Enemy at the Cannery
1910 - 1945
Another local site of interest is the "old canning factory", which is now occupied by Alliance Wheel Services (302 W. Holland St.). In 1943, the canning factory (which after the war was run by the Libby's company) had a shortage of workers, and the government needed K rations and canned goods to feed the troops. Some 243 captured German soldiers from the prisoner of war camp known as Camp Ellis in Fulton County were brought in. 50 of the POWs were set to work in the cannery, the remaining POWs were transported by trucks to various farms in the area to work in the fields, associated with the cannery's mission. The Washington sub-camp was first commanded by Colonel John S. Sullivan, and later by Captain T. A. Cox. The POWs were brought in on the old rail line that ran down Wood Street (the foundation of a sentry tower can be seen just northeast of the intersection of Wood and Jefferson near the entrance to the bike trail). They were trucked from the camp to various local farms to help with the pumpkin harvest. The prisoners were allowed no visitors, nor could residents speak to the prisoners. An exception was made for local ministers, such as Pastor Kammeyer from St. Mark's Lutheran who spoke fluent German and ministered to the POWs spiritual needs. Once a POW jumped from a truck going down South Main Street and was almost shot before the guard realized he was just trying to retrieve his hat which had blown off.
Years later when the Libby plant burned, they found a U.S. Army rifle issued to a soldier who was a guard. It was reported missing, and suspected hidden by a prisoner.
CO note: I managed to find the foundation to the sentry tower that was mentioned in the passage above.
Sixteen-year-old Robert Fischer snapped this photograph in 1944 or 1945 when German prisoners of war assisted on his parents' farm near Roanoke. Pictured are neighbor Norman Bachman on the fender; driver and farm owner Eli Fischer Sr.; and Eli Fischer Jr., the child on top of the truck. Others pictured are POWs.