Middleside Barracks, ex Fort Mills, on Corregidor

Middleside Barracks from fots2 05 2007 aerial view of the barracks

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Built in 1915, Middleside Barracks was a modern structure for its day. I have never seen any sort of blueprints for the barracks so I cannot label any locations or room functions. Toilets and showers are obvious. Only one room had any indication as to who was quartered there.

Today the state of the barracks ranges from reasonably intact to just rubble as you will see in the following photos. The top floor is quite dangerous in places and you certainly have to exercise caution there. The day tour buses stop at the roadside but no one is allowed near the buildings. I would say a project about three years ago to reinforce fragile areas has been quite successful. Even a strong typhoon a few months ago did no damage that I am aware of.

In the rainy season the buildings look dark grey with moss in some areas. In the dry season they look light grey/yellowish. Some photos are from past trips however most were taken just last week.

The main reason establishing this album is to host pictures in the Corregidor forum, to replace the originals there, because they were watermarked by Photobucket. The vast majority of the pictures was shot or was collected by John Moffitt who uses “fots2” as his forum name.

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Middleside Barracks fots 01 description

Middleside Barracks fots 02 pre war

Middleside Barracks fots 03 1945 view of Middleside. The two barracks are in the foreground and the large building middle left was the Army Service Club (YMCA).

Middleside Barracks fots 04 1962 aerial view of the barracks. (courtesy chadhill).

Middleside Barracks fots 05 2007 aerial view of the barracks

Middleside Barracks fots 06 2007 aerial view of the west side barracks

Middleside Barracks fots 07 2007 aerial view of the east side barracks

Middleside Barracks fots 08 2007 wide view. Near top right is James Ravine on the north coast. Top left is the Fort Mills Hospital.

Middleside Barracks fots 09 2006 pre clean-up and reinforcement view.

Middleside Barracks fots 10 2006 pre clean-up and reinforcement view.

Middleside Barracks fots 11 2006 pre clean-up and reinforcement view.

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THE FINE WORKS OF FOTS2 CONTINUES (JOHN MOFFITT)

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Middleside Barracks fots 12 2010 photo taken from beside the barracks of the road going up to Topside.

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Middleside Barracks fots 16 You can see some of the metal reinforcement here.

Middleside Barracks fots 17 The road to Topside passes by the top of the steps. At the bottom of the steps was a walkway over to the third floor of the barracks.

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Middleside Barracks fots 31 The faded lettering says “Battery D 91st CA (PS)”

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John Moffitt’s fine work continues

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Middleside Barracks fots 32 Japanese writing on the wall.

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Middleside Barracks fots 34 Look at this damaged wall. This must be an example of the “prefabricated and modular metal lathe reinforcements” construction method used for these buildings.

Middleside Barracks fots 35 Close-up view of a prefab wall.

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Middleside Barracks fots 45 Roof top bomb hole. Note the recent metal reinforcement in some of these photos. When you look at the work up close you can see that they did a great job.