Very cool! I grew up in this area and remember actual buildings being there. They were torn down due to safety. It’s too bad that the camp couldn’t have been maintained as an historic site. Thanks for sharing!
There was also a POW camp at Ft Custer in Battle Creek. At the National Cemetery there are the graves of 26 German POW's who died during their stay there. 16 of those graves belong to the men who were killed when the truck they were riding in bringing them back to the camp after working on area farms, jobs which they loved and were loved by the farmers for the help, was struck by a train. These men were said to have been model prisoners very happy to be out of Hitler's war. Many of them also returned to the US after the war to live.
@@abandoneddoesntmeanruined Yes, The Ft Custer National Cemetery is open and still used. My Dad was a WWII vet and is buried there along with my Mother. The graves of the POW's are open and I have visited them. I believe they were buried with full military honors. Across the street from the Cemetery I believe there are still barracks buildings(the site was used to train US troops also) where I think the POW's were housed. You can Google "Graves of German Pow's at Ft Custer" to see them and for more info.
My mother said that They did have a couple of escapees into the woods....They came back to the camp because the mosquitos and black flies were so bad they couldn't take them....LOL
@@brokeinmichiganl3921 I mean, that makes total sense. From what I read, most of the POWs actually enjoyed their time so much that they chose to stay and become American citizens. Pretty crazy! 🤣
My House is one of the barracks that held prisoners in this camp. The House was purchased and moved to Overisle village where it stands to this day. You can see the metal construction beams stamped bt the United States Army.
Overisle, don't here of that very often. My first wife was from there. Old 2 story north side of the road. Left or west of the (Hamilton) road about 3 houses maybe
Not sure which one you are at. When I was very young we use to go thru these buildings with my dad up in the Allegan area. Mid 1960's they were still standing.. the last time I wandered around where they were was about 1977-78 the buildings were falling down and gone then
@@matthewb3640 That's awesome! I would have loved to have seen it back then. At this point, it's tough to know for sure. The historical society has access to the grounds blueprints, so they have a better idea than I do about the layout. Sorry I couldn't be more help. 😞
At some point, there were efforts to maintain the site, but the world is a sad place, full of sad people. The site became vandalized and certain buildings had to be moved while others were completely demolished due to the damage. If people could just learn to respect sites like this, maybe they wouldn't ruin it for the rest of us. However, the world is how it is and this will never completely happen. 😞
I would advise against that. Even though this is public area, it's historically significant. Please don't do any damage or digging as that would compromise the site even more than it already has been.
@@Budini67 I do not need to show it's on public land for that to be the case. The fact is, it is a public area. I'm not trespassing. Thank you for your concern.
@@Budini67 like all POW camps, they were built on state or federal land. Not private. This is in the Allegan state game area, which is actually owned by the Department of Natural Resources which was purchased by hunter $$$ or donated by previous land owners. FYI
This is amazing and I live right off of M-40 in Hamilton now I need to go explore this is amazing
Thank you for sharing
You're welcome!
Somewhere around the Allegan dam area use to still be buildings in the 60's
Wow never knew. So
Near By. Thank you.
@@denisewilson5917 You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
Very cool! I grew up in this area and remember actual buildings being there. They were torn down due to safety. It’s too bad that the camp couldn’t have been maintained as an historic site. Thanks for sharing!
I completely agree. It might not be too late, though!
There was also a POW camp at Ft Custer in Battle Creek. At the National Cemetery there are the graves of 26 German POW's who died during their stay there. 16 of those graves belong to the men who were killed when the truck they were riding in bringing them back to the camp after working on area farms, jobs which they loved and were loved by the farmers for the help, was struck by a train. These men were said to have been model prisoners very happy to be out of Hitler's war. Many of them also returned to the US after the war to live.
@@OneLastHitB4IGo Wow! Is the site still around?
