Site of Camp Howze

(One mile west) In operation from 1942 to 1946, Camp Howze served as an infantry training facility during World War II. It was named for General Robert Lee Howze (1864-1926), a native Texan whose distinguished career in the United States Army began with his graduation from West Point and included service in France, Puerto Rico, Germany, a South Dakota Indian War and the Philippine Insurrection, 1899-1902. Clifford McMahon of the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce first contacted federal authorities with the idea of establishing a military installation here. Attracted by the community's active endorsement of the plan, the government activated Camp Howze on August 17, 1942, under the command of Colonel John P. Wheeler. In addition to infantry training, the base was also the site of a German prisoner of war camp and an air support command base, now part of the Gainesville Municipal Airport. Services provided for the soldiers included camp exchanges, libraries, chapels, theaters, service clubs and a base newspaper, the "Camp Howze Howitzer." The economic and social impact of Camp Howze on Gainesville was significant and was instrumental in the town's rapid growth and development. (1982)

Site of Camp Howze is a historical marker in Gainesville, Cooke County, dedicated in 1982. It is one of 44 historical markers documented in Cooke County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 56 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 33.6813, -97.1596 near Gainesville. The nearest cataloged historic site is Butterfield-Overland Stage Line (historical marker), about 3.4 miles away. Others within a short drive include Booker T. Washington School, G. H. Ragsdale, and Moffett Park.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5097004743. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.