From Ohio's inventory manual, entitled (yawn) HOW TO COMPLETE THE OHIO
HISTORIC INVENTORY:

"The Quonset, characterized by its distinctive semicylindrical form, is a
prefabricated building type noted for its economy and utility.  First
constructed in 1942 for the U.S. Navy at Quonset Point Naval Air Station in
Davisville, Rhode Island, Quonset huts became the prototypical military
building type during World War II.  A Quonset had a steel alloy arch-rib
frame that supported a skin of corrugated metal sheets.  Typically, the
steel frame measured 20 feet by 56 feet and was bolted to a concrete
foundation.  The factory-made Quonset was readily adapted to many uses on
the farm.  Advertisement in THE OHIO FARMER during the late 1940s touted
its fireproof, rat proof, and sag proof qualities.  The George A. Fuller
Company first designed the Quonset; the Stran-Steel Division of the Great
Lakes Steel Corporation of the Detroit was the principal manufacturer."

Hope this helps.

Maura
At 10:35 AM 6/8/99 -0500, Barbara Mitchell wrote:
>We may have tackled this issue before, but I can't seem to get into the BP
archives on the InterNOT right now...
>
>Does anyone have some quick facts on Quonset Huts in their files (i.e.
first use, dates, early manufacturers, et cetera)?
>
>Desperately seeking the recent past...
>Barbara