| Merizo (Malesso) and Umatac Sleepy southern villages that saw little of the war |
| Merizo (Malesso) |
| Merizo (Malesso in the local Chamorro language) saw little of WWII. Merizo didn't have much in the way of fortifications, and there was no great battle fought here, not like Fonte Plateau or Sumay. However, that "great battle" at Sumay resulted in the total destruction of that village. The Merlyn G. Cook School building just barely qualifies as a "pre-war buidling." It was constructed from March - June, 1941, to replace the original Merlyn G. Cook School, which had been wiped off the map by a super typhoon. The school reopened with about 75 students present taking evening classes. After the occupation began in Dec. of 1941, the school was renamed Mashiyama Gakko by the Japanese and in July of 1942 it became a Japanese school with a three-level elementary Japanese curriculum during the day and adult classes at night. The building also served in 1944 as the headquarters of the Chamorro resistance, and acted as home to over 200 people. After the war, the school reopened as Merizo Elementary. In 1966, the building was moved from its orginal location several hundred feet to its present site in Merizo Park where it served as a youth center for many years. Currently the building is unoccupied after having sustained severe damage during the several major typhoons that schwacked Guam during the 1990's. The Merlyn G. Cook School is on the Guam Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places. |
(Left) The Guam Scenic/Historic marker along Route
2A, which runs through the small village of Merizo.
(Above) Hibiscus bushes surround three sides of the
building, nearly hiding it from view. A closer inspection
will reveal a number of blown-out windows, evidence of
the multiple typhoons that have damaged the building.
Eventually it will be put to rights. (Below) Local children
play around the historic structure on a Saturday
afternoon. 31 Jul '04.
2A, which runs through the small village of Merizo.
(Above) Hibiscus bushes surround three sides of the
building, nearly hiding it from view. A closer inspection
will reveal a number of blown-out windows, evidence of
the multiple typhoons that have damaged the building.
Eventually it will be put to rights. (Below) Local children
play around the historic structure on a Saturday
afternoon. 31 Jul '04.
Historical Note: After the American invasion had begun in 1944, the Japanese sent troops to
re-secure the resistance hotbed of Merizo. The locals met the Japanese soldiers on the road and
pelted them with stones, bottles...whatever the mob could get its hands on. The Japanese troops
retreated northward, and never entered Merizo again. Merizo is thus the only village on Guam that
was liberated entirely by the local Chamorro inhabitants once the American forces had landed on
island.
re-secure the resistance hotbed of Merizo. The locals met the Japanese soldiers on the road and
pelted them with stones, bottles...whatever the mob could get its hands on. The Japanese troops
retreated northward, and never entered Merizo again. Merizo is thus the only village on Guam that
was liberated entirely by the local Chamorro inhabitants once the American forces had landed on
island.
The Kampanayun (Bell Tower) in Merizo.
Built in 1919, it is one of the few pre-war
structures that survive on Guam. It was rung
when the Japanese were driven out in 1944.
Feb. 2003.
Built in 1919, it is one of the few pre-war
structures that survive on Guam. It was rung
when the Japanese were driven out in 1944.
Feb. 2003.
Hidden in a
jungle grove right in
the middle of
Malesso is the only
known Japanese-built
structure left on
Guam. This hollow
shell used to be a rice
mill. This mill was
part of the effort the
invaders made to
create a stable agri-
cultural industry on
jungle grove right in
the middle of
Malesso is the only
known Japanese-built
structure left on
Guam. This hollow
shell used to be a rice
mill. This mill was
part of the effort the
invaders made to
create a stable agri-
cultural industry on
Guam that could sustain not only the local Japanese
population, but also Japanese forces out in the
Pacific fighting the war.
population, but also Japanese forces out in the
Pacific fighting the war.
| Faha and Tinta Massacre Sites |
Guam saw four great massacres of civilians by the
Japanese as the American invasion grew imminent. One
was in Yigo, one in the Fena Valley, and the other two
occured at Faha and Tinta--both in Merizo.
Japanese as the American invasion grew imminent. One
was in Yigo, one in the Fena Valley, and the other two
occured at Faha and Tinta--both in Merizo.
Today both the Faha trench and
the Tinta cave are filled in and are
both maintained as memorial sites
by the village of Merizo. Faha is a
very easy hike just above the
Merizo Cemetery.
the Tinta cave are filled in and are
both maintained as memorial sites
by the village of Merizo. Faha is a
very easy hike just above the
Merizo Cemetery.
The Tinta Massacre site is located in dense jungle surrounded
by agricultural fields. The easiest way to get to it is to cross the
fields, but get permission from the land owners first! Most will
be happy to let you cross their property to pay your respects at
the site. Unlike Faha, the Tinta atrocity had a few survivors.
by agricultural fields. The easiest way to get to it is to cross the
fields, but get permission from the land owners first! Most will
be happy to let you cross their property to pay your respects at
the site. Unlike Faha, the Tinta atrocity had a few survivors.
The San Dimas Catholic Church
in Merizo has this marker out
front. It is a monument to the
memory of the dead at Faha and
Tinta.
in Merizo has this marker out
front. It is a monument to the
memory of the dead at Faha and
Tinta.
| Umatac |
| Not five minutes from Merizo is Umatac, a sleepy sea-side village that boasts, among other things, the spot where Magellan first landed on Guam centuries ago. This is the San Dionisio Church, built in 1939. It is one of only two Catholic churches to survive the Japanese occupation (the being in Inarajan). Off shore are a Japanese Zero fighter you can dive to, and pieces of a midget sub are on the sandbar at the head of the bay. |
