Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy
March / April 2015
VOLUME 39, ISSUE 2
Connecticut preparations going forward
East Windsor
Connecticut
T
he 2015 CCC Legacy Gathering is being hosted by
member Marty Podskoch. Marty has been a student
of CCC and conservation history in the northeast for
several years and all attendees will be the beneficiary of his
research and travel.
Highlights will be tours of the CCC Museum at Stafford
Springs and Chatfield Hollow State Park which is the chosen location for the CCC Worker Statue when it is ready to
be purchased.
You do not need to be a member of CCC Legacy in order
2015
CCC Legacy Gathering
East Windsor, CT
to enjoy these events….Everyone is welcome.
For those who have never attended, please give
your attendance some consideration. Meet other
CCC advocates and members on your trip to East
Windsor, Connecticut.
Tentative schedule and registration can be
viewed on page 6.
CCC Legacy sponsors the Corp Network Conference
September 24—26, 2015
By: Joan Sharpe
Host: Marty Podskoch
L
ike NACCCA before us, CCC Legacy has been a consistent supporter of The Corps Network. Each year
CCC Legacy actively participates in the annual conference in Washington DC with the goal in mind to share
the story of the CCC with the conference attendees. Our participation also raises the awareness of the CCC
and how it relates to the modern corps community.
See page 6 to join us!
Inside this issue:
CCC at Fort Clinch, FL
Shenandoah County History
2
WVSCCCMA Update
Upton State Forest Update
Annual Election Information
3
Eldora, Iowa-Youth Preserve CCC Recreation Hall
4-5
2015 Gathering Information
6
Registration
7
Exploring Connecticut
This year the conference was held on February 8-11 and the theme was “Tackling America’s Greatest Challenges”.
The conference program highlighted current news about the modern corps movement, legislative activity, and significant accomplishments by corps and corpsmembers.
One of the annual highlights of the program is showcasing six corpsmembers who have made great personal improvements during their service year.
Each year, Corps Directors nominate
members for the Corpsmember of the
Year competition.
2015 Corpsmembers of the Year are:
8-9
CT map with camps
10-11
Exploring Connecticut
12-13
Peter Wonsewcz History
14
Peter Wonsewics, continued
WVSCCCMA Update
15
Jake Keene Chapter Eternal
16
Remembering Henry Carlyle
Harry McKee—Ambassador
17
Chapter Eternal
18
New Members
Membership
19
Legacy Store
20
© 2015 CCC Legacy. All Rights Reserved
Graciela "Gracie" Billingsley
Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, Colorado Steamboat Springs, CO
Harris Cox
Civicorps - Oakland, CA
Mokhtar Mohammadi
Onondaga Earth Corps - Syracuse,
NY
Jasmine Romero
Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, New
Mexico - Taos, NM
Jeremiah Ruiz
Urban Corps of San Diego County San Diego, CA
It is interesting to point out that the Urban Corps of San Diego was established by CCC Boy Bud Wilbur and his
wife Marion of San Diego. Additionally,
as members of NACCCA Chapter 56,
California, they also organized the effort
to create the bronze recast of the WPA
era statue “Spirit of the CCC”, now commonly called “Iron Mike” which is located
in Griffith Park at the Travel Town Museum, California. Through their work the
legacy of the CCC will live on for generations to come.
Above: 2015 Corps Network Conference advertisement used as part
of our corporate sponsorship publicity. Chapter #113 of Maryland
regularly attends the graduations of the National Civilian Community
Corps (NCCC) in Maryland. George Smith is pictured walking with
the graduates of the newly organized Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) Corps which is designed to respond to
natural disasters under the auspicious of FEMA. To date at the Federal level, we have thought of Corps working with the Department of
Interior and the Department of Agriculture. This expansion demonstrates the effort to include young people in serving America during
times of natural disaster.
Page 2
March/April 2015
Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy Journal
HONORING THE LEGACY OF THE CCC AT FORT CLINCH STATE PARK
Contributed by : Benjamin Faure, Park Manager
Help the Friends of Fort Clinch purchase a monument to honor the role of the Civilian Conservation Corps at Fort Clinch State Park
T
he history at Fort Clinch State Park is rich – from the native Timucuan Indians in 1100AD through centuries of exploration, war and
growth, to the present day award winning Florida State Park. All of
these periods are significant, and have been preserved thanks to the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps program, also known as the CCC.
Friends of Fort Clinch State Park, a 501c3 Citizen Support Organization, is
currently seeking donations and sponsors to purchase and erect a statue
to honor the Civilian Conservation Corps program.
Nine of Florida’s First State Parks were developed by the hard work of the
CCC including:
Florida Caverns, Fort Clinch, Highlands Hammock, Hillsborough River, Mike
Roess Gold Head Branch, Myakka River, O’leno, Ravine Gardens & Torreya
State Parks. Each of the sites were selected for their unique and irreplaceable natural and cultural resources.
By 1941, 99 buildings had been constructed in these parks. By 1942, all of the
CCC camps in Florida were closed because of World War II. State park development came to a halt and did not advance for another decade.
About the Civilian Conservation Corps
Between 1937 and 1942 CCC Company 1420 worked at Fort Clinch State Park
constructing the Museum, River Campground and Park Roads. Many of the
job assignments involved performing heavy physical labor and primitive tools
compared to today’s standards. One of the most physically grueling tasks performed at Fort Clinch was the removal of over 10,000 cubic yards of sand and
debris which had blown into the Fort itself after being abandoned for many
years. While this may seem like a significant amount of work imagine using
nothing but shovels and wheel barrows to complete these jobs!
During the period of the great depression (1933-1942), the CCC was developed under the “New Deal” era of President Franklin D Roosevelt. The
new program was designed to provide jobs for young men and relief for
families who had difficulty finding employment, while at the same time implementing one of the largest conservation programs in the United States.
