Exclusive: Sharp Park Internment Camp History

I take classes at Skyline College, one class a semester since 1994. Keeps the gray matter stirred up. Anyway, this spring I took San Francisco history. Of course, we had a term project to write. Because I knew very little about Sharp Park Golf Course history, I thought that would be a good topic, what with the trust, the clubhouse, and the course all being historic items. I stopped in at Kathleen Manning's Prints Old and Rare at Crespi Center to see if there were any old maps of the area. Kathleen asked me if I knew about the internment camp back there (click image above to enlarge). I had no idea that existed. I used to shoot back there at the range and I've shot at the archery range out there many times when my son was younger. Never a clue. I decided to add that to my report. Well, there is not much info out there so I knew it was going to take longer than I had for the class so I turned in a traditional report on the history of the area and the buildings. The internment camp intrigued me so I kept digging. Little by little, information would come up. Soon I started seeing the same info repeated, which usually means that what's out there, you have already, so write the report. I know there is more research to be done and I'm pushing to get more people on board. More people, more time, more information. Congresswoman Jackie Speier's office contacted the San Mateo Historical Society and introduced me to the director. I'm trying to connect with the chair to be placed on their agenda in September to make a small presentation and to ask them to write an official letter to the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department to let them know, if they aren't already aware, that there is a historical site of interest to San Mateo County out there. I hope that at some point I can help secure a grant for someone to really study the site. map it, and catalog what's out there. Meanwhile, please read my report Download temp.pdf, published exclusively here on Pacifica Riptide.

JIM WAGNER

Comments

[Kathy Jana]

The national park system will make a really good display of this information. Along with all the native American, Patti Hearst, etc. history on the site.

[jim wagner]

http://pacificahistory.wikispaces.com/Sharp+Park+Internment+Camp+article

http://pacificahistory.wikispaces.com/Sharp+Park+Internment+Camp+pictures

Here you go, Eileen.

[Eileen Ecklund]

Mr. Wagner - Has the file been taken down? When I click on the link to your report, I get nothing. I'd love to read it!

[jim wagner]

Before we get too excited about the "Sharp Park" park, let's remember that there is a viable, much-used archery range and a very active San Francisco archery club on this site. in addition, an extremely valuable piece of United States history remains to be studied, namely, the old Sharp Park POW internment camp in World War II. See my Riptide post on this subject (use Google search box on the top-right sidebar).

[jim wagner]

thanks mr. currie. i have not visited manzanar, however, i understand that it is a moving experience. in additon to "Farewell to Manzanar", "Una Storia Segreta" is a powerful book full of memoirs of Italian American experiences before, during and after incarceration in these camps. The stories are not only from those locked up but also from family members and how this affected the entire family. the book is available at the library. the stories are relatively short and facinating.

[Jim Currie]

If anyone finds this topic interesting, I suggest reading "Farewell to Manzanar."

[kat]

I appreciate all that you are doing. Thank you.

[Kristine Moore-Taverna]

Cool Jim! This is an interesting piece of Pacifica history.

[todd bray]

Go for it Jim. An 89 year old neighbor of mine remembers local Italians being interned and has been waiting for someone to do a story about it.

[Lois Rogan]

Thanks Jim! That was very interesting.