My dad was literally the last civilian worker at Adair when the camp closed after World War II. He was a plumber and steamfitter and ran the boiler room for the camp. He first started working there while the camp was being built sometime in 1941. He had come from Minnesota along with my uncle to work there. The story goes that they slept in tents on cots while the buildings were being built. My dad was in his late-30's when the war broke out and was married and had two kids (my older brother and sister) and my mom stayed in Minnesota until he was able to find a place to live. She came out west along with my oldest brother and sister. She was pregnant with my second brother (who was born in Albany.) Anyway, my dad was exempt from the draft as he was classified a critical war worker (he had the skills to run the boiler room) and he spent the entire war working at Camp Adair. At some point he had German prisoners of war working for him. He recalled that there was one Nazi party member, who was a sergeant, but the other prisoners did not like the Nazi very well as they thought the Nazi sergeant was too hard-core. One of prisoners made a ring for my next oldest brother (who was born in 1942) out of coins. Anyway, the prisoners were treated very well and were of no threat. They were even allowed to go to Albany or Corvallis on a pass since there was little chance of escape. There were required to wear clothing that had big P. W. embroidered to signify they were prisoners of war. From what I understand, they (the prisoners) felt fortunate that they were in the POW camp rather than still being part of the German Army where the life expectancy was not good. I also think most of the POWs were conscripts. At some point the Navy took over the hospital and Adair was used for wounded sailors and marines. I'm not exactly sure when the camp and Navy hospital closed, I assume it was in the late 1940s (I was born in 1949) so all of this I'm writing is from my recollections of what my parents told me. Anyway, when the time came, my dad was the man working either civilian or military because of the boiler room. His final act was to shut down the boilers for heat and hot water, shut off the lights and lock the gates on his way out. He mailed the keys to the US Army Corps of Engineers in Portland and the camp was closed. He often talked about the camp fondly. I went to junior high and high school in Albany and remember Air Force personnel around being around Albany but I was never very clear on what the AF did at Adair, though I was always under the impression it was some sort of weather station. My mother passed away in 1978 and my father lived until 1997, so I don't really have exact dates. Thanks for the video on Adair and the other military bases here in Oregon; it was very interesting.
Hi Steve. I know there was some activity at camp Adair into the late 60's? I have memories in my old noggin sitting in the front yard of base housing. Heidi was a german lady, my baby sitter, she married a US serviceman. I remember watching the military trucks roll past, I was perhaps 3. I am 53 now, and have spent countless hours walking out there with my dogs since the early 90's. Here are a couple links for folks who may be interested.www.bentoncountymuseum.org/index.php/exhibitions/online-exhibitions/swamp-adair/www.goodreads.com/book/show/2061555.Camp_Adair
I grew up fishing the adair ponds an later i constructed the covers at the archery range. Even being in close proximity to the highway an landfill sites it always amazed me how quite the place always is
This is actually Skip Sobien, not my wife Nancy. I spent 27 years in the Air Force, all on radar stations like Burns AFS. As the Communications-Electronics Superintendent at Port Austin AFS, MI, I closed one of the last two of the Air Force maintained radar stations, the other being Calumet AFS, MI. That would have been in September 1988. From there I was assigned to the OTH-B at Mountain Home AFB, ID. I was the Chief of Quality Assurance for the West Coast Radar System, the transmitter site at Christmas Valley, OR. The receiver site was at Tulelake, CA, and the Operations Center at Mountain Home AFB, ID. After the shutdown of OTH-B in 1991, I was assigned to the Communications Squadron at Mountain Home for just a short period until my retirement as a CMSgt in May 1992. It was a great career that I would do all over again if I could do it on radar sites. -Skip Sobien
The old officer housing units were converted into rentals many years ago. I had a good friend that lived in one of those units. Not sure if they still exist. One of the old military buildings was converted into a distillery. So in a way Adair is still alive.
I was doing some dispersed camping in the dunes near Christmas Valley when an F-15 did a very low and slow pass. The OTH-B facility is literally right next to the dunes. Didn't get the greatest look, couldn't tell if it was out of McChord or one of the Oregon ANG planes.
I have been to the first two places. Tillamook head was the end of Lewis and Clark’s expedition. Takes about 2 hours to walk to from seaside, lots of surfers camp there
i was just at the Adair school 3 weeks ago for my sons baseball game and I was just trying to figure out that place after local people were telling me it was a old base that cool to have a little more insight on it coukd not stop looking at that tower it is right behind the ball diamond
There is an abandoned radar station on top of a mountain in Winnemucca, Nevada. I did a video of that station on my channel. Your videos are awesome! Thank you.
My dad was literally the last civilian worker at Adair when the camp closed after World War II. He was a plumber and steamfitter and ran the boiler room for the camp. He first started working there while the camp was being built sometime in 1941. He had come from Minnesota along with my uncle to work there. The story goes that they slept in tents on cots while the buildings were being built. My dad was in his late-30's when the war broke out and was married and had two kids (my older brother and sister) and my mom stayed in Minnesota until he was able to find a place to live. She came out west along with my oldest brother and sister. She was pregnant with my second brother (who was born in Albany.)
