If you find errors OR have additional information about this site, please send a message to contact@waynehistorians.org.
Former POW Camp Historic Marker
| Historic Site #: | 07-004 (Exists) Type: B2,K1 | Town: | Marion | ||
| Site Name: | Former POW Camp Historic Marker | GPS Coordinates: | 43.146145, -77.197091 | ||
| Address: | 3833 Marion-Walworth Rd, Marion, NY | ||||
| Description: | |||||
Former World War II POW camp for German soldiers Marker was erected by the Marion Historic Association. Marker is at the intersection of Walworth-Marion Road and Palmyra Road (New York State Route 21), on the right when traveling west on Walworth-Marion Road. | |||||
 |
 |
| From Annette Harris book | |
 |
 |
| From Annette Harris book | From Historical Marker Database By Anton Schwarzmueller, May 21, 2018 |
 |
|
| Photo by Bavis, 2019 |
| Historic narrative: | |||||
| Inscription reads: Site of Former POW Camp The camp housed 70 to 80 German prisoners during World War II July 23, 1945 - December 2, 1945 The Marion camp was the last to be built. Several of the buildings were repurposed from a Civilian Conservation Corp. camp in Monterey, New York. Guard towers were repurposed from a munitions depot near Victory, NY. The fence extended around the perimeter of the grounds with only one gate located on the Marion-Walworth road. Previously owned by Arthur Bouwens, the property was purchased by the Wayne County Growers and Processors Co. Initially, the growers association faced opposition from the local residents as the residents did not want the camps to be used for transient labor after the war was over. The residents were in favor of the prisoners of war as labor was short and help was needed at local processing and canning plants. On July 23, 1945, 100 prisoners arrived, most captured in Italy. These prisoners were sent out to help local farmers and manufacturers at harvest. They were treated well and the few who tried to "escape" were easily found and brought back to the camp. The newly arrived prisoners were paid a nominal sum, fed well, and lived on site. Local employers included the Marion Cold Storage, Fruit Belt Perserving in Williamson and the Clapp Baby Food plant in Rochester. In most plants, prisoners were not allowed to operate machinery for fear of sabotage of the equipment. Other plants did not allow them contact with the food product. Many were sent to local farms to do manual labor. When they were done working, they were allowed to play soccer or baseball and some were allowed to use the local library. In later years, renovations at the location (now a migrant labor camp), revealed a person-sized box in the ceiling of the kitchen. It is theorized that a guard may have been hidden there to oversee the workers in the kitchen. The building complex has been renovated and is still in use today. | |||||
Historical Marker Database
World War II Prisoner of War Camps in Wayne County by Annette T. Harris, 2004