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WWII
Chronicles
Texas Historic Landmark
ITALIAN
POW CAMP CHAPEL
3 1/2 Miles S of Hereford,
Deaf Smith County
Near Umbarger,
Randal County
Photos courtesy Barclay Gibson |
| The
recently restored POW Camp Chapel, designed and built by the prisoners, themselves.
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, August 2009 |
Photographer's
Note:
Getting There
The
Chapel is located about 3-1/2 miles south of Hereford
almost exactly on the Deaf Smith/Castro County Lines. From FM 1055 west on Deaf
Smith CR 1 one mile and south on CR H about 500 yards. The Chapel is plainly visible
from CR 1 in the winter but in late summer would be concealed by tall corn stalks.
The Chapel and Water Tower are maybe 1/2 mile apart. The county roads in this
area are dirt/gravel so maybe it would be best not to be there during rainy season,
if there is one. - Barclay
Gibson, December 2008
P.O.W.
Camp Chapel Restored
Thanks to an article on the restoration of the Hereford
POW Chapel featured in the Lubbock Avalanche ("Avalanche" in West Texas?!- That's
the name) Journal, I went back to see it. The Chapel is now beautiful as it sits
in the middle of a lush corn field as opposed the the forlorn look it had just
last December. There were two abandoned dogs, more like big puppies, guarding
the Chapel.
The Chapel has been beautifully restored. New Plexiglas panels
and paint inside and out. The colorful gravel-epoxy flags are nicely redone. Thankfully
the brass plaques have been removed, probably to the safety of the Castro County
Museum. Here's the link to the Avalanche article:
Ex-Italian
POWs return to Hereford for chapel ceremony
- Barclay
Gibson, August 2009 |
 |
Approaching
the POW Camp Chapel
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, December 2008 |
The
restored POW Chapel in the midst of cornfield
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, August 2009 |
The
Restored POW Camp Chapel
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, August 2009 |
Looking
in, through the replaced glass
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, August 2009 |
POW
Camp Chapel historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, December 2008 |
Historical
Marker TextP.O.W.
Camp ChapelThis
Chapel is one of the few physical reminders of the days this site served as an
Italian Prisoner of War Camp during World
War II. The prisoners, several of them fine artisans and craftsmen, designed
and built the chapel, crafting the concrete building to resemble marble. Completed
in 1945, the chapel stands as a memorial to the five Italians who died while interned
at the camp. A restoration project, begun in 1987, was completed in 1989.
Recorded
Texas Historic Landmark - 1992 |
The
base of the camp water tower
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, December 2008 |
interior
view showing pump support
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, December 2008 |
Photographer's
Note:
A lady
at the St Mary's
church in Umbarger
was so kind to show me around the church and explain the work done by the Italian
Prisoners. In the large painting behind the altar was an angel. The artist, from
his memory of his wife, painted her face on the angel. Years later after the war
the artist brought his family back and she was able to see her face on the angel.
- Barclay
Gibson, January 25, 2009
Visit Umbarger
nearby in Randal County | |
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