Evidence of a German POW Camp from World War 2. There were over 500 in the US, here's the Story.

[@bonnielitts4528]

Back in 1985, I was visiting my brother who was in the USAF in Germany. We were driving through a vineyard and encountered the owner of the vineyard. He had been a POW in Fort Custer in my hometown of Battle Creek, MI. He told us how he had been treated with so much kindness. He had been looking all those years for someone from Battle Creek to thank them for the treatment he and his fellow countrymen received. It was the first time I knew that Fort Custer had housed German POWs. So this video has been very interesting to me. Thanks for posting.

[@joemeredith7665]

I’ve lived in Michigan all my life and I never knew about this PW camp. This was a great video, very informative.

[@davidtimmermann7226]

My father was considered an Enemy Alien, grew up in western Wayne county. He was a carpenter and worked on several government projects including the Romulus camp and the Fort Custer camp. One camp had older more mature prisoners while the other had younger kids. My great aunt would get on a train in Detroit and travel to Virginia to visit cousins that were being held there. My father turned 100 this past June, became a citizen in 1945 when he turned 21.

[@bobbondi7191]

When I was in high school in Kalamazoo in 1961, three or four of us adventuresome young lads would often go up to Allegan forest to camp. I recall exploring what was left of the old war camp. At that time, it was all open and the remnants of the old buildings could still be explored. That area sure has returned to nature. Also, at Fort Custer National Cemetery, are buried several German soldiers, some who died when the truck they were riding in was struck at a crossing by a train.

[@fjkennedy]

I’m from North Ontario (Blind River). When I was in grade school we took a class trip to a POW camp in Espanola ON. What amazed me about the experience was a map that was painted on the wall of the towns paper 📝 mill. You make incredible videos thank you. FJK

[@mikeskidmore6754]

I have read about POW Camps in IA ect.. they had the German Soldiers working on Farms. Many of them were great full to not be in the War. Many formed life long friendships with their host Farm Families .

[@claudestewart5465]

We have evidence in Caro too. My dad told me years ago that the barbed wire on the fence tops pointed in. That was so the WWII prisoners couldn't get out. It's the fair grounds now.

[@brianlundsr1489]

Fremont, MI also held German POW's and put them to work for Dan Gerber's Fremont Canning Company, which later became Gerber Baby Foods.

[@dougroberts2722]

My grandfather had German POW’s pick fruit on his little farm near Spring Grove, south of Fennville, east of Glenn.

[@brucedenniston5167]

Some of those prisoners worked on my grandparents' farm. One even returned with his brother and still worked on the farm seasonally when I was a kid. I just remember him as Joe. He was friendly, nice and loved powdered donuts that he always shared with us kids.

[@okboomer6201]

We had a POW camp in Battle Creek at Ft. Custer. I had the pleasure of meeting an elderly man in his late 80s. (Now deceased). He was 17 years old when he was inducted into the German army. German soldiers showed up one afternoon at the farm where he lived with his parents and his siblings, and forcefully took him. Three days later he was shot by the US Army, placed on a ship to New York, and then a train to the hospital at Fort Custer in Battle Creek. His convalescence took several months. He and the young nurse that was caring for him fell in love. The war ended just after his 18th birthday. They were married, and had five children. He workd at the Kellogg's cerial factory for his entire life, until his retirement. He put all five of his children through college on his Kellogg's wages, and they all lived successful lives. He never returned to Germany, and has no idea what became of his family. He was from a region which was controlled by Russia after the war.

[@tommydee5928]

❤❤ Thanks for the work you two are putting into all these tales of the Great State of Michigan .Keep it up .passing them along is fun all.. liked & subcribed ..

[@Kal-zo5ym]

POWs from Allegan worked on my Grandfathers farm. One of the POWs named Otto was able to stay and work for him for many years after the war.

[@JeffGraves-pq2yc]

My father 17:30 was a MP also cook at the pow camp. He would walk to Allegan where he met my mom. My father was from Plattsburgh NY. They married and stayed in Allegan. My father became friends withe the Germans. One actually came to Mich and meet up with my dad.

[@jameskietzer1960]

@@Kal-zo5ym What kind of farm was it?

[@elainesrottenbottom296]

I can't get enough of this channel! Why didn't we learn this stuff in school?

