Military Records
Confederate Pension Filesfrom the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Thursday, September 5, 1940, Second Section, page 1
Where Soldiers of the Thirty-Sixth Soon Will Be StationedBrownwood Site Picked for Camp
Special to the Star-Telegram
Brownwood - September 4. Announcement Wednesday from the office of Representative Charles L. South in Washington that a site near Brownwood had been selected for a National Guard training center culminated weeks of efforts on the part of city and Chamber of Commerce officials and many others here.
In the absence of official War Department announcement, Chamber of Commerce officials had no comment Wednesday afternoon.
From 9,000 to 18,000 troops will train here for at least a year under the terms of the National Guard Mobilization Act. The contingent of regular guardsmen from all over Texas would be supplemented by draftees to bring the camp's strength to 18,000 men in the event of passage of the selective draft will, now nearing congressional completion.
As soon as the Texas guard is mobilized, probably within two months, the men will pour into Brownwood.
They will be placed on a 2,000-acre campsite, beginning about one mile south of Brownwood. Leased by Brownwood and turned over to the Army for a rental of one dollar a year, the campsite lies between Woodland Heights and Freeman Switch on the Santa Fe line running toward Brady.
61,000 Total Acreage
Total acreage for the training center, located in the geographical center of Texas, is 61,000 acres extending southeastward from Brownwood into Mills County, with more than half of the acreage in Brown County. In addition to the 2,000-acre campsite adjoining Brownwood, the project calls for an infantry range of about 8,000 acres, maneuver grounds of around 28,000 acres, and 23,000 acres, making a total of 61,000 acres. Of this total the Government will pay rental on all but the campsite acreage, the site extends more than 20 miles southeast of Brownwood.
The City of Brownwood and local utility firms have agreed to extend services to the campsite. Water will come from Lake Brownwood, one of the largest inland lakes in the State, 10 trunk telephone lines from the Southwestern State telephone Exchange here will be run to the campsite which will have its own private exchange. Texas Power and Light Company will supply electricity and gas will come from lines of the Community Natural Gas Company.
Wooded and Hilly
Except for the campsite, the acreage in Brown and Mills Counties for the training center is heavily wooded and hilly and is used mostly for ranching purposes. It would nbe difficult to find an area of similar size in Brown and Mills Counties with fewer farm homes. The rugged terrain is considered ideal for various phases of military training.
Two-story wooden barracks are proposed for the campsite.
Leasing is progressing rapidly on the training center. All leases are for one year with privilege of renewing for four additional years. This assures that the camp can remain at least five years, if required.
Brownwood's offer of the campsite and training grounds was first approved by army officers sent here to inspect the site and later was recommended to the War Department by Gen. J. H. Brees, Fort Sam Houston, commanding the Eighth Corps Area, United States Army.
