[Source: Darlene Justus] -- Originally in Papago Park, the two huts in the top photo housed German Officer POWs during WWII. The POWs were mostly from the German Navy, many from submarines. Over the course of the war, over 3,200 POWs were detained in Papago Park. There are numerous stories, including the “great escape” of 25 POWs (all of whom were eventually caught).In the 1950s, five huts were moved to Scottsdale & Thomas Road to be used as cottages. The rest were demolished. Three of the huts have now been moved for private use. The final two huts were slated for destruction if no one stepped forward to preserve them. The Tempe Historic Preservation Foundation facilitated their preservation. John Driggs, former mayor of Phoenix, passed along $5,000 from a benefactor. Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman pledged the remaining $3,000 needed, from private sources, to complete the move.
The huts are being stored in Tempe's Public Works yard while their final resting place is determined. The goal is to return them to Papago Park and restore them for future generations.
