Cover Page

Table of Contents

Abstract

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Essay

Brief History

Gila River

Granada

Heart Mountain

Jerome

Manzanar

Minidoka

Poston

Rohwer

Topaz

Tule Lake

Isolation Centers

Add'l Facilities

Assembly Centers

DoJ and US Army Facilities

Prisons

References

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

Confinement and Ethnicity: An Overview of World War II Japanese American Relocation Sites by J. Burton, M. Farrell, F. Lord, and R. Lord

Chapter 4 (continued)
Gila River Relocation Center

Canal Camp
Evacuee Residential Area

Figure 4.30. Concrete slab of latrine and shower building at Canal Camp.

Within the evacuee residential blocks the locations of latrines, storage (ironing), and laundry rooms are marked by their concrete foundation slabs (Figures 4.30-4.32). The main impact to the site appears to have been from the salvage of cast iron pipe. Apparently the concrete slabs of all of the latrines and laundries were broken up to remove the pipes below. An interesting feature in each residential block is an underground concrete tank accessed by a manhole (Figure 4.33). These cisterns were most likely used to store water for fire fighting because the regular water system proved to be undependable. They would have to have been filled by hose or water truck, since there are no pipe fittings apparent below ground level.

In the central portion of the camp, between the residential area and the South Side Canal, the concrete slab foundations of the administration building and fire station are intact (Figure 4.25). Both building slabs have names and dates in the concrete (Table 4.1). There is also eight-sided concrete base that apparently held a flagpole (Figure 4.26). Culverts southeast and southwest of the administration area an along "D" street have several inscriptions that include the official post office name for the relocation center (Rivers, Ariz.) and a 1943 date (Figures 4.27 and 4.28). In the eastern portion of Canal Camp, there is little evidence of the staff housing or hospital buildings. However, the 21 concrete slab foundations from the warehouses still remain (Figure 4.29).

Footing pier blocks are still in place for most of the evacuee barracks (Figure 4.34), and there are numerous infilled basements evident, some with concrete steps still in place (Figures 4.35 and 4.36). There are abundant remains of landscaping around the former barracks (Figures 4.37-4.40). Many incorporate recycled materials such as concrete and clay pipe and tin cans, rather than rock.

Also present in the evacuee residential area are dozens of small ponds. Most are associated with individual barracks rather than mess halls or other communal buildings (Figures 4.41-4.49). The Block 23 mess hall, however, sported the largest pond. Either for aesthetic reasons or cooling many of the ponds were situated so as to be partially under a barracks. The ponds are chiefly made of concrete, however a few use apparently salvaged material such as cement pipe. Very little native rock was used. Many of the ponds have whimsical shapes; two are heart-shaped. Inscriptions in the concrete at Canal Camp are normally kept covered with sand as a protection measure. They are uncovered and highlighted with charcoal for special events such as reunions. The inscriptions consist mostly of names, dates, and addresses, some in Japanese characters (see Table 4.1, Figures 4.50-4.53).

Photo Album

Continued

Last Modified: Fri, Sep 1 2000 07:08:48 pm PDT
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