Camp Fremont was a WWI training base

In addition to the necessary military buildings, there was a church, a Knights of Columbus recreation center, nine YMCA recreation huts, a YWCA Hostess House, a library and a theater. The men themselves lived in tents, usually six in each. This was one of 16 mobilization camps in the United States.

The local community also mobilized to serve this influx of men. New bus lines were started along the Peninsula. Shops and cafes sprang up to provide meals, snacks, tobacco and souvenirs to the soldiers. The Army placed large orders of local products to supply their mess halls. This resulted not only in increased demand for food products, but also increased demand on the related businesses that packaged or processed them. Building trades also flourished.

The government required a "dry zone" for five miles around the camp, so saloons were not among the businesses proliferating. Later the government extended the dry zone to 10 miles. Only the bars beyond the dry zone benefited from the crowds of men now living here. Soldiers were not supposed to leave the base unless in full uniform so they would be easily recognized as members of the Army.

In addition to the men, there were 5,000 to 10,000 animals to maintain. Horses and mules hauled supply wagons and field armament in those days. The troops held target practice and bayonet drills in preparation for European-style warfare. They practiced digging trenches. French and British advisors were on hand to help the Americans understand European ways.

Finally, in August 1918, top-secret plans were made to deploy Camp Fremont troops to war. They were not being sent to France, however. They were being sent to Siberia! They were to help the White Russians against the Bolsheviks. They were supplied with long buffalo skin coats for the winter and shipped out. They reached Vladivostok on Sept. 2, 1918. Two more ships carrying more troops to Russia were sent immediately afterward.

Camp Fremont finally did send men to France. Some left in October 1918, but the war was over before they arrived. An Armistice was reached Nov. 11, 1918, ending the war. Unfortunately, the others were still stranded in Siberia, living in boxcars. Local people sent candy and oranges to them for Christmas.

After the war, Camp Fremont was abandoned. The leased property made it too expensive to maintain, so the facilities were dismantled. Property owners were asked which roads and fences they preferred to keep, and a movie company briefly considered using some buildings for studios, but rejected the idea.

Camp Fremont's men continued to serve in Siberia until April 1920. They finally returned, and some opted to stay here. Along with them around 7,000 Russian refugees came to live in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Rediscovering the Peninsula appears in the Monday edition of the Daily Journal. For more information on this or related topics, visit the San Mateo County History Museum, 777 Hamilton St., Redwood City.