During its nine year existence, 2.5 million young men participated in the
CCC program nationwide. This creative program provided them with shelter, clothing, and food, together with a small wage of $30 a month of which
$25 was sent home to support their family. Members of the CCC planted
nearly 3 billion trees to help reforest America, constructed more than 800
parks nationwide and upgraded many state parks, updated forest fire
fighting methods, and built a network of service buildings and public roadways in remote areas throughout the US.
Without the hard work and dedication of the Civilian Conservation Corps Program and its members, Fort Clinch State Park might not exist today.
Friends of Fort Clinch Seeking Donations
Role of the CCC in Florida State Parks
Although the Florida legislature authorized the creation of a state park system in 1925, development of the soon to be “Florida State Parks” did not
take place until the Great Depression of the 1930s and the development of
federal New Deal programs to create the impetus for the formation of the
Florida State Park system.
Friends of Fort Clinch State Park is seeking donations and sponsors to help
support the purchase and placement of a monument to educate park visitors
about the Civilian Conservations Corps role in developing Fort Clinch State
Park and their significant contribution to preserving the site for future generations to enjoy. If you are interested in donating towards this program, please
contact the park at 904-277-7233 or visit the parks website online at
www.floridastateparks.org/fortclinch and click on additional information.
Shenandaoh County Heritage Day, VA
E
ach year CCC Legacy participates in the Shenandoah County
Heritage day which was held on April 11. Annually this community history event showcases a different section of the county. This year the featured area was the Colombia Furnace service
area for Co. 333, Camp Wolf Gap. The exhibit included a display
board showing photos of Co. 333, PowerPoint presentation that was
in continuous play during the day, and handouts that shared the story
of the CCC. Like many community event there are always opportunities to meet interested advocates and listen to their stories about the
CCC.
Columbia Furnace is situated in the mountains on the western border
of the county and butts up to the West Virginia border. Co. 333, NF-7
and later NF-15, known as Camp Wolf Gap, was originally named
Camp George Washington. It was the second camp in Shenandoah
the County established on May 17, 1933 after Camp Roosevelt, Co.
322.
Generally the interpretation of Camp Wolf Gap competes with the first
camp for recognition. According to the 1937, 3rd District Annual,
Camp Wolf Gap holds the distinction of being the only camp in the
nation that was situated in two states.
L-R: Kenneth Hines, Edinburg, VA, who’s father served at Camp Roosevelt and
member Cheryl Dellinger, local events coordinator. Among her family ,Cheryl had
several family members who served in the CCC at both local camps.
Volume 39, Issue 2
Page 3
Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy Journal
West Virginia CCC Museum Association Update
Contributed by Member: Richard S. Baily
T
he twelfth annual Spring CCC Jubilee Reunion was held Saturday, April 18, 2015, at the Quiet Dell United Methodist Church,
Quiet Dell, Harrison County, West Virginia. The event which
honors the memory and contributions of the Civilian Conservation
Corps alumni and families is sponsored by the West Virginia State
Civilian Conservation Corps Museum Association. The State CCC
Museum (Camp Harrison) is located on the campus of the historic
Quiet Dell Grade School.
Charles R. Piercy of Kingmont, West Virginia, Acting President, was
master of ceremonies. The invocation was led by Dorothy Gunno of
Cross Lanes, West Virginia. The Pledge to the Flag was by George
Parnicza of Huntington. A reception of friends and guests preceded
the formality.
A solemn ceremony honoring living and passed CCC Veterans was
highlighted by the playing of the National Anthem followed by a moment of silence, then Taps, on trumpets by Markie Shellhammer accompanied by her father, Dr. Mark Shellhammer, both of Clarksburg,
West Virginia.
(Continued on page 15)
Annual Election Information
N
ominating Committee Chairman,
Cheryl Dellinger
Call for candidates….
Honorees of the CCC Jubilee, April 18, 2015.
L-R: Dr. Robert E. Anderson, Ken Scribner, Raymond E. Teter, B.D. Linn, Harlen C.
Frederick, and James Lewis.
Upton State Forest now on national register
S
“As youth, when we played ball, team members would anxiously await their turn to bat.
As each stepped up to the plate, we realized
the importance of our hit …or miss. With each
swing and hit, we as a team made our way around the bases to
reach our goal …..to have our run count.
Now that we are a little older, we encourage you to be a part of another team, our CCC team. We encourage you step up, swing and
make your run count by serving on the Board.
Please feel free to contact any nominating committee member if you
have questions regarding qualifications, responsibilities, or the nomination process.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Mahatma Gandhi”
Information contributed by: Ellen Arnold, Friends of Upton State Forest
ince its establishment, the Friends of Upton State Forest in Massachusetts have
made great strides in preserving and educating the local community to the history and heritage of the CCC at Upton. In 2014, the hard work was evident
when the official notice was received by the Town of Upton and the Department of
Conservation and Recreation (DCR) that the Upton State Forest Civilian Conservation Corps Resources Historic District has been placed on the National Register of
Historic Places effective 10-08-14. Ellen Arnold writes: “This is the culmination of
several years of work and advocacy. We want to thank the Town of Upton, members
of the DCR Staff who assisted with field work and expertise, and Sharyl Berg the consultant who wrote the nomination. Most of all we want to thank our members for their
support of our efforts.”
Advocates for the Upton State Forest have many things to celebrate this year. It is
the 100th anniversary of the first land acquisition, the 80th anniversary of the state
park designation and the opening of the CCC Camp, and the tenth anniversary of
Friends of Upton State Forest. If you would like to get involved in their effort or have
stories that would add to their effort, please contact CCC Legacy member, Ellen Armold at 508.529.6610 or [email protected].
Current Election Cycle
Intent to Serve
If you are interested in learning more about running as a candidate for election, please call the Nominating Committee
Chairman and you can learn more about the process.