@@abandoneddoesntmeanruined Yes, The Ft Custer National Cemetery is open and still used. My Dad was a WWII vet and is buried there along with my Mother. The graves of the POW's are open and I have visited them. I believe they were buried with full military honors. Across the street from the Cemetery I believe there are still barracks buildings(the site was used to train US troops also) where I think the POW's were housed. You can Google "Graves of German Pow's at Ft Custer" to see them and for more info.
@@abandoneddoesntmeanruined Yes it is. Do a search for 'German POW graves at Ft Custer' for more info.
My mother said that They did have a couple of escapees into the woods....They came back to the camp because the mosquitos and black flies were so bad they couldn't take them....LOL
@@brokeinmichiganl3921 I mean, that makes total sense. From what I read, most of the POWs actually enjoyed their time so much that they chose to stay and become American citizens. Pretty crazy! 🤣
Pretty cool. Thanks for the walk about video.
You're welcome!
My House is one of the barracks that held prisoners in this camp. The House was purchased and moved to Overisle village where it stands to this day. You can see the metal construction beams stamped bt the United States Army.
So cool!
Awesome! This is my 2nd report that buildings were moved.
Overisle, don't here of that very often. My first wife was from there. Old 2 story north side of the road. Left or west of the (Hamilton) road about 3 houses maybe
We went here and checked it out after watching your video.
I love it! Just be respectful and safe. 😊
Awesome. Thank ya.
Thank you for watching!
Not sure which one you are at.
When I was very young we use to go thru these buildings with my dad up in the Allegan area. Mid 1960's they were still standing.. the last time I wandered around where they were was about 1977-78 the buildings were falling down and gone then
@@matthewb3640 That's awesome! I would have loved to have seen it back then. At this point, it's tough to know for sure. The historical society has access to the grounds blueprints, so they have a better idea than I do about the layout. Sorry I couldn't be more help. 😞
From the noise this is near the Gun Club?
I'm not sure if it's near the club, but it's on public game lands and it was during hunting season, so I needed to be super careful. 😊
Which part of the forest is this at? I live between a couple of different parts/areas. Would love to check it out myself
If you actually just Google search "Allegan POW Camp," it pops up! It's such a cool place. 😊
Do you know the history at all about the camp?
Just a bit. I reached out to the Allegan Historical Society and they were able to inform me about certain interesting facts!
What was it used for?
@@itzbp9949 It housed German WW2 POWs. They were treated well and many of them actually stayed in America and started new lives in this area!
Oh wow. Thank you
@@itzbp9949 You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
Where is this located?
If you Google it, it will take you to the entrance deep in the allegan forest. :)
@@abandoneddoesntmeanruined From the noise its near the Gun Club?
@@brokeinmichiganl3921 I don't want to make it a practice of publicly giving out location information, but if you look on Google Maps, it's there.
When will Home Depot donate some cleaning yard supplies? They don’t have that well taken cared of! I mean, 0 degrees!
At some point, there were efforts to maintain the site, but the world is a sad place, full of sad people. The site became vandalized and certain buildings had to be moved while others were completely demolished due to the damage. If people could just learn to respect sites like this, maybe they wouldn't ruin it for the rest of us. However, the world is how it is and this will never completely happen. 😞
Id love to metal detect there
I would advise against that. Even though this is public area, it's historically significant. Please don't do any damage or digging as that would compromise the site even more than it already has been.
Yeah... Abandoned doesn't mean unowned, you are still on someone's property. Without their permission, you are trespassing.
Fortunately, you are incorrect. This is public land in a gaming area. Dangerous, sure. Illegal, absolutely not.
@@abandoneddoesntmeanruined At no time in your video do you show signs that state it's public lands.
@@Budini67 I do not need to show it's on public land for that to be the case. The fact is, it is a public area. I'm not trespassing. Thank you for your concern.
@@abandoneddoesntmeanruined Yep. No problem.
@@Budini67 like all POW camps, they were built on state or federal land. Not private. This is in the Allegan state game area, which is actually owned by the Department of Natural Resources which was purchased by hunter $$$ or donated by previous land owners. FYI