In February 1944, a Prisoner of War Camp for 5,000 German and Italian soldiers opened at Fort Devens. More than 1200 wooden barracks were thrown together during the early days of World War II and an airport, known later as Moore Army Airfield, was opened in 1941. The nearby Devens Reserve Forces Training Area is located in Lancaster. During World War II, a specific area in the fort was used to host Japanese, German and Italian war prisoners. collect offers a fascinating glimpse of life over the past 100 years at Fort Devens. Camp Devens was established on September 5, 1917, as a temporary cantonment for training soldiers during World War I. As one of 16 temporary cantonments, Camp Devens processed and trained more than 100,000 soldiers of the 76th and 12th Divisions. Effective May 2007, the Devens Reserve Forces Training Area was renamed Fort Devens. Although it has a very limited schedule it is worth checking. The legend that Lieutenant Drane mysteriously disappeared after the duel and his remains were later discovered in a walled off part of Fort Independence is not true. A limited building program continued at Fort Devens, along with a post beautification program throughout the 1930s, with much of the funds coming from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). No divisions were assigned to Fort Devens during the 1950s but two regimental combat teams were assigned, along with two signal battalions; the United States Army Security Agency Training Center and School; the 56th AAA Brigade; the First Army Chemical Defense School; and many smaller units. The former home of. Camp Devens was established in 1917 on about 5000 acres of land leased then later purchased from 112 owners who sold 230 parcels of land in the towns of Ayer, Harvard, Lancaster and Shirley, to the United States of America. As others have mentioned, this museum is run on a shoe-string budget but what they have been able to. Designed by myThem.es. In 1932, the site was named Fort Devens and made a permanent installation with the primary mission of commanding, training, and providing logistical support for non-divisional troop units. More than 1,200 wooden buildings, including two new 1,200-bed hospitals, were constructed at a cost of $25 million. [4] Willard's home was situated near the Verbeck Gate of Fort Devens, and was destroyed in 1676 in a Nehântick raid during King Philip's War. I was stationed at Fort Devens for 3 years in the 1960s, and knew a little about its history. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. In 1932, it was redesignated as Fort Devens. History.