Fort Sheridan (2)
Fort Sheridan (2) (1887-1993) - A U.S. Army post established in 1887 as Camp Highwood in Lake County, Illinois. Renamed in 1888 for General of the Army Philip H. Sheridan who died on 1 Jun 1888. Abandoned in 1993.
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Fort Sheridan (2) History
Fort Sheridan was designed by the architectural firm of Holabird & Roche as an open plan fort with a large semi-circular central parade. Along the south side of the parade was a massive 227' central tower (Bldg. 49) flanked by two multi-company barracks (Bldgs. 48 & 50). Officer's quarters lined the remaining semi-circle and branched out on the northeast side toward the lake. A large hospital was located on the south east side of the post and the cavalry stables were located on the south west side of the post behind the barracks. Some 64 brick buildings were constructed with cream colored bricks made from clay found on post.
World War I (1917-1918)
During World War I Fort Sheridan served as an induction and training center for the midwest region and the post was expanded with the addition of many WWI temporary buildings. The post also housed two Officer training camps.
After the war, the post was used as a rehabilitation hospital for returning soldiers and as an isolation hospital for the great influenza epidemic of 1918, some 60,000 patients were treated at the hospital between 1918 and 1920.
World War II (1941-1945)
Fort Sheridan again became a regional induction and training center even before war was declared in 1941. Some 500,000 troops were processed through the post and a new mobilization center was built on the south end of the post. As the war progressed, it also became the regional headquarters for prisoner of war camps and housed some of the POWs on post.
Cold War (1947-1991)
Fort Sheridan again became a regional induction and training center during the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
In 1954 Fort Sheridan became the regional NIKE missile headquarters for the Chicago Air Defense area and a NIKE missile launch site from 1955 to 1963. With the end of the Vietnam War and the phaseout of the NIKE system in 1974 the post transitioned into a Reserve and National Guard role.
Fort Sheridan was included in the first round of base closings (1989) by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC). The Fort was closed by the Army on 28 May 1993 although some portion of the post was retained for Reserve and National Guard tenants.
Current Status
Highland Park, Lake County, Illinois
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Location: Highland Park, Lake County, Illinois. Maps & Images Lat: 42.216778 Long: -87.816035 |
Sources:
- Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 269
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