Camp Flint
| Company type | Military hospital |
|---|---|
| Industry | Healthcare, Military |
| Founded | 1944 |
| Headquarters | Auburn , United States |
| Products | Medical care for military personnel and veterans |
DeWitt General Hospital was a US Army medical facility during World War II, situated in Auburn, California, at the intersection of C Avenue and First Street within Placer County. Established in 1944 to care for returning military personnel and soldiers stationed on the home front, it commenced operations on February 17, 1944. The hospital encompassed 2,285 beds distributed among single-level buildings on a sprawling 284-acre site located approximately three miles north of Auburn’s city center.
DeWitt General Hospital
Originally designated as Auburn General Hospital, the facility was soon renamed in honor of Brigadier General Calvin DeWitt (1840–1908), who served in the Civil War Medical Corps. The War Department authorized its construction on March 25, 1943, transforming farmland planted with fruit trees into a complex comprising 80 brick and stucco buildings. The hospital campus included a chapel, gymnasium, rehabilitation pool, fire station, kitchen facilities, a movie theater, and its own power generation plant.
DeWitt primarily provided general medical treatment to veterans returning from combat but also catered to soldiers from nearby military installations such as Camp Beale, Camp Kohler, McClellan Field, Sierra Army Depot, Reno Army Air Base, and Chico Army Air Field. Patient admissions reached their highest point at 2,310 on August 30, 1945. Following the conclusion of World War II, the hospital ceased operations on December 31, 1945. Although there were suggestions to repurpose the site as a Veterans Administration hospital, these plans were ultimately rejected.
On March 31, 1946, ownership of the property was transferred by the War Assets Administration to the State of California under strict conditions that limited its use exclusively to mental health services and prohibited any sale without prior Army approval for a period of 25 years. The agreement also imposed reporting obligations and specified actions should the state fail to adhere to these terms.
Camp Flint
Located near DeWitt General Hospital, Camp Flint functioned as a prisoner of war camp accommodating up to 500 German prisoners during World War II. Initially constructed in 1938 as a labor camp for unemployed men during the Great Depression under Federal and California public works programs, it consisted of wooden and canvas barracks. In January 1942, control shifted to the US Army, which stationed the 32nd Infantry Division followed by the 754th Military Police Battalion there to protect Southern Pacific Railroad tunnels and bridges from potential sabotage. In June 1945, approximately 200 German POWs were transferred from Florence, Arizona to assist with operations at DeWitt General Hospital. Camp Flint was decommissioned in 1946. Today, one of its former Works Progress Administration buildings houses the Gold Country Museum located on the fairgrounds.
- The site marker commemorates Camp Flint’s vital role in safeguarding Sierra Nevada railroad infrastructure during the war, notes that over 500 POWs were held at its peak capacity, details enhanced security measures implemented there, and records the hospital’s closure in late 1945 with POWs remaining until early 1946.*
DeWitt State Hospital
Established in 1947, DeWitt State Hospital began accepting patients transferred from other state psychiatric facilities and started admitting individuals from local counties by July 1950. It provided services to residents of Placer, Modoc, Lassen, Sierra, Yuba, Sutter, and El Dorado counties. The patient census peaked at approximately 2,800 in 1960. After fulfilling its mandated 25-year service commitment, the hospital shut down in 1972 and ownership was transferred to Placer County on April 1 of that year.
County of Placer administration
The former hospital has been transformed into the Placer County government service hub. It currently accommodates the Placer County Jail, Juvenile Detention Facility, Adult System of Care programs, Human Services, Vital Records, and Community Health departments. Various sections of the complex support professional, residential, commercial, and agricultural sectors, including a farmers' market and Skyline Church. Nearly 30% of the initial 80 structures have been demolished.