Re: Camp Algona POW Committee

Date: May 04, 2004

"Iowa State Bank donates $25,000 to POW museum
Special to the UDM

Thanks to a jumpstart from Iowa State Bank, the Camp Algona POW Museum will become a reality later this summer. Iowa State Bank donated $25,000 to the Camp Algona POW Committee to get the ball rolling on a permanent home for the collection of memorabilia from a POW camp that housed German prisoners here during World War II.

The bank sold the building that will house the museum at 114 S. Thorington Street to the committee on what bank president Tom Larson described as "favorable terms" to aid the museum's effort.

The museum's new home is in the former Furniture Loft building, which most recently served as the temporary offices for Algona Municipal Utilities during its 2003 remodel."We feel like this is an opportunity for Algona to have what I think is virtually a one-of-a-kind museum in America," Larson said. "We want to do whatever we can within reason to make that happen.

"The Camp Algona POW Committee, formed three years ago to preserve the history of the camp, is making plans to display and share the hundreds of documents and artifacts that have been collected. The committee hired Jennie Bailey, a Des Moines-based professional historical exhibit designer, to organize the museum's layout and displays. A preliminary display is expected to be ready in time for Algona's Sesquicentennial Celebration July 8-11.

"This was the next logical phase," said committee member Brian Connick, a history teacher at Algona High School. Without a museum, he said, the committee was simply changing the ownership of artifacts, rather than making them accessible to the average person. Now it will have a greater ability to share the story of Camp Algona, its people and its impact on north-central Iowa.

Committee member Roger A. Wilson says the committee hopes to show the life of the prisoner of war and of the American GI at the camp and in the war in general. They also hope to emphasize the camp's impact on the community of Algona, as an economic force and as a constant reminder of the war that was raging at that time overseas.Camp Algona, built in 1943, operated from 1944 to 1946, functioning as the base camp and headquarters for a network of 34 branch camps in four states.

Prisoners at those camps helped reduce the labor shortage that plagued rural communities during the height of World War II. More than 10,000 German prisoners passed through Camp Algona during its short existence. An average of nearly 400 American military personnel were stationed there and at branch camps, and as many as 80 civilians worked at the site.

Many people involved with the camp - military personnel, civilian employees and prisoners - have shared stories and items with the Camp Algona POW Committee.Among the hundreds of documents in the Camp Algona collection are interviews with more than 80 American military personnel and civilian workers at the camp and with more than 60 former prisoners. Other artifacts range from uniforms and boots to furniture made by the prisoners.

Also in the collection are paintings by the prisoners and hundreds of photos from Camp Algona and its branch camps.Committee historian Jerry Yocum said the committee has expanded the scope of its collection and is seeking all World War II military artifacts, not just items directly related to the camp. He said the committee is looking forward to receiving stories and artifacts from local residents. They can contact any committee member to set up a meeting or interview. The best known artifact from Camp Algona is the Nativity Scene that was paid for and constructed by a group of the German POWs. The scene, which is housed in its own building at the Kossuth County Fairgrounds, has drawn thousands of visitors to Algona each Christmas season.The United Methodist Men of Algona are in charge of maintaining and overseeing the exhibit.

The public is invited to learn more about the camp and plans for the museum during an omelet breakfast set for 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 15 at the museum building. A free will donation will be accepted and committee members will have information available about contributing artifacts or becoming a member of the Camp Algona POW Project.Committee members say the museum's development schedule will depend on fundraising efforts. Iowa State Bank's donation serves as the lead gift in the campaign. Fundraising continues as the group is seeking contributions from groups and individuals to continue the work of developing the museum.

Other major funding sources for the committee to date have included the Haggard-Twogood Charitable Trust, the State of Iowa Historical Society, the Pharmacist Mutual Foundation and the the Iowa/Kossuth County Farm Bureau.Dozens of individuals and businesses have also contributed artifacts, services and funds to the effort to preserve the Camp Algona story. More information can be found on the Camp Algona POW Committee website - www.pwcamp.algona.org. The site features dozens of photos, interviews and articles about the camp and the people who were a part of its story.Though few of the committee members have personal memories of the camp, they agree that preserving this bit of Algona history is vital.

"It's some history that was going to be lost, and a story that would not have been told," committee president Nick Scholer said.
©Algona Upper Des Moines 2004"