Anyway, my dad was exempt from the draft as he was classified a critical war worker (he had the skills to run the boiler room) and he spent the entire war working at Camp Adair. At some point he had German prisoners of war working for him. He recalled that there was one Nazi party member, who was a sergeant, but the other prisoners did not like the Nazi very well as they thought the Nazi sergeant was too hard-core. One of prisoners made a ring for my next oldest brother (who was born in 1942) out of coins. Anyway, the prisoners were treated very well and were of no threat. They were even allowed to go to Albany or Corvallis on a pass since there was little chance of escape. There were required to wear clothing that had big P. W. embroidered to signify they were prisoners of war. From what I understand, they (the prisoners) felt fortunate that they were in the POW camp rather than still being part of the German Army where the life expectancy was not good. I also think most of the POWs were conscripts.
At some point the Navy took over the hospital and Adair was used for wounded sailors and marines.
I'm not exactly sure when the camp and Navy hospital closed, I assume it was in the late 1940s (I was born in 1949) so all of this I'm writing is from my recollections of what my parents told me. Anyway, when the time came, my dad was the man working either civilian or military because of the boiler room. His final act was to shut down the boilers for heat and hot water, shut off the lights and lock the gates on his way out. He mailed the keys to the US Army Corps of Engineers in Portland and the camp was closed.
He often talked about the camp fondly.
I went to junior high and high school in Albany and remember Air Force personnel around being around Albany but I was never very clear on what the AF did at Adair, though I was always under the impression it was some sort of weather station.
My mother passed away in 1978 and my father lived until 1997, so I don't really have exact dates.
Thanks for the video on Adair and the other military bases here in Oregon; it was very interesting.
Hi Steve. I know there was some activity at camp Adair into the late 60's? I have memories in my old noggin sitting in the front yard of base housing. Heidi was a german lady, my baby sitter, she married a US serviceman. I remember watching the military trucks roll past, I was perhaps 3. I am 53 now, and have spent countless hours walking out there with my dogs since the early 90's. Here are a couple links for folks who may be interested.www.bentoncountymuseum.org/index.php/exhibitions/online-exhibitions/swamp-adair/www.goodreads.com/book/show/2061555.Camp_Adair
Steve Summers great story
@@insolentstickleback3266 Spouse used the commissary at Adair while I was in Vietnam, 1968-9.
I grew up fishing the adair ponds an later i constructed the covers at the archery range. Even being in close proximity to the highway an landfill sites it always amazed me how quite the place always is
I live near Adair and you missed a hidden treasure. The secret missile silo. great video!
This is actually Skip Sobien, not my wife Nancy. I spent 27 years in the Air Force, all on radar stations like Burns AFS. As the Communications-Electronics Superintendent at Port Austin AFS, MI, I closed one of the last two of the Air Force maintained radar stations, the other being Calumet AFS, MI. That would have been in September 1988. From there I was assigned to the OTH-B at Mountain Home AFB, ID. I was the Chief of Quality Assurance for the West Coast Radar System, the transmitter site at Christmas Valley, OR. The receiver site was at Tulelake, CA, and the Operations Center at Mountain Home AFB, ID. After the shutdown of OTH-B in 1991, I was assigned to the Communications Squadron at Mountain Home for just a short period until my retirement as a CMSgt in May 1992. It was a great career that I would do all over again if I could do it on radar sites. -Skip Sobien
The old officer housing units were converted into rentals many years ago. I had a good friend that lived in one of those units. Not sure if they still exist. One of the old military buildings was converted into a distillery. So in a way Adair is still alive.
There is also one of the two or three WW 1 Dirigible Hangers, left in country, in Tillamook County. It's an amazing air museum.
I was doing some dispersed camping in the dunes near Christmas Valley when an F-15 did a very low and slow pass. The OTH-B facility is literally right next to the dunes. Didn't get the greatest look, couldn't tell if it was out of McChord or one of the Oregon ANG planes.
I need to AMP UP my exploring adventures. I've been missing out. SMH...😉
I have been to the first two places. Tillamook head was the end of Lewis and Clark’s expedition. Takes about 2 hours to walk to from seaside, lots of surfers camp there
Too freaking cool! You guys rock. I'd never get anything done if I places to explore like those.
i was just at the Adair school 3 weeks ago for my sons baseball game and I was just trying to figure out that place after local people were telling me it was a old base that cool to have a little more insight on it coukd not stop looking at that tower it is right behind the ball diamond
There is an abandoned radar station on top of a mountain in Winnemucca, Nevada. I did a video of that station on my channel. Your videos are awesome! Thank you.
Beautiful historical videos this is our culture of American.
Christmas Valley was one of the fires of 2020. Hopefully the base is still there. =(
*Edit- Fire of 2021, The Caldor Fire
Thanks for the video excellent work.
Cool video. It was edited well and interesting I don't know why it doesn't have allot of views.
Vard Nelson of Junction City told stories about that Japanese submarine. They took pot shots at it.
Great video
Will u missed some in Gearheart OR. I guess u didn't have time for all, there are many.
BISH I'VE been tHERE!!!!!! I live right next to it!!!
The earth works at fort Stevens is a reconstruction not orginal
Great video thank you
Nice video
where is condon where is Umatilla army depot
The Staff Sergeant is correct when you're gone your gone.
Thanks braj
nice video. Well done.
Very interesting.
Where' is Camp White?
Very interesting
Awesome!
This guy really needs to learn what a shell is.
I want.the one in the Kaliopmisis ,the.under Hope Mountain has been LEVIATHAN BREACHED.
what part of Oregon is that
I think it said wells Oregon
Any way we can close them all.
You missed a Lot of Milatary bases. Glad you weren't my TOUR GUIDE! Wow...
waste AMERICAN style