By submitting your “Intent to Serve” you can express your
interest in having your name on the ballot for election. The
Intent to Serve includes:



Resume: A brief outline of experience
Experiences & Contributions: Experiences and contributions you can bring to the management of CCC Legacy as a corporation with a 501(c)3 IRS designation.
What does service mean to you? Summary of why
you think it is important to serve as a volunteer in your
community and use your time and talent to be on the
board of a national charitable organization.
Contact: Cheryl Dellinger, Chairman
709 Park Ave.
Woodstock, VA 22664
[email protected] 540-325-4923
Three to be elected for 2016-2017: The
current cycle elects three board members for
two-year terms for 2016-2017 and represents
the slots of 5, 6, and 7. Presently these positions are held by Martha Smith, Phillip Gouzie, and Tim Montgomery. Martha Smith assumed the final year of the term of Barbara
Selesky who resigned.
Term: January 1, 2016 to December 31,
2017.
Last year: In 2014, slots 1, 2, 3, and 4 were
scheduled for election and those positions
are filled by Naomi Shaw, Jean Martin, Joan
Sharpe, Daniel Newquist (completing the
term of Charles Varro, who passed away during his term.)
Election Results Announcement: Official
election results will be announced at the annual meeting in Connecticut.
2015 Election Schedule:
In the January February Journal the election
schedule for the 2016 was announced. The
schedule for the rest of the year is:
June 10 Deadline —Submit Letters of Intent
to Serve to the Nominating Committee
Chairman, Cheryl Dellinger.
July/August Journal—publish ballot
September 7—Deadline postmarks for written ballots
September 11—Deadline for online ballots
www.ccclegacy.org
Annual Meeting—Announce ballot results
October—Update Board Rosters, board orientation,
December—Board will elect officers
Page 4
March/April 2015
Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy Journal
Eldora, Iowa —Youth Preserve CCC Recreation Hall
Contributed by: Becky Rose, Co-Chairman
W
e all know the history of the Emergency Conservation Works/
Civilian Conservation Corps program and how it was established in
1933. However, not many of the buildings remain. In most areas,
these structures were temporary tent campsites, or the permanent campsites
have been dismantled or moved.
Today in Iowa, there is such a building - the Recreational Hall located on the
Hardin County Fairgrounds in Eldora, Iowa. In 1933, a portion of the fair
grounds was deeded to the CCC and would become known as Camp Flying
Goose and quartered Companies 1755 and 1752 from 1933-1942.
Company 1755, would install a dam and a second lake for Pine Creek State
Park. Company 1752, the second company on the property, arrived in 1935
and built the stone structures, trails, erosion control, fish hatchery, created a
tree nursery on a local farm, helped the community with fire fighting, and assisted with other supporting conservation work in the county. During World
War II the campsite was converted to a Prisoner of War camp.
Visitors of the Hardin County Fair still enjoy this local CCC historic icon.
Documented photos show that the recreational hall was 60' x 20' with a
sandstone fireplace in the middle. Most of the buildings were built in the simple gable style fashion. The unique feature of this building are the nine pane
windows. Windows for the other structures appear to be simple four pane.
It is estimated that in approximately 1939 that an addition to the structure
transformed the building into a "T-shape". The additional larger wing housed
the canteen area. Other markers within the building are that there are bars on
only five of the twenty-two windows. Historians report that the bars were
placed on the windows to discourage people from breaking into the canteen
area where pop, cigarettes, and personal items were sold.
Recreation Hall as it appears today.
Companies 1755 and 1752 were located at Camp Flying Goose on the
Hardin County Fairgrounds in Eldora, IA. The Recreation Hall is the only
remaining camp building.
The buildings were bare and had tar paper and lath as their roofing for a
number of years. According to the Erosioneers newsletter, the campsite
would become one of Iowa's most beautiful campsites displaying tile and
brick walkways that were complimented with beautiful flower beds edged with
stones.
When the Hall was renovated in 2009, original signatures of the men were
found written in chalk and pencil. It is noted that the signatures in the south
section of the recreational hall is dated in 1939.
Each company had their own newsletter. Company 1755 had the Pine Lake
Bugle and the Company 1752 publication was called the Erosioneers. These
local newsletters would inform everyone about camp activities, ongoing projects, sports information, mischievous jesting, art and poems from some of
the residents at the camp. Local establishments also displayed advertisements.
Camp Flying Goose campsite had twenty plus buildings. This aerial
photo shows the five barracks and supporting buildings below the oval
racetrack. The Recreational Hall (hidden by the trees in the photo to the
left) was one of the first three buildings to be built in October, 1933.
Company Street—Camp Flying Goose
Volume 39, Issue 2
Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy Journal
Page 5
the CCC/POW Building
Organization: Youth to Restore CCC/POW Building
By: Joan Sharpe
Supporters of CCC heritage are emerging from
many difference locations. Recently I was contacted by Becky Rose of Eldora, IA. After hearing
of the Eldora effort tp restore a CCC Recreation
Hall at the Hardin County Fairgrounds, I am once
again assured that people do care about CCC heritage.
In 2008, Youth to Restore the CCC/POW building
(YRCPB) was established by a teen who participated in the 4-H program. Since 2008, YRCPB
has been renovating this building and it has been
placed on the National Historic Register
(2012). The building is the only one left of the
original campsite and is in the same location of the
Hardin County Fairgrounds. Renovations have
included, a new cement foundation, new shingles,
fireplace and the twenty-two 9-pane windows have
all been historically refurbished. Weatherization
will be completed this year and funds are being
raised to proceed with electrical and HVAC.
If you are from Iowa and would like to help with
this worthwhile project please contact Becky Rose,
Co-Chair, at [email protected].
