During World War II, the United States Army interned 6,000 German prisoners of war here on a 400 acre site, employing 1,000 American military and civilian personnel. Major Karl H. Shriver commanded Corps of Engineers forces which began construction in August, 1942. Activated Dec. 12, 1942. The first prisoners, from Gen. Erwin Rommel's Africa Korps, arrived by Frisco Railroad on June 2, 1943. The camp was first commanded by Col. F. A. Prince and later by Col. R. S. Grier. Its 400 frame buildings included barracks, a hospital, bakeries, chapels, a greenhouse, theaters, water and sewer systems, a fire department, an amphitheater, sports fields, and gardens. A barbed wire compound had guard towers. Two prisoners were killed attempting to escape. It was deactivated Sept. 30, 1945.