Cover Page

Table of Contents

Abstract

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Essay

Brief History

Gila River

Granada

Heart Mountain

Jerome

Manzanar

Minidoka

Poston

Rohwer

Topaz

Tule Lake

Isolation Centers

Add'l Facilities

Assembly Centers

DoJ and US Army Facilities

Prisons

References

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

Confinement and Ethnicity: An Overview of World War II Japanese American Relocation Sites by J. Burton, M. Farrell, F. Lord, and R. Lord

Chapter 16 (continued)
Assembly Centers

Pomona Assembly Center, California

Figure 16.19. 1942 aerial photograph of the Pomona Assembly Center. (from DeWitt 1943)

The Los Angeles County Fairgrounds (Fairplex) was the site of the Pomona Assembly Center. There is no historical marker at the site. Used from May 7 to August 24, the assembly center held a total of 5,514 persons, with a maximum population of 5,434 at one time.

Evacuees confined at Pomona were from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Santa Clara counties. Over 300 barracks were constructed at the center, along with eight H-shaped buildings with combined bathroom, shower, and laundry facilities (Figures 16.19 and 16.20). Four baseball fields are visible on the 1942 aerial photograph.

The grandstand and other fair buildings on the 1942 aerial photograph remain (Figure 16.21). The barracks area of the assembly center is now used for the fair midway, other events, and parking. Eight stable buildings are in the same location as on the aerial photograph. Since they are constructed of metal and somewhat modern looking, these may not be the same stables in use at the time of the assembly center. Further, although evacuees were housed in stables at Santa Anita and Tanforan, it is not clear if stables at other assembly centers were used for housing, too. Currently people caring for the horses live in small housing units at the ends of the stables.

Figure 16.20. Pomona Assembly Center. (National Archives)

Figure 16.21. Grandstand at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds (Fairplex) today.

Figure 16.23. Racetrack media tower at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds (Fairplex).

Figure 16.22. Barracks building at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds (Fairplex). One current building at the fairgrounds looks like those built by the military for the assembly center (Figure 16.22). The 20 foot by 100 foot building was likely moved to its present location from elsewhere within the fairgrounds, since no building is shown in this location on the 1942 aerial photograph. It appears to be only slightly modified. Two towers near the Fairplex racetrack and stables do not appear to be guard towers remaining from the assembly center use. Their great height, small windows, and metal superstructure suggest that if they were they have been greatly modified (Figure 16.23).

Continued

Last Modified: Fri, Sep 1 2000 07:08:48 pm PDT
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