Camp Flying Goose
Company 1752, CCC
Eldora, Iowa
September 23, 1940
L-R: Lorimer Hargrove, C.E.A., and
A.G. Beckman, Project Superintendent.
For more about this project
to preserve CCC heritage in
Iowa please visit:
 Blogspot: [email protected]
 Facebook: Civilian Conservation Corps/POW Rec Hall.
Thanks to the youth of Eldora and Hardin County
for your dedication and helping to “pass the legacy
to future generations”.
Page 6
Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy Journal
Volume 39, Issue 2
2015 CCC Legacy Gathering - Connecticut
September 24—September 26, 2015
East Windsor, Connecticut
Host: Marty Podskoch, Author
East Windsor
Schedule subject to change
Connecticut
Sept. 24
4:00
6.00
7.00
Thursday-4-8 pm-
8:00
Registration evening—Ballroom
Welcome and finger foods and wine / Ballroom
Connecticut CCC Camp History
Power Point Presentation—Marty Podskoch, Host, member, and author
Sept. 25 Friday-
Hotel:
Clarion Inn & Suites Bradley Airport
161 Bridge St
East Windsor, CT
1-860-623-9411
Reservations: 855-707-3610
Standard Room $70 + tax or Suite Room
$85 + Tax
Hotel Amenities:
Includes free hot breakfast and free shuttle
to Bradley Airport (15 minutes), Has indoor
& outdoor pools, exercise room., wireless
Internet, restaurant and bar.
Shuttle:
A roundtrip airport shuttle is complimentary
with the hotel (available 24 hours), and a
train station pick-up service is also provided
at no charge.
Airport:
Bradley International Airport
Serving Hartford County, Connecticut
C -U-N
September
7:00 8:30
9:00
9:30
10.30
11:30
12:00
1:00
2:00
3:00
5:00
6:00
7:00
Continental breakfast for registered guests of the hotel
Welcome & Speakers
Connecticut Department Energy Environment Protection, representative.
CCC Legacy, Joan Sharpe
Depart the hotel for field Trip
People’s State Forest and Nature Museum. Camp White-106 E. River Road, Pleasant
Valley, CT
Depart the park
Lunch—Burr Pond State Park—Camp Walcott-384 Burr Mountain Road, Torrington,
CT
Housatonic Meadows State Park—Camp Toomey—20 Mohawk Mt. Rd., Goshen CT
Eric Sloan Museum,& Kent Iron Furnace, 31 Kent Cornwall Road, Kent, CT
Kent Falls—Built by Macedonia Brook CCC Camp—462 Cornwall Road., Kent, CT
Optional: Housatonic Meadows State Park, 90 Route 7N, Sharon, CT. explore Camp
Cross
Return to the Inn
Buffet Dinner
CCC Legacy Annual Business Meeting
Sept. 26 Saturday- Tour Day7:30 8:00
9:00
10.30
12:00
1.30
1:45
3.00
4:30 5:30
6:00
Sept. 27
Continental breakfast for registered guests of the hotel
Field Trip—Connecticut Museum in Stafford Springs-166 Chestnut Hill Rd.,
Stafford Springs, CT
Leave
Camp Roosevelt-1st Connecticut CCC camp—
Chatfield Hollow State Park Killingworth, CT
Depart
Camp Hadley—Explore campsite on trail—129 Warpas Road, Madison, CT
Depart
CCC Authors / Researchers roundtable—Kathleen Duxbury
Banquet Buffet dinner—Honor visiting CCC Alumni—Share stories.
Connecticut State Troubadour. Tom Callinan—singing about the CCC.
Sunday Departure Day
-Continental breakfast-& check out
Option: Visit Connecticut Air Museum near Bradley Airport—
2 hr. guided tour - $10.00
More detail will be provided as the agenda is developed
“CCC” what’s happening in Connecticut!
Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy Journal
March/April 2015
Page 7
Connecticut here we come!
Register here to explore the CCC in Connecticut!
Registration Packages
Package A:
Full Package Registration Fee– Thursday—Sunday:
$150—All attendees
Package B:
One Day Package includes Transportation & meals (either Friday/Saturday) $60
Package C
Friday/Saturday evening meal: $30
2015 CCC Legacy Gathering Registration - Windsor, CT
(One registration form per person)
September 24—26, 2015
Name:
___________________________________________________________________
Address:
__________________________________________________________________
City:
___________________________________________________________________
State:_________________________ Zip:________________________________________
Send Registration & Payment to:
Make Checks Payable to: CCC Legacy
and send to our host:
Marty Podskoch,
43 O’Neill Lane
East Hampton, CT 06424
ATTN: CCC Legacy
Registration fees can be paid by
check , credit card, or
online with PayPal.
To use your credit card call:
CCC Legacy Office—540-984-8735
Package A: (Full registration—$150)
____________
Package B: (One Day- $60)
(Includes Transportation & Meals)
Thursday
Friday
____________
____________
Package C: Meal Only ($30)
Friday Buffet
____________
Saturday Buffet ____________
Total Registration
(per individual):
____________
Telephone:
________________________________________________________________
Email:
___________________________________________________________________
I am a CCC boy:_________ I served at:__________________________________________
Special Needs: _____________________________________________________________
Dietary Preferences:
Vegetarian_________ Vegan: ____________ Allergies:_________
Emergency Contact: Name ___________________________________________________
Emergency Telephone: ______________________________________________________
Other Notes: Provide Flight Information Below: (If you know it at the time of registration)
Page 8
Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy Journal
March/April 2015
Exploring the CCC in Connecticut
H
Contributed by Member: Marty Podskoch
ave you ever hiked the scenic trails in Chatfield Hollow
State Park, take a swim on a hot day at Day Pond
State Park in Colchester, or climbed the trail along the
falls at Kent Falls State Park?
