These unique photographs from 1908 depict the hospital tent at Camp McKinley in Somerset, Pennsylvania, and the First Regiment Junior Order of United American Mechanics Volunteers of Pennsylvania.

. Very little information was located for this pre-World War I camp, but a postcard featured online was entitled “Camp McKinley, Somerset, PA” and dated 27 July 1903.

The Senate Congressional Record for 12 February 1903 included a resolution of the Chamber of Commerce of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, urging the passage of Senate bill 6498, for the purchase of land in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, for a military camp – the the Committee on Military Affairs.

A quick search was conducted regarding the men in the second photograph, with only one positively identified at this time – Lieutenant John Maynard Fulton [Serial number 2585369] was born on 18 February 1890 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, he was the son of James D. Fulton and Elizabeth Sheller. John served with the Medical Department of the United States Army during World War I from 25 June 1918 until 1 February 1919.

A life-long bachelor, he was employed as a tinner and resided at the Allison Hotel on 10th and Market Street in Harrisburg at the time of his death in 1962. He was interred at Westminster Cemetery.

Sources

• “Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1971,” database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 February 2025); Certificate 075241-62, John M. Fulton; citing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health Vital Statistics, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg.
• “Pennsylvania, U.S., World War I Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948,” database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 February 2025); Number 37697, John M. Fulton; citing World War I Veterans Services and Compensation File, 1934-1948, RG 19, Series 19.91; Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg.