Caribou Air Force Station
Caribou Air Force Station was the first of five, United States Air Force, Air Material Command (AMC) installations that were constructed during the period of 1951 – 1953. Each of the five installations was built specifically to provide operational storage of the nuclear stockpile, and to provide a specified number of weapons to their adjacent Strategic Air Command (SAC) bases. The first four installations were built and occupied by 1953. The fifth installation, although completed in 1953, would not be utilized until 1955. The first installation, code named “Site Easy” was originally known as the “North River Depot”. It was constructed between 1951-1952, and operations began in 1952. Funds were provided in 1951 to the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project (AFSWP), for the planning and construction of an ordnance storage site in the vicinity of a new Strategic Air Command Base. The AFSWP was directed to utilize the services of the Corps of Engineers, Department of Army, for planning and construction, and was made responsible for monitoring such work, and for operational security measures during these phases. The original directive to the AFSWP stipulated that upon completion of construction the installation would be turned over to Headquarters, Air Material Command for operational responsibilities.
Caribou Air Force Station
Building No. 370 was constructed in 1952 as an administrative office building for Sandia Corporation personnel. It was a long, one-story building with a flat roof and was constructed of concrete block on a concrete foundation. The building had multiple window and door openings. It had not been occupied since the site closed in 1962. Building No. 372 was constructed in 1956 of reinforced concrete and block. It measured approximately 36-feet by 16-feet. This building was used by the readiness crew, and for hazardous storage. Building No. 374 was the largest building constructed in the Base Spares Area. Built in 1956 of reinforced concrete, it measured approximately 129-feet by 49-feet. This building was also used for warehouse supply and equipment. It was razed sometime after February 1994. Building No. 367 was constructed in 1952 as field office building for the Atomic Energy Commission. This small structure measured 17 feet-4 inches in width by 25 feet-4 inches in length, and was a single story structure with a full basement below ground. It was constructed of monolithic reinforced concrete throughout. This small office has survived all of these years, and for good reason. The building was constructed in such a manner that it was virtually impossible for it to be destroyed by fire. The walls were constructed of 5-inch by 8-inch joists made entirely of concrete. Between each joist, which were set every 2 foot-1-inch on center, was a slab of concrete 2 ½ inches thick. The basement floor consists of a 4-inch thick solid concrete slab. The basement depth was 9-feet below ground. The total height of the basement was 11 ½ feet, with the basement height actually being 2 ½ feet above ground level. The basement had one window in it at ground level on the north side. The only access to the basement was from inside the structure itself. The basement consisted of a single utility room. A single set of concrete steps 6-feet in width and 8-feet in total length were used to gain access to the building. The steps were attached to the building on the west elevation. Steel pipe handrails were attached to each side of the steps. Upon entering the building through the outer door, a 6-foot by 6-foot outer vestibule was the first room within the structure. The vestibule was located on the south side of the building. To the immediate left was a doorway leading into the main office room. This room measured 16-feet in width by 18-feet in length. This room had eight windows, three windows on the east and west elevations, and two windows on the north elevation. Behind the vestibule room was another small room which measured 6 foot by 5 foot. This room was a storage room, and it also had a ladder/stairway to the basement. A third small room located behind the storage room also measured 6 foot by 5 foot. This room had a toilet and sink. All three small rooms were separated from the main office room and each other by 2” X 4” stud wall partitions. The walls were covered by sheets of asbestos cement board. The floors and ceiling as well as the roof were constructed of solid monolithic concrete. The floors were covered with asphalt tile. This small, yet almost indestructible office building was the AEC Records Office. All records pertaining to this particular site, and the material under the control of the Atomic Energy Commission, were stored here during the period of 1952-1962.