These are some of the many works of the Civilian Conservation
Corps (CCC) in Connecticut's state parks and forests from 1933 to 1942 are
an enduring legacy. Thousands of young men in camps all over the state
came and worked building our campsites, making trails in the forests, planting trees, and a hundred other conservation jobs. We have inherited thousands of acres of conifers that are 67-75 years old, planted by the 'CCC
boys'. Many miles of the gravel roads they built, with stone bridges and culverts, were so well-constructed that they are still in use. Today there are
many dams, lakes, ponds, picnic pavilions and recreation areas that came
into being as the armies of CCC boys bent their backs to the work at hand.
The CCCs began during the Great Depression, a time when millions of people in the United States were unemployed. President Herbert
Hoover was unable to get the country moving. He ran again in 1932 and
promised a "chicken in every pot" but his opponent, Governor Franklin D.
Roosevelt of New York, promised a "New Deal."
Roosevelt was elected and during his inauguration on March 4,
1933 he said, "I propose to create a civilian conservation corps to be used
in simple work, not interfering with normal employment, and confining itself
to forestry, the prevention of soil erosion, flood control and similar projects."
He wanted to take millions of unemployed young men from poor families
and give them a job restoring our natural resources. The forests had been
destroyed by clear-cutting, pests and diseases, fire, and erosion. Roosevelt
had already tested a similar program as governor in NY where thousands of
unemployed men reforested one million acres of land.
On March 27th 1933 Roosevelt gave Congress the Emergency Conservation Work (ECW) bill. Congress passed it and Roosevelt signed it on
March 31st.
President Roosevelt promised to have 250,000 men in camps by
July and kept the promise. It turned out to be the nation's largest mobilization of manpower and equipment in our history. It required the cooperation
of many federal agencies. The Labor Department worked with the state and
local relief agencies in selecting the enrollees. The Departments of Agriculture and Interior planned and organized the projects. The War Department
was in charge of constructing and administering each camp. The Army provided the food, clothing, medical care and lodging. Roosevelt appointed
Robert Fechner as National Director of the ECW.
The requirements for each applicant were: 18-25 years old, unmarried, unemployed, healthy, not in school and capable of doing work. The
young men were eager to join because they were now earning thirty dollars
a month. They were also helping their parents because twenty-five dollars
went straight home to their parents and the boys had five dollars for themselves. The young men received three full meals a day, clothing, shelter,
and medical care.
On April 6, 1933 Connecticut had its first enrollee and by May 31
there were eight camps established with 200-250 men in each. By July 29th
there were 14 camps and at the end of December there were 15 camps.
Roosevelt also established veteran's camps for unemployed WWI
veterans. One veteran camp in Connecticut was located at Housatonic
Meadows State Park.
During the past year I began gathering information on the CCC
camps for a book, Civilian Conservation Corps Camps of Connecticut: Their
History, Lore and Legacy. I gave over sixty talks at libraries, historical societies and retirement homes. CCC members and their families came and
shared their stories and pictures.
When I visited Niantic, I met Carl Stamm, a retired DEP Parks and
Forest Supervisor who offered to help search for the location of the CCC
Author Marty Podskoch standing near Oak Lodge built by Camp Roosevelt CCC enrollees that is today a nature museum. It is also the future
site of a CCC Statue.
camps. It was a great adventure for both of us trying to find concrete foundations, pipes, wells, and buildings amidst debris, trees, and brush.
As we traveled I realized how fortunate I was to move to such a
beautiful state. My wife and I had spent 33 years teaching and raising our
family along the West Branch of the Delaware River in the Catskill Mountains. In 2005 we moved to Colchester, CT to be close to our daughter, sonin-law, and granddaughters. We built our home right next to the Salmon
River State Forest just a mile from a CCC campsite.
In the spring of 2008 Carl and I visited Chatfield Hollow State Park
in Killingworth. The park roads were closed to vehicles but the park was
packed with hikers. It was at this state forest that a group of 250 young men
arrived on May 23,1933. It was called Camp Roosevelt to honor the President and the young men set up Army tents until wooden barracks were
built. Their largest project was building a stone dam creating Schreeder
Pond. They also built a beautiful Adirondack-style building called Oak
Lodge along the pond. They also built 23 miles of truck trails and numerous
hiking trails. The camp closed on March 31, 1937 but to this day thousands
of visitors come each year to enjoy swimming, hiking, and picnicking.
On May 24, 1933 a group of 212 men left the Army Camp Wright on
Fishers Island where they had been given physicals, equipment and training. A boat transported them back to New London and they traveled in old
WWI Liberty trucks to New Fairfield. Michael Popovich of Waterbury told me
they arrived at Squantz Pond at about noontime and began setting up their
tents. "It was quite hectic pitching tents and digging a latrine. We were exhausted at night. Our big project was building a road through the nearby
Pootatuck Forest. We cleared the trees and brush and then used picks and
shovels to level the road. I learned how to use a jack hammer to break the
rocks." They also built a foot trail along Candlewood Lake. After a little over
two years the camp closed on October 30, 1935.
Camp Graves located on Route 190 in Union was the third Connecticut camp. It began on May 27, 1933 and the enrollees worked in the
Nipmuck State Forest where they established softwood plantations, built
forest roads, fire ponds, and recreation areas. They also built the entrance
road to Morey Pond, its caretaker's cabin, and bathhouses. Camp Graves’
boys also built the beautiful Mountain Laurel Sanctuary. They also worked
in Shenipsit Forest thinning the forest, and making road improvements on
Soap Stone Mountain. Camp Graves closed on April 22, 1936.
In May, 1933 Camp Wolcott in Burrville was established in the
Paugnut State Forest near Torrington. The men replaced the old wooden
dam on Burr Pond with a solid stone masonry one. They constructed a
three-mile foot-trail around Burr Pond, a stone administrative building, truck
trails (including 2 mi. Guerdat Rd.), and many miles of cross-country ski
Volume 39, Issue 2
Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy Journal
Page 9
Exploring the CCC in Connecticut, continued
trails.
