KEYPORT — Since its inception during World War II, the military installation at Keyport has seen numerous changes.

Now as the former torpedo factory prepares for redevelopment, officials are working to preserve its industrial heritage.

Oral histories from former workers at the installation are being collected to document what took place in various buildings, said Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport public affairs officer Diane Jennings.

“They would like to have about half a dozen oral histories from anyone who worked in the buildings,” Jennings said.

One of the goals is to speak with employees who worked in the buildings from the earliest dates possible, she said.

Parts of the base are considered a historical district by the Washington State Historical Preservation Officer, and for that reason, officials are required to create oral histories and document what occurred in those buildings, Jennings said.

Many of the buildings involved in the documentation are slated for demolition as Keyport upgrades its facilities, said NUWC Keyport planner Glenda Wilson.

“We’re looking for what drove the changes and to document how the building was used to accomplish the mission,” Wilson said.

Even though officials would be delighted to hear from people who worked at the facility in the 1940s, they are also looking for anyone who worked there into the 1990s, she said.

“We want to know what they did and what changes they saw to the facility,” Wilson said.

Navy officials are taking names of former employees and a consultant, which is working on the project, will be contacting them, she said.

“We’re hoping to get all of this done within the next four months,” Wilson said.

While the project isn’t directly related to the Poulsbo Historical Society, PHS curator Erica Varga said it is important to preserve the base’s history.

“If you can’t preserve the building, it’s the next best thing,” Varga said. “It’s important for people to know what happened, who built it.”

The documentation should allow future generations to know and understand the history of those parts of the base, which would otherwise be lost once the buildings are removed, Varga said.

Those interested in contributing to the project should call Wilson at (360) 396-5895.