When the prisoners were first brought to the site in 1944, there was nothing but bare land. There was no barbed wire, no fence, nothing. they had to fence it them self's. Together they organized building projects and set up a staff and kitchen crew in addition to working on various farms and projects in the area, including work at the Heinz 57 pickling plant in Holland and Michigan Fruit Canners in Fennville. Orchard farmers drove prisoners from and and back to the camp.

They earned 5 cents an hour which was used to buy necessities like toothpaste and underwear.

The camp officially closed in 1945 and was turned over to the state in 1946. The land and buildings went on to be used as a rehabilitation camp for trustees and non-violent inmates at the county jail and by various groups and clubs including the local rod and gun club, the conservation club, the girl and boy scouts and eventually Allegan Public Schools as a sixth-grade camp.

Unfortunately, the state didn't have enough people to properly police the camp. Thieves stole wiring and plumbing and lighting fixtures. The buildings fell into a sad state of disrepair.

The sign above, dedicated on August 30, 2007, is on the 122-mile loop Allegan County Heritage Trail where there are 13 interpretive signs on 28 sites along the trail. For information about the trail visit www.allegancounty.org/heritagetrail.