Exploring the Eleuthera NAVFAC always piques my interest as I love all things macabre. The first few times I ventured through I was merely trying to find the main beach in front of the massive parking lot, but on subsequent visits I became fascinated with the native art that was deemed to be Santeria. Now, I don’t know if it is or isn’t, but it is pretty weird. The fact that most of the art can be found in the building that used to be the chapel also makes the walk through the building just a bit more creepy, as if something will jump out at you (besides one of the goats!) at every turn of a corner. Enjoy a smattering of my photos from my journey through the chapel in 2019. For a brief history of the facility, read on.
READ MOREThe Eleuthera, Bahamas facility was officially commissioned on September 1, 1957. There were 150 officers and enlisted men plus 45 Bahamians. Much of the work detail was related to transportation and communication, and it was said that its main mission was to interecept foreign communications from vessels above and below the ocean that traveled near the Eleutheran shores. Eleuthera made history June 30, 1970 by being the first facility to employ women in oceanographic research. NAVFAC Eleuthera was decommissioned March 31, 1980 after 23 years of service.
For some additional history on the area make sure to check out this interesting read from Project Eleuthera.
Note: As per the first comment from Chuck Miller (thanks Chuck!), I have added some photos of the catchment basin and my car hovering precariously above the last slab of cement.
Be sure to Like and Share our Facebook page by clicking below.
25 Comments
That is not a parking lot but a catchment basin for water. When the base was active there was no available water so we caught rain water and treated it
Thanks for this interesting information! I’ve added several pictures of the basin so that people can see what you are referring to. When I first arrived I didn’t realize that the slab that I had parked on had nothing below it to support it.
You mentioned the building with the “art” along the walls of the chapel… well, the building was originally a host of several different rooms. For instance, the top floor were barracks, as the ground floor was home to an arts and crafts room – a popular site for dependents to create ceramics. The post office also stood. As years went by the library moved in. And I remember as the base came to it’s final years….I believe 3 years before it closed… the Armed Forces Television set-up shop in the building as well. The Chapel was moved to the building less than a year before the base closed.
Hello Soren – I was stationed there as a seabee in 1979 – your name is familiar and perhaps I even knew some of your family if you were there at the same time ? Do you happen to know who now owns all that land ?
I was there… my dad, Capt Roger E Carlson, was the CO.. I have two sisters. Karen. and Lisa. Now do you remember?
Thanks for this Bret! We’ve only explored the base briefly and I certainly want to explore more when we are able to return. Heard rumor a while back that somewhere in one of the buildings is a box of old Eleuthera license plates. Any info/sightings on that? We did not venture too close to the edge of the parking lot. I don’t think Big Daddy’s would have been happy had the rental gone off the edge 🙂
I couldn’t tell you about Eleuthera license plates there. If they are there then I’ve never found them. I haven’t really done an in depth exploration of the property. I visited various buildings, but didn’t really know what I was looking for. I learned more about things by watching other people’s videos. The one that I thought was real neat was the guy who found the old canned water – still intact! Now, with Philautia taking over the property I expect that the whole thing will get razed in the very near future.
My name is Dale Wos and I was attached to NAVFAC Eleuthera from 9-65 until 11-67. I worked in the T-bldg. as a watch stander.
We had one very exciting event. Since we worked in a security area, the person assigned to answer the gate and let people in wore
a .45 caliber pistol. Well one evening during the watch the pistol was on the watch supervisors desk and somehow went off!!!!
Needless to say that firearm makes a very loud noise indoors. If any of you were there and remember that incident please contact me.
hi Dale, this is Rolf Schmieder yeoman and supervisor of comm team. do you remember me. just found your name on this site
Hello Rolf, when were you on Eleuthera?
i was there in 1966-68 you were also there at the same time. i worked comm not the front office., Was there when we had a goat in the compound of the E building and had a sub drop off a sailor that had issues metally.
Hi Rolf, I am pretty sure I remember you. A lot of years have passed and sometimes my memory gets sort of foggy. I ended up stay on on Eleuthera for 2 and one half years. (long story) My next duty station was Keflavik, Iceland. That was quite an experience. After Iceland for one year I got out. I have lots of memories of my time in the Navy and think of those days often. Hope to hear from you soon. my e-mail is
(woski.46 @comcast.net ) don’t forget the dot after woski
Happened more than once!
Very cool article! I was a little kid at the time but I remember when the WAVES (female military personel) first came to the base in 1970. It caused quite a lot of upset with some of the wives of the enlisted men and officers stationed there. They didn’t want their husbands working with women Oh my gosh! We like to never hear the end of it! My mom invited some of the WAVES to our home for dinner because they were not treated very well nor initially accepted by the base community. The stories these women told were fascinating. They were true pioneers.
Hi, I was one of the first 11 Waves to be stationed at Eleuthera. It was in April 1972. We were the first enlisted females to be given sea duty and hazardous duty in the Navy.
I believe my dad was stationed on the base we left around 1976. Last name was Gregovich.
in and I remember GMG1 Gregovich. I was stationed there Feb 73 to Jan 76 in he admin bldg. How and where is he nowadays.
well i have to say all the pics r really nice i was just a kid back then but my step dad was the comanding officer from mid 74 to 77 we were there for 2 and half years i used to do ceramics in the arts and crafts building i guess the tennies courts got wiped out . my step dad was comander D.E. kuehler
Hey Keith—Dave Schrader here—Was there the same time you were–dated your sister Miki for quite a while—Lots of memories from that time—Wow this is really weird
I was there on the AT/AX Pilot Program 9/67-9/69
I was stationed in Eleuthera from April 1972 to November 1973 when my enlistment in the Navy was completed. I was in charge of Special Services during my stay there. My wife was a teacher in the base school and we both did ceramics in the crafts area. We actually lived off base in the Hatchet Bay area.
I also lived off base in the Hatchet Bay area. I was 11 and my dad was the commander on the USAF Base. I loved living there. I went to school in the area a little red school house. I so much fun with out tv, phones etc. We would go down to the bay where the boats came in through a cut out to the Yacht Club. As far as I know it is no longer there. I use to walk up the hill and sit on the docks. Would love to see some pictures if anyone has any. Planning on visiting end of year or beginning of 2024.
I was stationed at NAVFAC Eleuthera from Jan 1959 to March 1960. I worked in the T bldg. I lived in the barracks until my wife joined me then we lived off base in Governors Harbor. When my wife became pregnant, she left the island for medical reasons. I moved back into the barracks until my enlistment was up and then I went to Jacksonville Naval Air Station to re-enlist as there was no doctor on the island to give me a physical.
I arrived at US Naval Facility Eleuthera, Bah. in early February 1970 and left in August 1972. I was stationed in the admin office in the T-Building, and was a 3rd class Communication Office. my job included typing, document filing, messenger, coffee making, and whatever task I was given. My shipmates were top shelf, the work was easy, and the island was a tropical delight!
I was stationed there in 79-80. My time was cut short there but of all the places in the world I’ve been Eleuthera is hands down my favorite. I have lots of pictures of the base and personnel from that period being that I was also the unofficial command photographer. I also worked in the darkroom at what I think was called the special services building.