I don't know about other POW camps, but Camp McCoy was not built by the
POW's. My father-in-law, being too old for military service, was
employed by the government along with many other people during the war
to build Camp McCoy for POW use. He spent the better part of two years
there, working weeks at a time before being allowed a short visit home
to Chicago (Clarendon Hills) to visit his family. He was a plumber
there, but all construction crafts were represented in the work force.
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2002 19:34:34 -0700 (PDT)
From: cy svobodny <ctsvobodny@y...>
Subject: pow's
a wwII german pow camp was located at "camp McCoy"
near Sparta, Wi, just east of La Crosse on Hwy 16.
Been there looking around, nosey, camp has it's own
railroad w/GP-7). Some of POW's were stone masons or
they became them while there. They made many
structures on base including a very interesting set of
enterance monuments(gates) w/ protruding mortor. quite
unique looking. This location also served as
internment for cuban prisoners following the Murial
boat incident w/Cuba. Camp McCoy is located on the
Milw. Rd. and C&NW tracks just west of Tunnel City,
Wi. This is the only railroad tunnel still in use in
entire state. Parrellel C&NW tunnel collapsed on a
enroute freight train during mid 70's. leaving box
cars inside(never retreaved). East portal filled in
w/dirt, west portal face plugged w/concrete. C&NW
Tunnel City station still stands as a home. C&NW got
quick(long stansing) trackage rights on Milw. Rd. (of
course they are now UP & CP. Milw. Rd. tunnel about
1300 plus feet long single track. (CP high wided'd
during mid 90's)
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