Supporting the Camp

Minidoka operated like a military post, and its warehouse area contained a lumber yard and 17 warehouse buildings used for storage, maintenance, and sign making. With over 9,000 internees and the civilian WRA staff who oversaw the camp’s operation, large quantities of food, parts, building materials, tools, work clothes, and cleaning supplies were kept there. Toshio Toyoji and 44 warehouse 20 carpenters made and finished practically all of the office furniture, remodeled and altered barracks for schools, evacuee housing, and staff housing, and worked where the project sign shop was also located. On November 11, 1942, Japanese books, many art prints, and various personal items that had been confiscated from internees when they were imprisoned at the Camp Harmony and Portland assembly centers were returned to residents in the warehouse area. Internees also turned one warehouse into a shop classroom where they learned job skills such as auto repair, farm equipment repair, welding, and carpentry.

Idaho · United States