The Camp Douglas Restoration Foundation hopes to one day build a replica of one of the long-gone barracks and have a museum commemorating the camp as well as the black experience in the war. (The camp site is located in a heavily-populated black area.)
Last week's efforts marked the first-known excavations at the camp. Three holes were dug deep enough to stand inside with eyes below the grass line. Two of the holes were mostly empty with some artifacts and pipes turning up but nothing that could be linked directly to Camp Douglas.
The third hole, a 6-by-6-foot excavation was more promising. Using period maps of the camp, they knew they were near the site of the old headquarters building. On one end of it, the earth was deep black and bordered by a line of bricks, which bordered limestone.
The black area and line of bricks were likely the remnants from now-demolished homes built around 1900. But the limestone, which they believe to have survived unscathed in a side yard between the two houses, appears to be the foundation of the Camp Douglas headquarters.
restoration leaders want to have more digs, perhaps on the grounds of nearby John J. Pershing Elementary or Olivet baptist Church. They would like to get the Chicago Public schools involved in the project.
You can see a video of the dig at www.chicagotribune.com/warcamp.
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