B. Phillips was the first officer in charge of what would later become the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He took command on July 1, 1879, and as the Engineer in Charge of the United States Engineer Office in Norfolk, he supervised improvements of the Norfolk Harbor and its approaches, which are known collectively today as the Port of Virginia. The Norfolk Office at that time was located in Room #2 of the Custom House in Norfolk. He died on June 14, 1881, at the age of 41, while still in command of the Norfolk office. (U.S. Army photo)

    Norfolk District 135: Charles B. Phillips

    Editor’s note: Beginning July 1, 2014, Norfolk District celebrates its 135 Anniversary. Stay with us throughout the year as we look back at our former commanders, completed projects and distinguished employees. On July 1, 1879, Capt. Charles B. Phillips became the Engineer in Charge of the United States Engineer Office in Norfolk, which was the predecessor to the Norfolk District.

  • May

    Historic Fort Norfolk, Va.

    Historic Fort Norfolk reopens ahead of schedule

    Fort Norfolk reopened to the public today, four weeks ahead of schedule, after contractors replaced the roof on the circa-1855 magazine building here.