In March 1993, when Camp Evans’ closing was announced, Fred Carl began an effort to save Camp Evans in Wall Township, a part of Ft. Monmouth by transforming Camp Evans into a Science Education Center. In 1998, it was incorporated as a not-for-profit – Information Learning Center/ InfoAge Science History Center with a web site www.InfoAge.org .
Carl, who is a graduate of Ocean Township High School and Monmouth University, will be the guest speaker at Men’s Day Oct. 11 at St. Augustine Church in Asbury Park. The public is invited to the 9 a.m. service.
Carl successfully defended an application to create this 37 acre Camp Evans into a Historic District and had it added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 2009, InfoAge, was one of only 11 non profits organizations in the nation to be so designated.
As guest speaker for Men’s Day, he will talk about the many technical contributions of African-American, Army Signal Corp Civil Service employees working in the Camp Evans area prior to, during and after WWII. They helped developed RADAR, contacting the Moon via RADAR, anti-jamming technology, nuclear test monitoring equipment, satellite communication technology, etc. There were mathematicians, engineers, physicists, technicians, and support personnel working on these difficult tasks. Some of these talented individuals include: Dr Walter McAfee, Bill Townes, Tommy Daniels, Harold Tate and William Jones. Prior to WWII, the Government built the Grant Housing Area in Long Branch to accommodate Black professionals recruited throughout the country. Some individuals encountered discrimination while employed and living in the Ft Monmouth area.
Exerts from an award winning DVD documentary entitled “No Short Climb: “Race Workers and American’s Defense Technology” by Professor Robert Johnson, Jr. will be shown after the service. The documentary covers the periods before, during and after WWII at Camp Evans. It tells of the many successes and struggles of African-American government employees.
Carl was born in Neptune. He has a bachelors degree in Science Education and an MS in Computer Science. He is currently employed by Micro Strategies, Denville.
