NAS Chase Field-Building 1009
Also known as: Enlisted WAVES Barracks
Why it's listed
Building 1009 is a two-story, wood-frame barracks at the former Naval Air Station Chase Field in Beeville, Texas. Built during World War II, it housed enlisted women serving in the Navy's WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). Robert & Company, an Atlanta-based engineering firm with a Corpus Christi office, designed it along with four similar barracks and most other wartime construction at the base. It is the only barracks from that first building phase still standing. The plain, utilitarian structure has a flat roof, galbestos siding and a concrete foundation. The Navy converted it to supply storage in 1954 and to offices about seven years later, and it served that purpose until the base closed in 1993. Its importance lies in its connection to women's wartime service. At Chase Field, WAVES operated flight simulators and held clerical and administrative posts, freeing men for combat and technical duties. The building was designed specifically for women, with partitions in the latrines, and is a rare surviving example of that approach.
Significance in brief: It is the only surviving barracks from the initial World War II construction at NAS Chase Field and was built specifically for enlisted women of the Navy's WAVES. The form argues it is a rare tangible link to women's contributions to the war effort and to the base's flight-training mission. Its significance rests on historical associations rather than architectural distinction.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 94000051, listed February 23, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Essex St. 0.68 mi. SSE of the jct. of TX 202 and Independence St., Beeville |
|---|---|
| County | Bee County |
| Listed | February 23, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000051 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1943-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Robert & Company/Brown Bellows & Columbia |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant/not in use; used as offices until the base closed in 1993. The form describes the building as in good condition in one place and as deteriorating in another. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.37257, -97.66084 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 94000051.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001191
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.