[@RestlessViking]

You are appreciated! I guess school is just a starting point for learning. (And honestly, if you were an elementary student of Poppins', you would have learned a lot of interesting stuff!) For us, the learning started after a few teachers sparked our curiosity. Their inspiration was way more important than "what" they taught. Thankfully, there are those teachers!

[@j.r.9238]

My wife and I moved to Allegan in 1980. The Allegan librarian was friends to an ex-PW that emigrated back to Allegan with his wife and bought a farm. The Allegan pistol team had range in one of the barracks. (I only remember seeing one barrack.) FYI, two miles north of PW camp was the FCC's Allegan Monitoring Station that was actively engaged in wartime radio intelligence. There was talk of a Japanese internment camp that was proposed to be located in the area, but it doesn't appear to have materialized. (K9SE)

[@johngorentz6409]

In the 80s, when we were new in Michigan, there would be occasional stories in the Battle Creek Enquirer of former POWs who came back to visit people they had got to know in Michigan, often the farmers where they had worked. But as time went on there were fewer and fewer who were able to do that kind of travel.

[@MarkK-w8v]

I grew up on a muck farm in Pullman. I remember a day when an older fella stopped by and said my Grandpa had bought the place from his family. He said he remembered in the 40’s having German POW’s working the farm under guard. Thank you for completing a small piece of my own history.

[@CCM2361-]

Many of the young German soldiers grew up on farms so they knew what to do. They were natural farm hands to replace our guys who were away in the war. I live about 10 minutes from the old Owosso POW camp. Quite a few of the German & Italian POW's held here in Michigan came back to the US as soon as they could. I grew up in the Detroit area in the 60's & 70's. There were a lot of German & Italian families there.

[@kkuenzel56]

These are great stories! Thank you for sharing them!

[@thunderman77]

I respect your diligence in digging up the history, pictures and maps in this production. Thank you so much.

[@mikebruno829]

Here in Door County Wisconsin, some POWS returned to live several years after the war because of their fond memories of living here safely ensconced in the heart of America during a time of war. We are a lovely and kind country.

[@ericscottstevens]

Certain POWs petitioned to stay after WWII. They were denied a stay and had to go to back to Germany dressed in surplus US Army clothes. Then they returned if they had connections to the communities across America.

[@marypasco2213]

@@ericscottstevens - Another of those POW camps is in Owosso, Mi., at what is now the race track on M-21 West of town.

[@marypasco2213]

And many of the German prisoners were terrified of being captured because they had been told, by the higher-ups, that they would be tortured(just like the higher-ups were doing to the Jews, Polish, Romani...). When they got here, nothing of the kind was being done to them.

[@WeldorLife]

an interesting story i knew nothing about, thanks for it, enjoyed it.

[@Grumpyoldman037]

I had no idea that POW's were kept in Michigan. I live in Battle Creek, so I think I will be looking into the history of Camp Custer a little more. Thank you for this story.

[@RestlessViking]

You're Welcome!

[@april906outdoors3]

If you haven’t already, check out Ft.Custer National Cemetery - there’s an entire section for German soldiers. Having names might help with your research.

[@boe4448]

RV. Thank you for teaching me history. I grew up by Caro and didn't know any of this. I now live in AZ and did know there were Japanese POW camps here. Keep up the good work. Boe

[@freetime4051]

I never knew we had POW camps in Michigan. Always learning something new about Michigan. Enjoy your videos. Thanks again....Pete

[@BobSchaar]

There was also a POW camp located on the property where the Owosso Speedway currently sits.

[@Mark-pp7jy]

Yes, right on M21. Ovid, Michigan.

[@LumpyinAZ]

German PWs worked at the fruit cannery next to the Black River in South Haven.

[@owenjones8608]

my grandfather was brought up from West Virginia to Pearl Mi. by the US Army to help set up oil production in Michigan. He later served in the European theater in the Battle of the Bulge. Pearl was located in Alleagan county north of Pullman but is now wiped off the map

[@hermanreid]

POWs also worked at the Heinz plant in Holland.

[@hermanreid]

Oh, hadn't gotten that far in the video yet!

