Camp Withycombe

Camp Withycombe (1909-Present) - Established as Camp Benson and named after then Oregon Governor Frank W. Benson. Renamed Camp Withycombe for Governor James Withycombe on 21 Jun 1916 during the mobilization of the Oregon National Guard for the Mexican Expedition commanded by Major General John J. Pershing, (Cullum 3126). Active Oregon National Guard post. History Originally known as the Clackamas Rifle Range it was established as a training camp in 1909 and expanded in June 1916 for mobilization of the Oregon National Guard for the Mexican Expedition commanded by Major General John J. Pershing. The post was further expanded with the mobilization of the National Guard for World War I. During World War I it served as a headquarters for the National Guard, a central supply depot and training center. In the 1930s the camp became a supply depot. Some of the buildings on the camp property, such as the Adjutant General's house (1938), were built by the WPA during this period. The camp still serves as a training facility, supply depot, and equipment repair facility for the National Guard but the rifle range is now closed. Historic Structures Historic buildings constructed prior to 1940 include: Mess Hall, ca. 1912 (Bldg. 200) Storage Building, 1910 (Bldg. 206) Feed Barn, 1910 (Bldg. 305) two Storage Buildings, 1910 (Bldgs. 308, 310) Supply Building, 1920 (Bldg. 450) Barn, ca. 1903 (Bldg. 525) 1938 Colonial Style Adjutant General's House, constructed by the WPA. Current Status Camp Withycombe Oregon Military History Museum Active Oregon National Guard post with the Oregon Military Museum on site. The museum is open 9-5 on Friday and Saturday. {"selectable":false,"height":"-500","width":"-500"} Location: East of I-205 in Clackamas (South-East of Clackamas Town Center) near Portland, Clackamas County, Oregon. Maps & Images Lat: 45.41079 Long: -122.55854 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 118' GPS Locations: 45.41079, -122.55854 Sources: Oregon Military History, Forts-Camps-Roads McArthur, Lewis A. & McArthur, Lewis L., Oregon Geographic Names, Oregon Historical Society Press; 7 edition (December 2003), 1073 pages, ISBN 0875952771, ISBN 978-0875952772, page 154 Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 670 Links: History Oregon Military Museum Morning Oregonian., June 22, 1916, Page 6 Visited: 10 Nov 2007