Purpose: Served as the only refugee shelter in the U.S. for Holocaust victims during WWII.
Initiation: Established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Significance: Served as a model for allied countries to accept refugees.
Refugee Experience
Arrival: Refugees arrived at Fort Ontario after a lengthy sea journey and train ride.
Conditions: The fort was an old army post surrounded by a barbed wire fence, similar in appearance to concentration camps.
Community Interaction: Oswegonians, the local residents, began to interact with refugees which brought Holocaust stories to the American public consciousness.
Media and Public Awareness
Press Coverage: This was one of the first Holocaust-related stories to receive front-page coverage in the U.S.
Public Engagement: The stories at Fort Ontario helped bring the Holocaust's impact closer to everyday Americans.
Legal and Political Challenges
Initial Agreement: Refugees had signed contracts to return to their home countries post-war before leaving Italy.
Advocacy Efforts: Local citizens, religious organizations, and elected officials lobbied for the refugees' freedom.
Resolution
Executive Order: On December 22, 1945, President Harry S. Truman signed an executive order allowing refugees to stay in the U.S.
Outcomes:
Most refugees remained in the U.S. under existing immigration quotas.
Approximately 100 refugees moved to Israel or other countries.