[@Jsintuitioncheckincongregation]

Crossville Tennessee has a Japanese camp off of us 70 old Jamestown hwy...only a chimney now and a kids camp

[@shellyR7151]

I didn't realize how many there were in Michigan...again learning more from you both about our state then in school..safe travels..love ya both..💜

[@vincentspione]

Nice job. I had the good fortune to have researched POW camps in the US from 1980 - 2000. I worked with Prof. Arnols Kramer and met and interview many former German, Italian, Yugoslav a POWs as well as many Americans. I interviewed some of the crew of the U 505, U 234 and members of the task force that captured them. It was an eye opening experience and one that taught me about how good the American way is. Yes, over 500K POWs from many countries that fought with the Axis powers. Few Japanese though. The camps with 500 of less were generally branch camps of a larger one. My focus was primarily Camp Ruston in Louisiana and its branch camps. Thanks again.

[@yoimstewy]

I really enjoy learning about history in Michigan such cool adventures you two go on.

[@Bryan-sm1bx]

I live north of there in the Hamilton area. I drive by there all the time. My family farmed in Coloma where there was another camp. I have photos of the POWs working on the farm.

[@tsmi5807]

Freeland Mi has a center town building, it was long , just one story, it was built to house POWs in this agricultural area. Caro Mi, has a parkside set of buildings, where German POWs were housed to enhance labor availability in that agricultural community.

[@gwarfle]

You mentioned Ft Custer. The barracks we stayed in there 30 some years ago were supposed to be the same ones German POWs used. Also, there was a sand table/diorama of the training area the instructors used that was made by the POWs!

[@RestlessViking]

I stayed and trained in those same barracks a little over 30 years ago. It was quite possible they did stay there. I don't remember the sand table however. Interesting.

[@alanchambers8762]

Camp Perry near Toledo also housed pows. Some of the buildings are preserved.

[@rickahlberg7020]

I'm always amazed by your research and insights into the various historical events in Michigan and other locations. Thank you again for sharing with us your thoughtful, educational and enjoyable journey! God Bless!

[@RestlessViking]

Welcome!

[@BushMaster074]

Twin City Foods in Lake Odessa Michigan was a POW camp during WWII, there are still messages in German on one of the walls with dates in the warehouse.

[@scottgordon954]

When I lived in Sault Ste. Marie we used to go out to ride Dirt Bikes in the Raco area. That is where I first found out that there had been POW camps in Michigan. There was a small store that was run by two older sisters. We stopped there every weekend and usually spent time talking with them about the area. Their family had owned and run the store during the time the POW camp was in operation. They had some great stories about the Germans that were being held there. Every morning they would walk by headed to the woods for work detail, and in the evening walk back to the camp. The Guards would let the prisoners who wanted to spend some of their money they had earned to stop in the store and buy stuff. The sisters said that at the end of the war there were quite a few that did not want to go back to Germany, and that several had made their way back to the area after a few years to live and raise families.

[@RestlessViking]

Thanks for sharing that!

[@robertw.anderson6102]

I lived in Marquette for a while before moving back to Petoskey. And I had never heard fo Raco before (even my computer is confused, it wants to make that name Racoon).

[@pdoylemi]

My step father was a Sergeant in charge of a motor pool at a fort in the south. In 1941 he was in charge of 5 mechanics and one clerk - all US Army. By 1944, he was the only American in the motor pool. His mother was a German immigrant and he spoke German well, and as the war progressed the Americans were sent overseas and replaced with POWs once there were some.

[@springrain9438]

So extremely excited to find your channel!! Thank you!!

[@johnhart125]

As a Michigan derived and a history addict, I love this channel. Driving backroads with fishing rod and metal detector are my hobbies now

[@ThomasTalbotMD]

Great history. I knew about German PW Camps but not about any in Michigan. How cool!

[@DarkShadowCustoms]

I have seen the camp on maps, but have never went to visit it. I might have to check it out after work one morning since I work in Allegan.

[@jameskietzer1960]

In Hartford. POWS worked for several fruit farmers also. After the war former POWS returned to settle in southwest Michigan.

[@scottberry5266]

Shelby mi up near silver lake had a pow camp also. The pillars where the gates were are still there. It’s now Shelby high school. Some of the prisoners were let out to work for farmers in the area. After the war, many prisoners returned to Oceania county and started their lives over as Americans.

[@andrewfavot763]

I had no clue we took PoWs in the Great Lake State, gonna check out every camp I can for sure! I mean how couldn't you!? It's WW2 right here at home.

[@susiscott4968]

One of my uncle’s worked with the CCC logging in Grayling.

[@RickImus]

Bowmanville, Ontario had a German POW Camp (Camp 30). Check on the video on Canadiana.

