"Hurrah"

"SUPPLIES"

Hurrah, we finally found this place - the now vacant 'Topaz Internment Camp' located just out of Delta, Utah.  This was my first visit to this historic WW II camp, even though I have passed by it many times on previous rock hounding trips to Topaz Mountain.

Our first stop was at Delta's one and only Mickey D's for a little lunch.  I asked the young lady cashier for directions to the Internment Camp.  She said it was quite -a-ways from the center of town, and that is was best for us to head back to the Brush Beryllium highway, go west then turn south on the dirt road.

We did just that and things went well until we realized that we were lost; but after stopping a couple of times at ranch houses for directions, we finally arrived at the camp.

We took pictures first then ventured on foot to what we thought was part of the ruins, but soon realized, to our delight, that this structure was a old filled-in shaft mine.  

Rachel totes her notebook

Erin & Jenna

I have no idea as to whether on not the Japanese worked this mine back in the mid-40's, but I guess they could have as the timbers look old enough.  We found an old whitewall tire half buried near the mine - another timeline indication.

You don't see whitewalls anymore

Anyway, we carefully investigated the mine dump, wondering what was being mined.





We soon found what was being mined - a mineral the locals call FLUORSPAR.   Fluorite is used as a flux for smelting.

Many years ago I was the Scoutmaster of BSA Troop 683, and had taken the boys to Topaz mountain.  We actually were given a tour of a fluorspar mine.  Anyway, I knew immediately what the mineral was when Erin excitedly found a piece of it and showed it to me.

  


Soon we were all collecting beautiful purple samples of fluorite ore.

Mike proudly shows his samples.

After rock collecting at the mine, we made our way back to the vehicles, and headed west, only to find the main monument of Topaz Internment Camp.  The 'Stars and Stripes' was waving proudly over the site, and I was pleased to find that this monument was constructed as an Eagle project for the BSA.



 Now, there is nothing left of this WW II camp that held some 8,000 loyal Japanese American citizens, for no reason except that they were of the same race as our enemy.   Paranoia runs deeply in times of war, and I hope we Americans have learned a lesson in tolerance, from this distressing time in our history.

The following photos are a few closeup shots.

 

Mathew stands proudly next to a chain-link fence just behind the American flag.  Using bobbed-wire, someone crudely wove the name 'Topaz' into the links.  I guess one could read a symbolism into this - I know I did. 

  

Rachel & Matthew

Our happy little group just before leaving Sandy.

After leaving the internment camp site, we made our way to our next destination - Topaz Mountain.  Be sure to check back in a few days, as I will have exciting photos for you to see.