Black Rock State Park near Thomaston is another mecca for swimmers and hikers. Camp Roberts (May, '33--Sept. '37) built truck and hiking
trails, planted trees, and thinned the forests. Work details also traveled
south on Route 8 and worked in the Naugatuck State Forest.
Camp Chapman (Jun. '33--Oct. '35) was established in East Lyme
on Stone's Ranch Military Reservation. The young men did a lot of work in
the Nehantic State Forest. They constructed a 2 mi. road traveling north
and south in the Nehantic State Forest. They battled Dutch elm disease and
planted pine trees. The boys traveled north and began constructing the
road in Devil's Hopyard State Park.
Camp Lonerghan (Jun. '33--May, '42) was located in Voluntown in
the Pachaug State Forest, the largest in Connecticut. The enrollees cut
trees that were made into lumber in the camp sawmill or used in the shingle
mill. They built numerous water holes for use in fighting fires. The young
men constructed miles of truck trails and built the Green Falls and Lawrence Roads. Dams and bathhouses were constructed at Phillips Pond and
Green Falls. The young men also built the Hopeville Pond State Park. Today hikers and campers enjoy the forests and ponds for swimming and fishing. There are sections of trails for horseback riding, motorcycling, biking,
and hunting. In the winter people ride their snowmobiles or go dog sledding.
The rhododendrons sanctuary attracts thousands during late spring.
Camp Robinson (Jun. '33--Jul. '41) was established in the Tunxis State
Forest in East Hartland. Truck trails, roads and dams were major projects.
Some of the foot-trails were: to Bragg Pond, Council Rocks and Roaring
Brook Falls. They also built miles of cross-country ski trails, a stone house
for the forest ranger, and a swimming area at Bragg Pond. Today nature
enthusiasts enjoy the forest for hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing,
and hunting.
ed thousands of seedlings and built many waterholes in the forest. Today
visitors enjoy camping under the tall white pines that were planted 75 years
ago. Campers also enjoy swimming, canoeing, tubing, and fishing in the
cool waters of the Housatonic River.
Camp Toumey (Jun.'33--Apr.'41) was another camp that lasted a
long time. They did many projects in the Mohawk State Forest in West Goshen and built Toumey Road from the Bunker Hill Rd (Route 4) to the summit of Mohawk Mt. where they erected a steel fire tower. The CCCs constructed a sawmill, sawdust storage shed, warehouse, and lumber shed
where they made lumber products from the harvested logs. They constructed miles of ski trails that are still used today.
In the NE section of CT Camp Fernow (Jun.'33--May,'41) was established in the Natchaug State Forest in the towns of Eastford & Hampton.
Their projects included building Kingsbury and Fernow roads, making a
ranger house, a warehouse, a sawmill, a sawdust and a planer shed, a
warehouse, a machine shop, and three lumber sheds. The CCCs built a
dam creating Darling Pond and a large bridge over the Natchaug River near
Route 198. They also planted thousands of seedlings in the softwood plantations. Visitors enjoy the extensive trails for the horseback riding, hiking,
cross country skiing, and snowmobiling. The forest also has outstanding
fishing and riverfront picnic sites.
Camp Filley (Dec.'33--Jul.'41) was built on the eastern part of
Cockaponset State Forest. These enrollees were lucky because they didn't
have to live in tents as wooden barracks were already completed. The
young men constructed 23 miles of truck trails throughout the forest. They
also made hiking trails, thinned the forest, planted trees, fought fires, and
built a lumber shed, garage, and a brick charcoal kiln.
Camp Jenkins (Jun.'33--Jan.'36) in Cobalt was located off
Gadpouch Rd. in the Meshomasic State Forest. The young men improved
North Milford Road and built Reeves and other truck roads. They harvested
many acres of wood and built a cement foundation for the future sawmill, a
lumber shed, a creosoting plant for fence posts, miles of trails, and bathhouses on Great Hill Road.
The Stone Museum was built in Peoples Forest by Camp White near
Winsted, CT.
Angelo Alderuccio (2nd from the left) worked at the Cobalt Camp Jenkins
in East Hampton, CT.
Kathy Goodspeed
Angelo Alderuccio, from Bristol, said, “I was happy joining the
CCCs because my mother was going to get some money. It took me off the
streets. I learned to get along with everybody. We worked, ate, played, and
slept together. We were tired at the end of the day. There was togetherness
with all of us.”
For eight years Camp Cross (Jun.'33--Apr.'41) was set up in the
Housatonic Meadows State Park in Sharon. The enrollees were WW I veterans who pitched their tents across the road from the Housatonic River.
They built 12 miles of truck trails (Cream Hill and Yelping Hill roads) and
campsites and picnic areas near the Housatonic River. The area had been
frequently clear-cut to make charcoal for the iron industry. The CCCs plant-
The last camp established in 1933 was Camp White (Dec.'33-Jun.'42), in Riverton, in the American Legion State Forest. The camp was
located on the western side of the Farmington River but the boys also
worked in the Peoples Forest on the eastern side of the river. They constructed many miles of truck trails including Greenwoods Road and widened and resurfaced 3 mi. of River Road. They made many trails, including
a nature trail from Matthies Camp Ground through Ullman picnic area and a
one-mile foot trail from Camp White to Tremendous Cliff in American Legion
Forest. They constructed a lumber shed, administration building, the Stone
Museum, and made repairs to three historic homes. The CCCs also traveled to Simsbury where they built the dam, pond, swimming area, and pavilion with a fireplace. It was called Massaco State Forest and is now Stratton
State Forest. Visitors enjoy the beautiful campsites, fishing, swimming, and
picnicking along the Farmington River. Hundreds also enjoy the beautiful
nature displays in the Stone Museum in the Peoples Forest.
