The cool November and December weather had the Bunker Busters moving inside, concentrating their renovation and restoration efforts on a number of indoor projects in Battery 519 and the former Battery Smith bunker (now the FMHA workshop). These projects will help FMHA and Delaware State Parks prepare for the annual “Delaware Goes to War” event to be held April 25, 2020. So what have the Bunker Busters been up to?


Battery 519 

The Maintenance Room has undergone an entire renovation. We began by adding a number of improvements to the ramp leading to the North Powder Room in compliance with Americans With Disabilities Act (“ADA”). We also reorganized and built a separate enclosure to store our tools and added new cabinets to our kitchen area. Next step is to paint the walls and add some furniture and curtains so the room can be used as an event/pre-wedding gathering area. 

In the North Powder Room, our electric team has added additional outlets along all four walls supporting current and future exhibits. Every exhibit has been cleaned, inspected, and, if required, repaired. The Diorama, which was severely damaged this summer, is now enclosed in a plexiglass case for added protection. The Diorama is also being modified to include a story board describing the various batteries and towers. A number of the exhibits have been moved to different rooms, and we’ve rearranged the remaining exhibits along major story / theme lines. Next step is a fresh coat of paint for the walls. Then a separate team will be adding some new exhibits in time for the April Event. 

In the Art Gallery, we have added lights to all of the model display cases and have assisted the Gallery staff in the rehanging and displaying of selected artwork. We’ve also dusted and repaired, as necessary, some of the ship models. 

The Men’s Bathroom stalls have been enclosed for privacy, handrails added in compliance with ADA requirements, and we are now in the process of building an additional storage cabinet. 

We’ve also been busy in the Museum Gift Shop. We added another 12’ of display wall panels and additional electric outlets to display our products. One Bunker Buster team has completed building Tower Lights, and now a second team is in the process of making additional Tower Bird Feeders. By February, the shelves will be stocked with fresh merchandise. 

Cantonment Area 

The Barracks restoration work is progressing nicely. If you were walking through the area between September and November, you probably saw the scoffing, ladders, fenced off areas, and heard the sound of saws and hammers. Well…that was the Bunker Busters busy at work. Prior to Thanksgiving, we were able to seal all thirteen barracks chimneys, replace over 48 broken or cracked interior roofing struts, and replace all twelve exterior end roof rafters. With the help of the Cape Henlopen High School JROTC Cadets, we were also able to caulk and paint barrack windows. In another two or three months, we’ll be outside again scrapping the exterior roof soffits. 

Smith Workshop 

Although the Bunker is not open to the public, this is the area where the majority of our restoration activities and building activities occur. The Bunker, which housed two 16” artillery guns during WWII is larger than Battery 519 and includes a wood, metal, machine, tool, paint, electrical and parts shops, and a number of storage and artifact rooms. Usually you can find 10 to 15 Bunker Busters working somewhere in the Bunker every Thursday. And here’s what they’ve been doing: 

  • The Diorama story board that was mentioned above was built here, as were the Tower Lights, Bird Feeders, and bathroom stall doors. 
  • We’ve built and painted a number of replacement window frames and windows for the Cantonment area. Just waiting for some warmer weather before we remove and replace the rotten ones. 
  • Our metal team just completed fabricating a 24’ metal swing gate for our the Dune Road entrance leading to our new parking lot. We intend to install the gate shortly. 
  • The metal team also built two replica 8’x9’ metal doors for the Smith Plotting Room Bunker. Currently the doors are for security purposes, but our intention is to begin clearing and preparing this and other bunkers for occasional public tours. 
  • There is a dedicated team working to improve our golf carts by adding strobe lights and horns, replacing cracked windshields, and improving the seating. 
  • With the help of the Cape JROTC Cadets, we cleared and reorganized the former South Gun Room. This will provide the Park with additional space to store their equipment over the winter and additional space for us to work on large restoration and new build projects. 
  • Lastly, after 20+ years we now have a working bathroom in Smith. This was a major project that lasted ten months requiring the demolition of the former bathroom facility; the addition of over 200’ of new water lines; the restoration and reinstallation of five toilets, three urinals, three sinks, and the old plumbing valves; replacement of the electric circuits supporting a new water heater and interior lighting; and the scrapping, scrubbing, power washing, and painting of the entire bathroom facility. The Cape JROTC Cadets also helped us with this major renovation. 

It’s been a busy three months and there is no doubt that the coming months will just as busy.