[@philcumings9436]

My father shared with me that we had a POW camp in Sparta Michigan. Kind of on the east edge of town. And I believe that the prisoners would work some of the local farms and fruit Farms since we have a huge fruit ridge west of Sparta. There is information about this at Sparta historical museum. I also heard that of the prisoners ended up staying after the war to raise families here.

[@joyboy19741]

Hello there! I used to live right around the corner from the site through my highschool years.....Over by pine point... Before we knew it as the prisoner of war camp, there were many teenage parties had in that area lol

[@paulbrandon5735]

50 years ago I had a fraternity brother in Indiana whose dad was a POW housed in Ft Wayne. The camp there was ran very loosely, letting the men , who were not Nazis, work at numerous jobs in the Ft Wayne area. It was there where a young German man named Miller, met a beautiful local girl ( who happened to be of German ancestry herself) After the war he was sent home to Germany, only to return the next year where he married that young girl, and settling in Ft Wayne. Five years later, my friend was born. And they are still there, four generations later.

[@nimroddiaries_]

Great video guys. An old timer friend said he remembers going to the camp as a summer camp after the POW's were sent home. Also claimed there was part of the camp on the west side of 42nd. I haven't been able to find any signs. Any one interested the book: Michigan POW Camps in World War II by Gregory Sumner is a decent read about these camps around our state.

[@jerryodell1168]

Reference your early comment about the CCC: The USA could use a form of CCC today. There are so many young people who are drifting with no idea of what they want to do in the future. Several of my Uncles were in the pre-WW2 CCC and learned so much that made their lives to be the most wonderful people. They were not only a benefit to Themselves, their Family, but to the entire community and the USA.

[@RestlessViking]

Agreed. Though some would say "AmeriCorps" or even the military fulfills that need. Personally, the military did many great things for me as a young man - most could be considered "tough lessons", but I learned a lot. . . quickly. My perspective and confidence changed a lot. It was a very important time in my life; probably much the same as your Uncles. The CCC seemed to have really good timing during the depression with so many that were unemployed.

[@jerryodell1168]

@@RestlessViking Agree, the Military teaches a lot of worthwhile information. I was in the US Navy for many years. (USS Canberra CAG-2, USS Dahlgren DLG-12, and USS Jouett CG-29, and several Naval stations on both East and West coasts and Great Lakes)

[@padillas4357]

My grandfather worked in the CCC. They sure did plant those trees in some amazingly straight rows!

[@doyleowens7685]

Always learn something from your videos. Thank you

[@wayne-wango-wever8393]

In Fremont Mi there was a POW camp where they had a farm camp for Gerber Canning Co. . My Grandfather was an interpreter at the camp when he worked for Gerber. At the end of the war a lot of the prisoners didn't want to go back to Germany.

[@davidrobbins5793]

This was fascinating. My wife was relaying that we had POW up in the UP as well. Seems so different from the Michigan we live in today. After 80 years nature has reclaimed that campground. Pretty amazing.

[@michaelmayrend313]

A similar camp was in the Port Huron area of Michigan.

[@jumperjosh1732]

I really appreciate you touching on this! I too, am a realist… and you are correct, we will get through.. it’s the process that makes me nervous! Stay safe y’all!

[@LisaHouserman]

I adore this channel. You do the most interesting things. Thank you.

[@davidpierce3386]

Thanks for the history lesson.

[@ripperwrestling6587]

There is a building on Salzburg Rd. in Bay City that used to house German POW's, it was built in 1915 as a triple net lease housing Bay City Bank.

[@etchersplace]

My Grandpa used to guard the prisoners there. Some were really nice and decided to stay.

[@stephenlabbe8715]

Fort Custer (between the village of Augusta & Battle Creek ) "hosted quite a few Germam POWs. They could work with local farmers & make a very small amount of $. Currently part of the base is a military training site & much of what was left is now a military cemetery. Seven POWs were killed on their way back to the fort. Some of the barracks were constructed in WW1 and are still there. Fortunately they have rehabilitated.

[@jafinch78]

I think Fort Custer was the Wardens for the POWs or whatever is termed in the chain of custody for the POWs. There were quite a few POW camps throughout the state of Michigan. When I researched for a period, I found some seemed to have been not documented or maybe classified?

[@doughill5311]

Great story! Well done. My dad was on B-26 Marauder air crew in WWII. He decided that he wanted to be buried at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. I remember visiting there with him before he died and upon determining that his most likely final resting place would be a short distance from where the German PW's who died here were buried, the irony was very powerful to both of us. Thanks again for a valuable story.

