Some 200 people are registered to attend free programs Saturday focusing on the story of prisoners of war housed at Fort Niagara in the mid-1940s.
No additional registrations are being accepted.
The conference coordinated by the Axis Prisoner of War Coalition, which includes area historical groups, will begin at 10 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church with Arnold Krammer of Texas A&M; University speaking on the history of POW camps throughout the U.S.
In the afternoon, Laurene Buckley, director of the Castellani Art Museum, will talk on the history of a mural painted by POW artist Ernst Wille.
Oral presentations from Western New York residents familiar with the camp story are scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Main Street, adjacent to the Old Fort Inn-The Bistro.
Walking tours of the former camp site will be conducted from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m.
Gretchen Duling, vice president of the sponsoring coalition, is the program chairman for the conference.
The late Virginia Howard, a longtime Niagara Gazette correspondent who lived on River Road in the village, often recalled how the young German POWs were released for the day from camp to work on nearby farms.
“They were always industrious and took their work very seriously,” Howard wrote, “They relished the chance to get away from the barracks for a few hours to work in the fields.”
Military authorities at the time said there were never any problems with the POWs doing their chores and promptly returning to the camp in the southeast corner of what is now Fort Niagara State Park.
Local News
May 2, 2007
YOUNGSTOWN: POWs at Fort Niagara to be remembered
Weekend program is all booked up
- Local News
-
-
Anchors aweigh
- Expect delays on Millersport Highway
-
Helping Hands lift spirits
- Election boils down to question of fairness
-
Mongielo granted stay
Auto shop owner's sentence for sign ordinance violation pushed to September
-
Hot save for firefighters on Orchard Drive
No injuries reported in midday blaze.
-
Second suspect pleads
Man admits to first-degree manslaughter as an accomplice to murder.
-
A day to remember
Memorial Day ceremonies, parades planned for Tonawandas
- State AG warns of invoice scam
- No Headline Provided
- More Local News Headlines
-
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
