Silent
Skies, Strange Stories,
Silent
Skies, Strange Stories,
The Control Tower at the former Sampson Air Base is deserted. Although runways, radio antennae, and much more has been left behind, this once key military complex on the shore of one of New York's beautiful Finger Lakes is quiet yet still restricted.
During World War II 5,000 naval recruits at a time trained along the lake here. Thousands more served here when part of 10,000-plus acres were used as an active US Air Force base. Thousands of civilians were hired at this "City That War Built." Huge stashes of munitions of all kinds, were stored nearby under secrecy and security. A sliver of the site was used as Sampson State College for a few years educating military veterans. In 1960 some of the area was changed over to a new mission: Sampson State Park.
Other sections of this stealth section of Upstate New York has served confidential needs of the US Army. The US Coast Guard is still here, operating a high power Very Low Frequency radio station. Two prisons have been built on some of the land, white deer and wildlife patrol other sections, and a restricted home for wayward children is now located here just west of the remains of thousands of tons of secret suspected radioactive surplus. Along one of the western perimeters once-military housing has been converted into civilian condos.
Hundreds of square miles east of Seneca Lake is being given new missions.
Eastern Border. Seneca Lake forms a part of the eastern border for what was once a highly restricted military hideaway in upstate New York covering several hundred square miles. This is an off-season view of picnic areas at Sampson State Park.
The Sampson Sailor Memorial is beneath government and military flags. About half of this area between Seneca Lake (shown in background) and the Central New York hamlet of Romulus (about four miles east of here) is now open to public. However, hundreds of acres remain "Restricted Areas" where government hazardous material surplus is secured.
Seasonal attraction. Sampston State Park includes this Navy War Museum. Camping, boating, outdoor sports, and the museum are open during the warm weather months, generally after Memorial Day. There is a small admission charge to the State Park portion of the former military complex.
Highlighted portion of the map shows the area of New York State belived to have been included in the "Restricted Area" controlled by the United States government. Significant parts of this area has been returned to civilian public and private use but most is still under government control, much still Restricted. As with many such properties, environmental remediation is required before release for recovery and civilian use.
You'd be surprised! Photos were taken by an Allegheny Field Chemist. We are in this area frequently year around. When you drive along the beautiful Finger Lakes in New York State, one realizes why the environmental work done by Allegheny and others is so worthwhile and important.
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