Honoring History Through Sustainability

The Deconstruction of the Hoosac Stores in the Charlestown Navy Yard

The Charlestown Navy Yard, established in Boston in 1800 as one of America’s original six naval shipyards, played a pivotal role in nearly two centuries of national defense. Chosen for its strategic location, deep-water access, and existing port infrastructure, the Yard contributed to U.S. military readiness during the War of 1812, the Civil War, and both World Wars, constructing and maintaining warships that helped shape the nation’s history.

The Hoosac Stores building, completed in 1895 by the Fitchburg Railroad, served as a wool storage warehouse at the gateway to the Yard. Its location next to Hoosac Docks was integral to Boston’s maritime-industrial economy, handling wool, grain, livestock, ice, and manufactured goods transferred between ships and trains. Over time, it also supported related industrial uses — from storing boilers and steel pipes to functioning as cold storage for the Schrafft candy company (1964–1967) and later for the Deran Confectionary Company. Despite these variations, the Hoosac Stores’ essential identity remained that of a warehouse.

Following the Navy Yard’s decommissioning in 1974, the building was acquired by the National Park Service (NPS) in 1981. While numerous proposals for adaptive reuse — such as a museum, visitor center, or mixed-use development — were considered, none came to fruition, and the Hoosac Stores have been unoccupied for over 40 years.

While the National Park Service is dedicated to preserving historic resources whenever feasible, the severe structural deterioration of the Hoosac Stores has made restoration impractical — leaving careful deconstruction as the most responsible way to honor its history and reclaim its valuable materials for future use.

Deconstruction vs. Demolition: Philosophy in Practice

• Deconstruction is the methodical dismantling of a structure to maximize materials salvage and recycling, as opposed to the rapid, indiscriminate destruction of conventional demolition. In the Hoosac Stores project, over 86% of materials — including more than 650 old-growth pine beams, steel, and brick — will be recovered for use by the NPS and partner projects.
• Demolition, by contrast, typically generates mixed debris destined for landfills and discards historically significant materials in the process.

The NPS approach prioritizes environmental stewardship and cultural respect, aligning with federal preservation policy under 36 CFR 67.6(b)(5), which encourages “soft demolition” where restoration is not feasible.

Why Warehouses Are Challenging to Reuse

The difficulty of finding a viable new use for the Hoosac Stores reflects broader challenges in repurposing historic warehouses:

1. Structural Layout & Light – Large, deep floor plates with limited windows make it hard to meet habitability codes requiring access to natural light.
2. Building Codes & Accessibility – Modern requirements for safety, energy efficiency, fire suppression, and accessibility require major upgrades that are costly and invasive.
3. Regulatory & Zoning Restrictions – Industrial zoning often conflicts with proposed new uses, requiring variances or zoning changes.
4. Financial Viability – Renovation costs can exceed new construction, particularly where the structural “bones” are compromised.

For the Hoosac Stores, these challenges, compounded by decades of vacancy, meant preservation was no longer feasible without disproportionate investment.

Next Steps for the Site

Today, the deconstruction work is ongoing. Take a walk down Constitution Road, and every day you can witness material being removed and the height of the building shrink little by little. Once that is complete, the site will be graded with gravel, fenced, and used for materials storage, while the Charlestown Navy Yard Master Development Strategy has identified this site for a new welcome center at this prime waterfront location. Salvaged materials from the Hoosac Stores will continue their legacy indirectly — incorporated into restoration projects and construction within the NPS network.

A Balanced Legacy

The removal of the Hoosac Stores is not the erasure of history but an evolution of stewardship. By recovering much of its fabric for reuse, documenting its place in the Yard’s story, and preparing the way for future public benefit, the National Park Service is demonstrating that preservation can take many forms, and that, when restoration is no longer viable, respectful deconstruction can honor the past while investing in the future.