[@jonbrzycki2593]

My grandfather is also buried at fort Custer, he fought at pearl harbor and in the south Pacific

[@robinnowak1682]

So glad I found your channel ❤ Tom and I live in Allegan and he has taken me to that spot in the Allegan Forest. He knows lots of great spots along the Lakeshore.

[@RestlessViking]

Welcome!

[@grumpygord]

I remember hearing about POW's working on farms near Clarksville MI. My uncle owned a farm near Clarksville and I am not sure if the POW's worked on his farm or on a neighbor's farm but they got to know some of them. I also remember hearing about POW's who did not want to go home.

[@tonydeardorff]

The POW camp was at what is now Twin City Foods. The Freight Museum in Lake Odessa has some information, photos and artifacts about it.

[@ericscottstevens]

Many already knew their city or town was in the new Soviet occupation zone where they could be taken to the gulag. Plus if known as "visiting" in the capitalist US during the war the Soviets also frowned upon that as a possible spy in their midst. So the German POWs knew early what the best course of action was.

[@auntmaryspals7978]

Very informative channel. I don't know why it was suggested other than I live in Michigan. Very glad I've found it!

[@TeutonicNordwind]

My dad and mom are buried at Ft Custer National Cemetery. On Halloween night, 1945, 16 German PW"s and their US guard driver from a work detail on a sugar beet farm were killed at the end of a work day when their transport truck was hit by a train while crossing tracks. A 17th PW jumped off at last second and survived. Many PW's had made friends with local families and often even had dinner with them at their homes. Many German PW's stayed in the US or returned after the war to make their life and raise families here. My dad was born in Montreal and moved to Detroit as a small child in about 1923 with his family, his dad looking for work in the booming city as a mechanic. Growing up in a French-speaking household, Dad often served as an interpreter as his unit, the 103rd Infantry/"Cactus Caravan" drove through France from Marseilles to the Alsace and cross the Rhein into Germany. He was pretty seriously wounded with shrapnel to the throat on Thanksgiving Day 1944 in St. Die, France and spent a couple of weeks in a field hospital before rejoining his unit. He was wounded when a booby-trapped door detonated an explosive device as he and two others entered a building while clearing the area of Germans as they did from town to town, in the drive east.

[@TheMyeloman]

As a native Michigander (hoping to return someday very soon) I never knew any of this, and that seems like a real shame. My grandfather was in the Navy, drafted after Pearl Harbor, and as a veteran myself it makes me proud of how well we treated the PWs, especially knowing how poorly the Germans and Japanese treated ours. It’s great to hear some of those stories, and learn our history. Shame the camp was left derelict and eventually torn down though, would be a nice memorial today, and probably a great little park/campground. On that count, I think we could do better…

[@Rattles02]

Another great video! I learned about the Allegan POW camp right about the time I moved from Holland back to the east side of the state. I haven't made it back over there but maybe that would be something to do in the Fall when the weeds start dying off. I have been by Camp Pori in the UP but couldn't find any traces of it. I know there is a building on Salzburg in Bay City next to the railroad tracks that was used to house prisoners.

[@robertdrenten8040]

The flagpole was still standing on this site when I was a kid in the 1970s. I’ve been told of one escapee who thought he had escaped the USA by swimming to the opposite side of Allegan Lake.

[@mestep511]

Another nice oddity of history few know of, revealed in a good adventure story by you two.

[@LadyYoop]

outstanding...as always!! The CCC really worked U.P. here, the fences on Brockway Mountain, there's a stone ship in Kearsarge, a plane in the back of some little town here...etc.

[@RestlessViking]

Interesting. Thanks!

[@stephenrrose]

Thank you for the educational video! Always learning from both of you! I had a friend that was a proud CCC Guy! He has passed. I learned a lot from him. Going up toward Tustin MI, there is a CCC cabin that is a small CCC museum. It was fun to walk around and learn from him. Take care.

[@jimboersma4236]

Great information and video

[@The_Andrew_Miles_Project]

Makes me want to find any evidence of the camp in Freeland near me. Awesome video!

[@jasonburge7054]

My great grandparents farmed west of Alma in Sumner twp. My great grandma told me about having some of POWs working their farm. She spoke very highly of them, and was sad to see them leave. She told me that on their last day working on the family farm. My great grandpa butchered a hog and she prepared a large "thanksgiving" style dinner. According to her, these particular POWs were housed at the Armory in Alma and the fairgrounds behind the armory.