(Continued on page 12)
Page 10
Civilian Conservation Corps
Co. 176, S-54, Camp Wolcott, Burrville, Torrington. (5/28/33-5/28-37) Wolcott was established
in the Paugnut State Forest near Torrington. The men replaced the old wooden dam on Burr Pond with a solid stone
masonry one. They constructed a three-mile foottrail around Burr Pond, a stone administrative building,
truck trails (including 2 mi. Guerdat Rd.), and many miles of
cross-country ski trails.
Co. 173, S-52, Camp Toumey, West Goshen /
Mohawk Mountain State Park, Torrington.
(6/25/33—7/26/41) A camp that existed nearly the entire
time of the CCC. They did many projects in the Mohawk
State Forest in West Goshen and built Toumey Road from
the Bunker Hill Rd (Route 4) to the summit of Mohawk Mt.
where they erected a steel fire tower. The CCCs constructed
a sawmill, sawdust storage shed, warehouse, and lumber
shed where they made lumber products from the harvested
logs. They constructed miles of ski trails that are still used
today.
Co. 106, S-63, Camp White, Barkhamstead/Pleasant
Valley, Winsted. (12/28/33—1/1/42) The last camp estab-
Co. 180, S-53, Camp R
Forest, East Hartland,
lished in 1933 was Camp White, in Riverton, in the American Legion State Forest. The camp was located on the western side of the
Farmington River but the boys also worked in the Peoples Forest
on the eastern side of the river. They constructed many miles of
truck trails including Greenwoods Road and widened and resurfaced 3 mi. of River Road. They made many trails, including a nature trail from Matthies Camp Ground through Ullman picnic area
and a one-mile foot trail from Camp White to Tremendous Cliff in
American Legion Forest. They constructed a lumber shed, administration building, the Stone Museum, and made repairs to three
historic homes. The CCCs also traveled to Simsbury where they
built the dam, pond, swimming area, and pavilion with a fireplace. It
was called Massaco State Forest and is now Stratton State Forest.
Visitors enjoy the beautiful campsites, fishing, swimming, and
lees at Camp Robinson built
as their major projects. Some
Bragg Pond, Council Rocks
They also built miles of cross
house for the forest ranger, a
Bragg Pond. Today nature e
hiking, cross-country skiing,
Co. 1193,
Experime
Poquono
5/26/37) w
Agricultural
River Rd. in
Windsor. It p
eradication.
a migrant fa
farms.
Co. 182, S-51, Camp Cross, Sharon/Housatonic Meadows State
Forest, West Cornwall. (6-20-33—4/1/41) For eight years Camp Cross
was set up in the Housatonic Meadows State Park in Sharon. The enrollees were
WW I veterans who pitched their tents across the road from the Housatonic River.
They built 12 miles of truck trails (Cream Hill and Yelping Hill roads) and campsites
and picnic areas near the Housatonic River. The area had been frequently clear-cut
to make charcoal for the iron industry. The CCCs planted thousands of seedlings
and built many waterholes in the forest. Today visitors enjoy camping under the tall
white pines that were planted 75 years ago. Campers also enjoy swimming, canoeing, tubing, and fishing in the cool waters of the Housatonic River.
Co. 173, SP-1, Macedonia Brook Camp , Kent. (6/10/35—6/10/37)
This was the only CT CCC camp established by the National Park Service because
it was a state park. The camp was located south of Kent Falls. It worked primarily at
Macedonia Brook State Park building picnic and campsites and a 3-mile road with
impressive stonewalls. They also built a trail along Kent Falls and a picnic area.
Co. 175, S-59, Camp Roberts, Black Rock State Park,
Thomaston. (5/30/33—09/28/37) A mecca for swimmers
and hikers the men built truck and hiking trails, planted
trees, and thinned the forests. Work details also traveled
south on Route 8 and worked in the Naugatuck State
Forest.
Co. 172, S-62, Camp Hook, New Fairfield.
(5/24/1933—10/30/35) Camp Hook was established
near Danbury in the Town of New Fairfield. Enrollees
pitched their tents on the shore of Squantz Pond. Their permanent camp was established in the fall. The boys created
Squantz Pond State Park swimming area, truck trails in
Pootatuck Forest. Some of the other projects were: building
roads and fire ponds, planting trees, salvaging dying chestnut trees for posts and poles, and thinning forests to produce firewood. The camp closed on Oct. 30, 1035.
Co. 2102, S-69, Camp Fechner, Wooster
Mountain State Park, Danbury. (9/12/35—
5/24/37)
The camp was located on Route 7 in Danbury. It was
called Camp Fechner after the national director of the
CCCs. It removed and burned over 10,000 trees affected by the Dutch elm disease. The campsite is presently
rented as a shooting range.
Co. 2101, P-65, Camp Hadley,
Cockaponset State Forest, Madison
(9/5/35—4/4/41)
Madison was in the SW part of Cockaponset
State Forest. Its main projects were building
truck trails, thinning the forest, planting trees
and fighting fires. They also helped remove
fallen trees and debris after the devastating
Hurricane of 1938 at Hammonasset State
Park and surrounding communities. Hammonasset State Park campers and sunbathers
can thank the CCC boys for the roads, the
bathhouse, and campsites.
Co. 171, S-60, Camp Roosevelt, Killingwo
Chatfield Hollow State Park, Clinton. (5/23
- 3/31/37)
In May of 1933 a group 250 young men arrived at Cam
Roosevelt who was named in honor of the the Preside
The young men lived in Army tents until wooden barra
were built. Their largest project was building a stone d
creating Schreeder Pond. Along the pond they also bu
beautiful Adirondack-style building called Oak Lodge.
