Fort Ord, Soldiers' Club, California State Highway 1 near Eighth Street, Seaside, Monterey County, CA

Significance: Stilwell Hall was the largest soldiers' club constructed in the west. It was also one of the last Works Progress Administration (WPA) buildings to be built and was noted for its collection of WPA art (now removed). The relationship between the Army and the WPA was unique because of the size and scope of the building that was constructed and was the only known Army club built with WPA funding. The building design, in Mission Revival style represents an attempt to incorporate the historic Monterey style of architecture into the design of a recent structure. The fact that Major General Joseph W. Stilwell, commander of the 7th Infantry Division at Fort Ord from 1940 to 1941 and III Corps from 1941 to 1942, directed the construction of the building is a testament to Stilwell's devotion to the common soldier. In the years since its construction, Stilwell Hall has been a prominent local landmark and a place where soldiers and the community could hold social events and other activities.
Survey number: HABS CA-2701-A
Building/structure dates: 1943 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1978 Subsequent Work