Wompatuck State Park
Hingham, MA

History Wompatuck State Park is located near Route 3A in Norwell, Scituate, Hingham, and Cohasset. These abandoned buildings are located in the Hingham portion of the park. In 1941 the US Government purchased the property. From 1941 - 1965 it was used by the US Navy for mine production, munitions storage, and research and production of rocket engines. In 1967 most of the land was given to the state of Massachusetts. The US Army conducted munitions research and development on the remaining property until 1968. In 1971 the Navy transferred the property to the Army. From 1971 - 1982 the Army continued use the property for reserve training, administration, and vehicle maintenance. In 1985 the Army gave most of the remaining land (retaining 125 acres for themselves) to the state park. Detailed information on the disposal and cleanup of hazardous materials in the park is available from the EPA and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. These buildings don't appear to be a part of the area marked on the EPA's map of the park. Today The abandoned buildings in Wompatuck (that sill exist) include a train station, a large main building, a number of smaller buildings, and 3 or 4 wooden L-shaped structures. A few of the buildings have been buried, with only ventiliation pipes visible. Most of the train station's roof is gone. The section that still has a roof is boarded up. The building that was next to it (seen in the aerial photo) is gone, the site is covered with gravel. Most of the main building is boarded up (a few doorways have been "opened" by previous visitors). During our trip in June of '04, we noticed that someone had set fire to a few of the boarded up doors. At one time the state tried backfilling the buildings with sand to prevent people from entering. Those attempts are still visible. All of the smaller buildings are boarded up. - Muffin June 18, 2004

June 13, 2004 Aerial Photo Map Gallery