[@robertw.anderson6102]

Living in Petoskey and hunting in Kalkaska, I've driven through Alma many times and never knew of POW's held there. Cool.

[@VF-84]

I worked at that Heinz plant inHolland. Never knew that.

[@mitchvanier]

Didn't know about the cactus here that's awesome

[@wendyfinlan1151]

Very interesting! It always amazes me how nature takes back an area left alone.

[@jeffchrivia5904]

So germfast in the u p has a campground built on the ccc/ german POW camp, you should look it up. It's quite interesting

[@padillas4357]

One of my grandfathers worked with the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps). You can always tell when they were the ones who planted the trees because they are in perfect rows.

[@ab-kd3pn]

mbs airports originally was a internment camp as well

[@kylebockheim9545]

I remember hearing a story that a few of the POW's in Allegan had escaped and planned to cross L. Michigan to get to Chicago. But in actuality, they had only swam across L. Allegan and were recaptured on the other side of the lake!

[@jimtravoli5828]

I used to camp near there in the late 60's and early 70's. There were still buildings at that time. And still cactus. We brought a plant home and had it for years.

[@SooperTrooper100]

Realistic optimism is the way to be. 🇺🇸❤️

[@Northernnine8878]

Congrats on 20K!! Been following for a long time. Thank you for the time and effort Poppins and yourself put into making these videos to educate us.

[@RestlessViking]

Thanks so much!

[@mpwmu9041]

My family has a cottage on Pine Lake near Delton. They had pow Nazi's there as well working. I miss the area greatly. Great vid.

[@TRUMPeterswan1624]

Thats 1st pit looks like it mayve been an oil pit. Mightve worked on cars and equipment right there? They probably had all kinds of trucks and tractors and wouldve fixed them themselves

[@jerredwayne8401]

I just spent the week at the last park ever built by the ccc, possum kingdom state park near mineral wells, Texas

[@barbburns2122]

Great information ! Thank you. Keep up the good search !

[@evanfolwarski9534]

I grew up in Allegan and had heard a story of a small group of pows that had tried to escape and had no scale for how large America truly was. They had apparently jumped into lake Allegan thinking it was Lake Michigan with an intention of swimming to the UP where they could hide in the wilderness.

[@olivegreenpants7153]

They had german pows in Lansing during the war. My dad and uncle used to watch and wave as they were marched to the factories and they would wave back.

[@robertw.anderson6102]

Impressive amount of comments in a relatively short time.. Many of them quite interesting. Your videos really go right to heart of native Michiganders. I'm wondering what is the significance of the symbol you show at the end of your videos. I have a feeling I should probably know it's significance. I'm third generation Norweigian& Danish. You're both very lucky people. I share your interest in all thing historical. But especially Michigan, and primarily Northern Michigan history. It is such a privilege to live up here. And I greatly appreciate your videos. I've spent a good part of my life in the fields and woods of Michigan hunting and fishing. And I have canoed all the major rivers in the lower peninsula. And I'm always proud to tell someone I'm from Northern Mighigan.

[@RestlessViking]

The symbol of the two ravens represent Huginn and Muninn. They were Odin's Ravens, who fly around the world, gathering information. At day's end, they would land on Odin's shoulder and give him the news of the day. It symbolize our work, gathering stories from around the Great Lakes and reporting our findings.

[@robertw.anderson6102]

@@RestlessViking I figured it had something to due with Norse mythology. I still have relatives in Norway. They wouldn't be happy with the gap in my knowledge. Thank you for the update.

[@64C10Claymore]

I live just down the road from here

[@DavidParker73]

I live in Grant very close to where the Grant POW camp was.

[@custodialmark]

Hear in Marfa,Texas. has one also. now an art gallery. building 98? has murals of the workers. many liked camp and stayed.

[@midlifetravelers6151]

So interesting. My mom was married to an NCO and he was stationed in Louisiana near a POW camp, WWII. she had a charcoal picture portrait that one of the POW's made for her. Again, interesting Michigan history. Would be fun to metal detect this area.

[@davidmcneil1550]

Here in Door County Wisconsin we had many POWs. Some returned after the war and remained, some marrying and some hoping to. We had many fruit orchards and needed labor to harvest the fruit. Interesting is that the POWs received a nickel for each pail while local kids got only a penny. Some of the buildings survive to this day.