Postcard Memories is a weekly series of historic postcard views and photos submitted by Marcel Rousseau.
Some were previously published by the Orillia Museum of Art and History and in the book Postcard Memories Orillia.
The Canadian Army Basic Training Camp No. 26 was located north of Brant Street near Park Street on 20 acres of land leased by the Department of National Defence.
Recruits from all over Canada were sent here for partial training and evaluation before being moved to other camps all over Canada. This photo postcard was found for sale on the internet in New Zealand and was purchased and returned home to Orillia.
The photo was taken by H. R. Nieble, an Orillia photographer, and was not mailed. On the back is hand written: #12 Troops, C Squadron, # 26 C. A. C. Orillia, Ont. Fred C. Leake, Feb. 23/44. None of the men are identified and very few stayed in the area after training.
The camp contained 43 buildings, including 30 large barracks, at least three for the use of women, a gate house, a hospital and a large drill hall of over 10,000 square feet.
On Sept. 17, 1942 the Packet & Times reported that the Brennan Construction Company had 115 men rushing to complete the building and it should be ready to turn over to the army in two weeks time.
Paving of the roads and parade ground was to be completed in five days.
Basic Training Camp No. 26 was completely dismantled and the grounds returned to its former condition soon after the war.
