Fort Ontario in Oswego, New York - Home to the Safe Haven Museum & Education Center

Oswego, New York is situated right on the shores of Lake Ontario (About A Half An Hour North of Syracuse, New York). The Oswego River, which flows northward into Lake Ontario, divides the city. A state university (SUNY-OSWEGO) is located on the western side of the city and Fort Ontario is located on the eastern side. The Safe Haven Museum & Education Center is in fact located on the grounds of Fort Ontario. It was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt who found a refuge in the United States for so many immigrant refugees during the second world war. The immigrant refugees most likely traveled by train cars from Manhattan, New York to Oswego, New York. All of the new citizens at Fort Ontario lived in barracks. There was evidently barred wire all around the fort. Some people felt that they were in another concentration camp. The residents in the barracks were kept at the fort until the second world war was over. These particular people were all guests in a strange new land. They all forged new lives in this particular land of the free (and home of the brave).

There were evidently so many different people who were all strangers on very strange new soil. The city of Oswego, New York became a safe haven for many different people. There were not many places where these particular people could go until ALL of the concentration camps overseas were liberated. Many people, however, did not make it to the safe haven. Being a resident in the barracks at Fort Ontario was more like a privilege. There was no place like it in the whole wide world. People were sheltered in the barracks at Fort Ontario, but they were not American citizens. Life was considerably harsh for these particular people. They all expected that their lives would improve dramatically when the latter came to this lovely area on the eastern side of Oswego, New York. The living conditions were not at all perfect. Much of the food, during some weeks, had to be rationed out. It is not easy for one group of people to live with another group of people (especially if both groups of people do not even know each other). It is not easy for people, in other words, to live with one another. These particular people, nonetheless, had to make the very best of the apparent situation that they were all evidently in.

Tourists can easily drive to the town by three roads (one road leading into the town from the east, one road leading into the town from the west, and one road leading into the town from the south). Rochester, New York is about a good hour and a half drive (to the west) from Oswego, New York. Syracuse, New York is about a good half hour drive (to the south) from Oswego, New York. Watertown, New York is about a good hour and a half drive (to the north) from Oswego, New York. The 1000 Islands can indeed be reached if one continues to drive north from Watertown, New York. These particular islands both border two countries (The United States & Canada). Lake Ontario separates the state of New York from the province of Ontario. An individual just cannot see across the lake if he/she is standing on the shores of Lake Ontario (In Either The State of New York or The Province of Ontario). Some people, today, wonder if Lake Ontario is either a fresh water lake or a salt water lake. Lake Ontario is just one of the great lakes - the easternmost lake.

One can definitely walk around the fort today. The Safe Haven Museum & Education Center (In Oswego, New York) is just one of the remaining buildings still standing on the grounds of Fort Ontario. Any individual, who visits the fort, will have the chance to take a step back in time. There are so very many stories. People's lives were definitely changed (some for the better and some for the worst). Many children were born at the fort and many elders passed away at the fort due to illness. Children, who were old enough to attend school, became students in the Oswego, New York educational system. The people who came to this part of New York state were all just very relieved to arrive at a safe haven. They all were clearly survivors. The Holocaust was ultimately one of the worst periods in our whole human history. Many historians continue to ask themselves why there were people like the Nazis in the world. These particular historians always puzzle amongst themselves just how people like the Nazis had the capacity (and were able) to be in power. President Roosevelt knew that the refugees had to be placed somewhere. This particular president was looked at as a leader (not only for his decision making, but for his ability to look at all people as both very real human beings and important human beings). He had a leadership role as president. The job of finding a place for the immigrant refugees to stay while they were in the United States was certainly not an easy one for him. The residents, who stayed within the Fort Ontario barred wire complex, succinctly stated, all were indebted to this particular president for choosing Fort Ontario in Oswego, New York as their very own safe haven - an area that these particular people began to call their home away from home.