Catalina Federal Honor Camp facts for kids
The Catalina Federal Honor Camp was a special prison camp in the Santa Catalina Mountains in Arizona. During World War II, it held men who were part of the incarceration of Japanese Americans. This was a time when many Japanese Americans were forced to leave their homes and live in camps.
The Catalina camp was different because it didn't have a security fence. Its edges were marked with white painted stones. Most of the 46 prisoners were men who refused to join the army or objected to the war for their beliefs. They were moved from other camps in Colorado, Arizona, and Utah. One famous person held here was Gordon Hirabayashi, who bravely challenged the government's orders against Japanese Americans.
What Was the Camp Like?
The camp started in 1939 in the Coronado National Forest. The idea was to use the prisoners' work to build a highway connecting Tucson, Arizona to the mountains.
By the 1940s, the camp grew bigger. It had four buildings for prisoners to sleep in, a dining hall, and laundry areas. There were also places for power, storage, and a garage. The camp even had a classroom and an administration building. Staff members lived in fifteen small houses. The camp also had its own water and sewage systems. For recreation, there was a baseball field and farmland where food was grown.
Most of the men who refused to join the army came from camps like Amache in Colorado, Poston in Arizona, and Topaz in Utah. They were brought to Catalina in leg irons and guarded by armed officers.
The prisoners worked hard on what became the Catalina Highway. They drilled holes for dynamite, broke rocks with large hammers, and cleared trees. They also grew food and cooked for everyone at the camp.
Who Was Gordon Hirabayashi?
Gordon Hirabayashi was a very important prisoner at the Catalina camp. In 1943, he was found guilty of not following the government's orders against Japanese Americans. He refused to go along with the forced "relocation." Instead of being transported like the others, he hitchhiked all the way from Spokane, Washington to the Catalina labor camp.
Hirabayashi served two 90-day sentences at the camp. His case was later reviewed. In 1987, his conviction was overturned. This happened after it was discovered that government officials had hidden important evidence that would have supported his case.
What Happened to the Camp?
The men who refused to join the army were pardoned, or forgiven, in 1947. However, the prison camp stayed open until the highway was finished in 1951. After that, it became a labor camp for young people who had broken the law.
In 1967, the state of Arizona took over the camp. They changed it into a center to help young people get back on track. This rehabilitation center closed in 1973. The buildings were torn down soon after. But today, you can still see many of the old foundations and walls.
Now, the site is a campground and a starting point for hiking trails. It is called the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site. This name honors the camp's most famous prisoner and his fight for justice.
