World War II quonset, Camp Hastings, to be part of antique power show

Camp Hastings, part of the Little Log House Pioneer Village, will reveal a fully restored World War II quonset hut at the 21st Annual Little Log House Antique Power Show. The power show runs July 29 to 31.

“It’s like a step back,” said Steve Bauer of the pioneer village. “It’s like going right to the set of MASH. These Army people here have put a lot of hard work into showing you all about the military during the World War II era. Everything from different types of ammunition to the different types of communication and the living quarters. All the stuff is here.”

Quonset huts were designed in 1941 and were widely used by the United States Army in World War II due to their low cost and ease of construction.

When the war concluded, the kits could be purchased for $99. An individual in Owatonna bought one and had it at his farm. The man has since passed away, and the barracks were rescued from his property, restored and put back together at the village.

“The quonset project has been in the making for over 10 years,” said Harold Bottolfson of Camp Hastings. “We disassembled a couple huts. We took one out of Cottage Grove about 10 years ago and about three years ago we started taking another down.”

Volunteers took all the pieces of the hut and began straightening the panels and cleaning off old residue.

Over the course of the past three years, over 20 volunteers have been piecing the 20 foot by 40 foot long building, with a radius of 10 feet, together on weekends.

The Camp Hastings quonset hut will serve as a WWII living history museum and interpretive building.

During the Little Log House Show, uniformed WWII re-enactors will be positioned in the hut, portraying the life of soldiers during the second war.

The hut will be equipped with bunks and mattresses, as well as other typical army gear of the time.

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