The remarkable story of safe haven in Oswego New York

By Lorraine Williams

Great stories can be found in small places. One such place is Oswego New York, population 18,000. Here you’ll find the dramatic story of the rescue of Jewish refugees fleeing Europe during World War II. Today, Oswego’s a laidback tourist destination on the shore of Lake Ontario where a branch of the Erie Canal meets the Lake. In the 19th century it was a major port for trains shipping grains from the west. More significantly, it was also an important stop on the Underground Railway during the abolitionist era. How fitting then, that it became the destination for one thousand refugees, of whom 900 were Jewish fleeing the Holocaust in Europe, from eighteen different countries and speaking sixteen different languages! It was in fact the only camp on American soil for Holocaust survivors. Today their relatively little-known story is preserved in the Safe Haven Museum and Education Center in Oswego, dedicated to keeping alive the stories from World War II of these “guests” of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

One third of those rescued came from Yugoslavia, and others from Germany, Austria and Poland in particular. Originally they had all managed to get to Italy by the time the Allies had liberated Italy in spring 1944. The museum tells of a near-miracle occurrence which enabled the refugees to get via fishing boats to their rescue ship, The Henry Gibbons, an American troop transport ship. American government officials chose refugees who’d escaped from concentration camps, those who had large families, those who’d helped the Allied war effort, had lost relatives in the Holocaust, had family members in the U.S. or had talents that could assist in the running of a refugee shelter. All had to sign a paper promising they’d return to their native countries after the war.

The two-week transatlantic sailing was difficult – limited space conditions, seasickness, and extreme heat. Refugee Eva Kaufmann Dye remembers quarters were cramped. Half of the ship was filled with wounded soldiers. There were new discoveries even on board, however. The children were introduced to Jello and chewing gum, things totally new to them! According to many, it was all worth it when they sailed into New York Harbor and had their first exciting view of the Statue of Liberty.

From New York they were taken by train to Fort Ontario in Oswego, New York, where they remained from August 1944 until February 1946. They were housed in old barracks buildings on the grounds of the Fort, which itself had been rebuilt several times since 1775. The two-story barracks, plus a one-story mess hall, were constructed of wood, with no insulation. But to the refugees it was like a five star hotel, considering what their plight had been before arrival. As one survivor put it, “it was so wonderful not to be chased by death” any more. The camp was surrounded by barbed wire but residents were given permission to go outside for various appointments. It wasn’t total freedom but there was no comparison to what they might have suffered had they been forced to stay in Europe. Within the first thirty days of arrival one pair of refugees even got married. They obtained a license from Oswego City Hall, and the ceremony was performed under a chupa (canopy) on the parade ground at Fort Ontario. The shawl worn by the bride is on display in the Safe Haven center. (See photo) Refugees were helped in daily living not only by Oswego residents but also by trained professionals within their own numbers – doctors, nurses, cooks. Children were allowed to attend the city schools, and play sports on the Fort’s parade grounds. The adults, who weren’t allowed to work in town (a condition that upset them, particularly when they were aware that German POW’s nearby were allowed to work in the countryside), spent time learning English, woodworking, creating entertainment shows and publishing a Shelter newspaper, The Ontario Chronicle. The camp became so well known that First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt even paid it a visit.

When the war ended, residents petitioned President Truman to rescind the order that they had to return to their country of origin. He did so in December 1945. They could stay under existing immigrant quotas. However, in order to do so, they had to leave the country briefly, then return. This is where Canada played a role. In the first two months of 1946, they came in busloads to Canada, crossing at Niagara Falls. Once there, they re-entered the US and relief agencies resettled them in other parts of the country. Most ended up in either New York City or on the West Coast. About 100 chose to return to Europe. None live in Oswego. As Christine Sugrue, Site Manager explains it, “For some of them it was just too cold here in Upper New York State.”

Today you can revisit events of this unique story of compassion and generosity at the Safe Haven Museum and Education Centre in Oswego. Fall/ Winter hours are Wed-Sat. 11am-4 pm; Summer Tues.-Sun. 10am-4 pm. Guided Group tours can be arranged. Contact 315-342-3003 for further details or www.oswegohaven.org

Lorraine O’Donnell Williams is a long-time member of Society of American Travel Writers and book author. Her latest is a book of memoirs about growing up at The Beach district of Toronto. It is called Memories of The Beach: Reflections on a Toronto Childhoode published by Dundurn Press. Her email address is lorwill@sympatico.ca