Granite State's only WWII prisoner of war camp subject of presentation by scholar and author Allen V. Koop at Moultonborough Lib

MOULTONBOROUGH — The Historical Society and Library will co-sponsor a NH Humanities Council program on the history of the Granite State's only World War II prisoner of war camp, to be held in the Library function room at 7 p.m. on Monday, November 8.

Scholar and author Allen V. Koop will share his knowledge of Camp Stark, a former Civilian Conservation Corps camp located in the town of Stark, north of the White Mountains. The camp guarded about 250 German prisoners who worked cutting wood in the forests for the Allied war effort.

A crumbling fireplace from the old recreation hall and a state historical marker are among the few physical traces of the camp, but thanks to Koop and other local historians, several of the former POWs have returned to visit the town and the local residents who once guarded them but also became friends.

Professor Koop, who teaches at Dartmouth College, is the author of “Stark Decency,” which came out in 1988. His presentation is part of the “Lakes Region Reads” program sponsored by the NH Humanities Council and numerous Lakes Region public libraries. This program is free and all are welcome to attend.