The Need for Preservation – Camp Adair a Follow Up
By Matt Helget
Last year I wrote a post on the importance of preserving the former Camp Adair site (January 16, 2024). This has been a major part of why I joined Adair Living History, became a board member for the 96th Infantry Division Heritage Fund, and what guided me in my undergraduate studies at Oregon State University. It wasn’t until I took an archaeological (preservation) law class that I realized that more must be done for the site. My professor, David Brauner (emeritus), went through the laws, how and why they were created, and how they are enacted. Though much of the conclusion of the last article was that more needs to be done so progress like subdivisions, apartment complexes, or other developments doesn’t overtake local historical heritage.
Dr. Brauner, though, put me in touch with an archaeologist, Rick Minor of Heritage Research Associates, Eugene, OR; who had done survey work in the former cantonment and suggested that I contact him. I did and inquired about his findings and suggestions for the preservation and continual use of the area which is mostly under the management of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). Rick came to a Founders Day (2019 if memory is correct) and sent me a CD copy of his report (over 200 pages, including appendices, of photos, maps, observations, and suggestions). This was a suggestion to ODFW for the management and preservation of the site, which here is a link to the latest ODFW management plan.
Through this project, Rick has made presented this this project to the National Park Service (NPS). He has continued to advocate for additional preservation efforts for places like Camp Adair due to the continual growth of municipalities and the cultural importance these training areas made to the surrounding communities that they impacted. These temporary training facilities were built up and torn down just as fast, but the impacts are still felt today in areas like major infrastructure changes to highways. Here is a link to Rick’s talk to the NPS and to the YouTube video outlining his survey work.
In all, the visions on the site differ in management, but the historical significance is important to local communities and families affected by the different degrees of the former training area and Cold War era facility. ALH is working toward building the relationships for preserving the legacy of the area for how to interpret the former township of Wells, the WWII cantonment, and unfinished BOMARC missile pad areas. How to fund a project of that magnitude is up for debate due to who is to pay for it. There are many questions being asked but few real answers currently for historic preservation, so time will tell as to what will ultimately happen with the site. But there is voice is building for an ongoing preservation and interpretation effort.