By April of 1945, WWII was winding down. Hitler died on April 30, and victory in europe was formally declared on May 9. Amache officially closed in October, 1945, though Public Proclamation No. 21 was officially issued on January 2, 1945, allowing Japanese Americans to return home.
But where was home?
People had left homes, businesses, and farms behind. Now they were given very short notice that they had to leave Amache. They were given $25 and a train or bus ticket. Some people returned to California and the west coast and tried to rebuild their previous lives. They often returned to face more prejudice. Others, invited to stay in Colorado by Governor Ralph Carr, started over again in the only western state that welcomed them.

This photo, dated October 15, 1945, shows the last internee to leave Amache.

Shuichi Yamamoto, last Amache evacuee to leave the Granada Project Relocation Center, says "Goodbye" to Project Director James G. Lindley, as War Relocation Authority camp is officially closed October 15, 1945. Mr. Yamamoto, 65 years of age, is returning to his former home in Marysville, California.

539903.jpg

History Colorado

Shuichi Yamamoto leaves Amache

Amache residents get off the truck at the Granada Relocation Center to board a train back to California.

Last of the residents of the Amache Relocation Center awaiting the arrival of the train for the journey to the west coast or to new homes elsewhere in the country. A total of nearly 15,000 evacuees were inducted into the Granada Project, Amache, Colorado, since August 27, 1942, when the first group arrived from the Merced Assembly Center to prepare the camp for those to follow. The Relocation Center, as its name implies, was a temporary residence for those of Japanese ancestry who were transferred from their homes along the west coast under a war emergency measure of 1942. Many of the evacuees during the past three years were able to resettle and find new homes in the Middle West and eastern states. From September 1, 1945, to the closing date of October 15, 3,105 persons have gone back to their former homes or have relocated elsewhere. The last to leave the center a group of 126, left on two special coaches for Sacramento and nearby towns. At the peak of its population, Amache had 7,567 residents. 412 births were recorded and 107 deaths during the three years of its existence.

539938.jpg

Residents Leave Amache

 Last of the residents of the Amache Relocation Center waiting to board the train which will carry them from Granada to their former homes on the west coast.

22-0233M.jpg

Train at Amache

An elderly woman enjoys an ice cream cone at Amache while waiting for the truck to the railroad station.

Here, an elderly couple enjoy an ice cream cone while waiting for the trucks which will carry them to the railway station at Granada. Scenes at the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad depot, Granada, Colorado, as 170 evacuees from the Amache Center entrain for their former homes in California, October 6, 1945. Four special coaches and one Pullman, reserved for the aged, invalids and mothers with small infants, were provided for the returnees. In addition to center departees, passengers on the special included servicemen on furlough and other family members, already located, who returned to help relatives pack, then accompanied them back to California. Two more special trains are scheduled for the Amache Center, the last special coaches on October 15, when the remaining residents (about 85) will start westward for Sacramento and nearby points. This will mark the closing date of the Granada Project, the first of the War Relocation Authority centers to be closed.

539907.jpg

An elderly couple enjoys ice cream

The last internees at the Amache Relocation Center, at one time numbering over 7,000, board the train at Granada for the journey to the west coast or to start a new life elsewhere.

Last of the residents of the Amache Relocation Center, at one time numbering 8,000, board the train at Granada for the journey to the west coast or to new homes elsewhere in the country.

539905.jpg

Residents leave Amache

A child waits with luggage for the train to California.

Children guard the family possessions while awaiting the arrival of the train which will carry them from Granada to their former homes on the west coast. A total of nearly 15,000 evacuees were inducted into the Granada Project, Amache, Colorado, since August 27, 1942, when the first group arrived from the Merced Assembly Center to prepare the camp for those to follow. The Relocation Center, as its name implies, was a temporary residence for those of Japanese ancestry who were transferred from their homes along the west coast under a war emergency measure of 1942. Many of the evacuees during the past three years were able to resettle and find new homes in the Middle West and eastern states. From September 1, 1945, to the closing date of October 15, 3,105 persons have gone back to their former homes or have relocated elsewhere. The last to leave the center a group of 126, left on two special coaches for Sacramento and nearby towns. At the peak of its population, Amache had 7,567 residents. 412 births were recorded and 107 deaths during the three years of its existence.

539945.jpg

Children wait for the train

Freight was placed in the High School gymnasium prior to being shipped back to California.

Evacuee freight stored in high school gymnasium prior to being shipped to their homes on the west coast. 

22-0239M.jpg

Amache Freight

Last of the residents of the Amache Relocation Center board the train at Granada for the journey to the west coast or to new homes elsewhere in the country. A total of nearly 15,000 evacuees were inducted into the Granada Project, Amache, Colorado, since August 27, 1942, when the first group arrived from the Merced Assembly Center to prepare the camp for those to follow. The Relocation Center, as its name implies, was a temporary residence for those of Japanese ancestry who were transferred from their homes along the west coast under a war emergency measure of 1942. Many of the evacuees during the past three years were able to resettle and find new homes in the Middle West and eastern states. From September 1, 1945, to the closing date of October 15, 3,105 persons have gone back to their former homes or have relocated elsewhere. The last to leave the center a group of 126, left on two special coaches for Sacramento and nearby towns. At the peak of its population, Amache had 7,567 residents. 412 births were recorded and 107 deaths during the three years of its existence.

539949.jpg

Residents board the train

Two little girls are shown descending from one of the trucks on arrival at the Granada station where they will entrain for the west coast. Scenes at the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad depot, Granada, Colorado, as 170 evacuees from the Amache Center entrain for their former homes in California, October 6, 1945. Four special coaches and one Pullman, reserved for the aged, invalids and mothers with small infants, were provided for the returnees. In addition to center departees, passengers on the special included servicemen on furlough and other family members, already located, who returned to help relatives pack, then accompanied them back to California. Two more special trains are scheduled for the Amache Center, the last special coaches on October 15, when the remaining residents (about 85) will start westward for Sacramento and nearby points. This will mark the closing date of the Granada Project, the first of the War Relocation Authority centers to be closed.

Standards for After the War: Leaving Amache