Wartime history uncovered in Stony Lake

– Oceana County Sheriff’s Office photo

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor

CLAYBANKS TOWNSHIP — Artillery mortars from the former US Army training base, Camp Claybanks, were discovered in a culvert underneath a resident’s driveway Thursday, June 5.

The mortars, which are being turned over to the National Guard for disposal, were found in the 7300 block of South Scenic Drive. “There was an old Army base there — it was called Camp Claybanks,” said Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast.

“The caller informed us that his property and the surrounding area had been an Army base around 70 years ago,” states the police report. “He stated that there were two unexploded mortars inside a culvert underneath his driveway and showed us the location. I looked in the culvert and observed what appeared to be a whole anti-aircraft round about 3 feet long including the shell and just the head of another.”

– Oceana County Sheriff’s Office photo

“We had the Michigan State Police Bomb Squad come to the scene,” said Sheriff Mast. “A sergeant from the bomb squad determined that they were 100 mm rounds. He used a portable x-ray machine to look at the interior of the rounds and advised — because of the markings and the x-rays, he believed it to be live. He said they were property of the US Army and will be turned over to the National Guard base in Grayling to be disposed of.”

It was not immediately clear how the homeowner discovered the mortars. 

In 2021, a resident discovered the foundation of a building that was part of Camp Claybanks which had been buried under a dune for 63 years until the waves washed it out.

Camp Claybanks opened in 1953, just as the Korean War was ending. It was situated just south of what is now Claybanks Township Park on both sides of Scenic Drive. Concrete walls on the east side of Scenic Drive still stand and are visible from the road.

The camp was used for training Army soldiers and reservists to shoot anti-aircraft missiles, using remote control airplanes as targets.

“The former Camp Claybanks Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) Firing Range was established on March 1, 1953,” according to the US Army Corps. of Engineers Louisville District website. “It was solely used by the Fifth US Army units between 1953 and 1958 for training in anti-aircraft artillery firing at aerial targets over Lake Michigan, using .50 caliber, 40 mm, 90 mm and 120 mm anti-aircraft weapons. 

“The 438.43-acre training site extended along the east shore of Lake Michigan in Claybanks Township, Oceana County, Michigan. The Department of Defense also obtained permits from the State of Michigan for restricted water space danger zone in Lake Michigan for firing over the water. 

“The camp, located 20 miles north of Muskegon, trained 1,200 active duty personnel during its five years in operation. It also provided training for 2,800 reservists and guardsmen from Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa. The camp was operated by five officers and 90 enlisted men. 

“On February 3, 1958, Camp Claybanks was placed in an excess status and is currently used as residential and recreational property.

“On June 19, 1992, a landowner of a portion of the former camp contacted the Detroit District, US Army Corps of Engineers. This landowner and other landowners reported that they found both expended and live belts of .50 caliber ammunition, and at least one unidentified projectile, presumably a mortar round. This suggested that the former use of the site as an AAA firing range may still have the presence of ordnance or explosive waste hazards. A site investigation consisting of ordnance sweeps to verify and quantify the presence of ordnance was recommended in June 1993.

“In May 1996, the Detroit District conducted a site visit and recommended hazardous, toxic, or radiological waste (HTRW) testing for possible lead contamination in the soil and groundwater. The site visit confirmed the possibility of contamination and identified specific debris used by the Department of Defense.

“This area is under the Formerly Used Defense Site Program and is currently managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District in Louisville, Kentucky.”

The base had a launch pad for planes that flew out over Lake Michigan. Soldiers fired range missiles at the planes that would fall to the bottom of Lake Michigan when struck. 

Camp Claybanks is not the location’s only claim to fame. The Daisy Day,  a 103-foot wooden, steam-powered, bulk freighter sank there in Lake Michigan Oct. 11, 1891. It was discovered just off the beach in 2004.

– Oceana County Sheriff’s Office photo

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