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 8 (continued)
Manzanar Relocation Center

Outlying Area
Farm Fields and Irrigation Ditches

The only relocation center farm fields currently in use are the northernmost fields along the west side of U.S. Highway 395. All of the other fields and ditches of the relocation center farms lie abandoned.

Outside of the cultivated fields the ditches that brought irrigation water to the north fields are in good condition and easy to follow (Figure 8.83). There are numerous inscriptions in the concrete of the ditches, including names, initials, dates, Japanese characters, expressions of love, and a geometric design (Figure 8.84). A dam on Shepherd Creek, measuring approximately 46 feet across, was built for the early twentieth century town of Manzanar. Evacuees raised the height of the dam by adding 18 inches of concrete wall, and inscribed two sets of initials on top.

Figure 8.83. Concrete-lined irrigation ditch near Shepard Creek.

Figure 8.84. Inscription in the Manzanar North Fields irrigation ditch.

North and northeast of the northernmost farm fields there are two wells located on opposite sides of U.S. Highway 395, that were connected by a 2,750-foot-long concrete pipeline, now partially destroyed. An upturned concrete support near one of the wells is inscribed with "finished by tom fujisaki & crew mar. 23, 1944" (Figure 8.85). Parts of two bridges over Shepherd Creek built by the evacuees to access the north fields are still in use.

Figure 8.89. Japanese poem inscribed on pipeline support.

Just south of the central area there are many remnants of the irrigation system that watered the southern farm fields, including concrete-lined and dirt ditches, concrete diversion boxes with wooden gates, a concrete pipeline, a 45-foot-long dam across George Creek, wells, and other features (Figures 8.86-8.88). The pipeline alignment appears as a raised berm for most of its length. Concrete piers were used to support the pipeline where it crossed washes and low spots. The top of two of these supports, on the south side of a small wash, each have a Japanese poem inscribed on them (Figure 8.89). The concrete ditches and diversion boxes include inscribed names, initials, dates, military slogans, and the greatest concentration of Japanese language inscriptions at the relocation center (Figure 8.90 and 8.91).

At George Creek, 1 mile south of the central area just west of U.S. Highway 395, there is a dam, a bridge, two wells, concrete-lined ditches and concrete pipelines, and various water control features (Figure 8.92). Inscriptions in the irrigation ditches include dates and Japanese characters translated as family names. There is an upright boulder with two smaller cemented rocks as decorative elements at each corner of the 10-foot-by-16-foot bridge (Figure 8.93). Six inscriptions in the concrete of the retaining walls at the bridge and a nearby pipe support include names, dates, Japanese characters translated as "Built by E Group in March 1944," and two place names, both "tucson," one is dated "3/6/44."

Photo Album

Continued

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