German prisoners picking potatoes, Houlton, 1945
Contributed by Aroostook County Historical and Art Museum
Item 13561
enlarge
zoom
add to album
In 1944 a major part of the Houlton Army Air Base was made into Camp Houlton, a Prisoner of War (POW) internment camp.
POWs could not be forced to work, but could volunteer, which many of the German POWs at Houlton did.
They helped local farmers harvest peas, pick potatoes and do other work.
Some were not allowed to work for security reasons. Many farmers came to see the POWs who worked their fields as good laborers rather than enemy soldiers.
The prisoners were paid a dollar a day in scrip that they could spend at the post exchange, the base store, for toiletries, tobacco, chocolate, and even beer. Pictures of prisoners of war are unusual because taking them was not allowed.
Other Information
- Title: German prisoners picking potatoes, Houlton, 1945
- Creation Date: circa 1945
- Subject Date: circa 1945
- Town: Houlton
- County: Aroostook
- State: ME
- Media: monochrome photograph
- Dimensions (cm): 5.3 x 7.8
- Collection: Catherine Bell Collection
- Object Type: Image
For more information about this item, contact:
Aroostook County Historical and Art Museum
109 Main Street, Houlton, ME 04730
207-532-6984
Cross Reference Searches
LC Subject Headings
Potatoes--Maine--Houlton
World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners
Camp Houlton (Me.)
Detention facilities--Maine--Houlton
Concentration camps--Maine--Houlton
Prisoners of war--German--Maine--Houlton--Photographs
Farms and farming--Maine--Houllton
Other Keywords
Share what you know about this item
... Or if there's a problem with this page, tell us.
Have a similar item and want it appraised? Check our Note on Appraisals.