Camp Lakeview

Courtesy of Allegan County Heritage Trail Tour Guide

In 1936, the buildings that would later house POWs were built as Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) housing. These CCC camps were made during the Depression as ordered by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in order to put men to work. However, the CCC was disbanded in 1942. Allegan County Sheriff Guy Teed knew the problems the farmers were having due to the labor shortage and was the driving force behind bringing the German POWs to Allegan.

In May 21, 1944, 250 German POWs, 75 U.S. army men (to serve as guards), and five officers were scheduled to start their lives at Camp Lakeview. The Federal Emergency Farm Labor agency lent six or more men to farmers in Allegan. Guy Teed contracted the labor out to farmers, who were only allowed to use German laborers if there were no other laborers available.

The camp officially opened on March 21, 1944. New buildings were built, and a fence had to be installed before the arrival of the first 250 German POWs. Most prisoners were arrogant, seeing America’s fair treatment of them as weakness. Others, however, were thankful and returned after World War II because of their good treatment.

Courtesy of The Allegan County New from Friday, May 19, 1944, The South Bend Tribune from Sunday, January 8, 1978, the Heritage Trail Plaque put together by members of the Allegan Historical Society, and the Allegan Gazette from Thursday, May 18, 1936

Courtesy of Allegan County Heritage Trail Tour Guide

Courtesy of Allegan County Road Commission, and used in Happenings, Heroes, Hot Shots by Randall P. Vande Water