WAR BABIES

During WW II, over 300,000 troops were trained seven miles north of Bastrop at Camp swift. Many women moved to Bastrop for a few months to be near their soldier one last time before his deployment overseas. Some of these women, upon the death of a child, had no money for burial. Assistance was provided by the owners of Hasler Brothers Funeral Home who bought fabric from the local “Five & Dime” store to line small wooden coffins and purchased doll clothes for the deceased infants. The children were buried free of charge in this area of Fairview. When the mothers returned to their homes in distant towns or states, the graves were forgotten. It is believed there are at least 16 War Babies in unmarked graves. Their names are unknown.

The Bastrop County Historical Society has placed small crosses where the children are thought to be buried. It is speculated this area may have been
reserved for local children long before the war began.

Bastop County Historical Society 2005