They built 23 miles of truck trails and numerous hiking
trails. The camp closed on March 31, 1937 but to this
thousands of visitors come each year to enjoy swimm
hiking, and picnicking.
s Legacy Journal
Robinson, Tunxis State
6/13/33-7/28/41. Enrol-
t truck trails, roads and dams
e of the foot-trails were: to
and Roaring Brook Falls.
s-country ski trails, a stone
and a swimming area at
enthusiasts enjoy the forest for
snowshoeing, and hunting.
, P-66, Camp Britton,
ent Station Land/
ck, Windsor. (9/12/35—
Page 11
Connecticut CCC Camps
Co. 1192, P-68, Camp Conner,
Shenipsit State Forest, Stafford
Springs. (67/5/35-5/23/41) Enrollees
built Avery Road, truck roads, trails, and the
forest ranger's house. The officers' barracks is
one of the few remaining CCC camp buildings
in the state, and now serves as the Connecticut CCC Museum containing the second largest collection of CCC materials in the US.
was located on Connecticut
Experiment Station land on
n Poquonock, a section of
planted trees and did insect
The camp was converted into
arm camp for the tobacco
orth
3/33
mp
ent.
acks
dam
uilt a
.
g
s day
ming,
Established1933
Established 1935
Co. 174, S-55, Camp Graves Union. (5/27/33-4/22/36) Located on Route 190 in Union it was the third Connecticut camp. It began on
May 27, 1933 and the enrollees worked in the Nipmuck State Forest where
they established softwood plantations, built forest roads, fire ponds, and
recreation areas. They also built the entrance road to Morey Pond, its caretaker's cabin, and bathhouses. Camp Graves’ boys also built the beautiful
Mountain Laurel Sanctuary. They also worked in Shenipsit Forest thinning
the forest, and making road improvements on Soap Stone Mountain.
Co. 183, S-70, Camp Fernow, Eastford Natchung State Forest, 6/29/33—5/28/41,
Eastford. In the NE section of CT Camp Fernow was established in the Natchaug
State Forest in the towns of Eastford & Hampton. Their projects included building Kingsbury and Fernow roads, making a ranger house, a warehouse, a sawmill, a sawdust
and a planer shed, a warehouse, a machine shop, and three lumber sheds. The CCCs
built a dam creating Darling Pond and a large bridge over the Natchaug River near
Route 198. They also planted thousands of seedlings in the softwood plantations. Visitors enjoy the extensive trails for the horseback riding, hiking, cross country skiing, and
snowmobiling. The forest also has outstanding fishing and riverfront picnic sites.
Co. 179, S-58, Camp Lonerghan, Pachaug State Forest, Voluntown. 6/6/33-5/28/42) )
Located in Voluntown in the Pachaug State Forest, the largest in Connecticut. The enrollees cut trees that were
made into lumber in the camp sawmill or used in the shingle mill. They built numerous water holes for use in
fighting fires. The young men constructed miles of truck trails and built the Green Falls and Lawrence Roads.
Dams and bathhouses were constructed at Phillips Pond and Green Falls. The young men also built the Hopeville Pond State Park. Today hikers and campers enjoy the forests and ponds for swimming and fishing. There
are sections of trails for horseback riding, motorcycling, biking, and hunting. In the winter people ride their snowmobiles or go dog sledding. The rhododendrons sanctuary attracts thousands during late spring.
Portland, Camp Buck, Meshomasic State Forest. (9-13-35-7/22/41). Located in
Meshomasic State Forest in Portland, its workers constructed many miles of truck roads and hiking
trails, a fire tower, and numerous water holes. It had a sawmill, charcoal kiln, and creosoting plant
that made numerous wood products. Today a few CCC buildings remain and the site is used as a
storehouse for the DEP. Hikers, hunters, and mountain bikers use the trails today.
Co. 181, S-57, Camp Jenkins, Meshomasic State Forest,
6/14/33 - 1/7/36, Cobolt. Cobalt was located off Gadpouch Rd.
in the Meshomasic State Forest. The young men improved North Milford
Road and built Reeves and other truck roads. They harvested many
acres of wood and built a cement foundation for the future sawmill, a
lumber shed, a creosoting plant for fence posts, miles of trails, and bathhouses on Great Hill Road.
Co. 190. New LondonSupply Depot
Co. 1194, S-70, Camp Stuart, Salmon River State Forest, East Hampton &
Colchester. (7/8/35—5/31/37) Camp was established near East Hampton near the Salmon
River. It constructed a dam creating Day Pond, a pavilion, hiking and ski trails, and swimming area &
picnic areas in Day Pond SP. Enrollees also built one mile of truck trails and rebuilt Comstock covered bridge over Salmon River.
Co. 177, S-61, Camp Chapman, Stones Ranch Military Reservation Niantic (6/1/33—10/30/35) Established in East Lyme on
Stone's Ranch Military Reservation. The young men did a lot of work in the
Nehantic State Forest. They constructed a 2 mi. road traveling north and
south in the Nehantic State Forest. They battled Dutch elm disease and
planted pine trees. The boys traveled north and began constructing the
road in Devil's Hopyard State Park.
Co. 1201, P-65, Camp Filley, Cockaponset State Forest,
Haddam.(12/9/33—7/30/41) Built on the eastern part of Cockaponset State Forest the enrollees of this camp were lucky because they
didn't have to live in tents as the wooden barracks were already completed. The young men constructed 23 miles of truck trails throughout
the forest. They also made hiking trails, thinned the forest, planted
trees, fought fires, and built a lumber shed, garage, and a brick charcoal kiln.
Page 12
Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy Journal
March/April 2015
Exploring the CCC in Connecticut, continued from page 9
“That was when I learned about the CCC from a state agency
in Willimantic. I signed up for six months. They took me to the railroad
station and I traveled all by myself to Kent. An Army truck picked me
up and took me about three miles north up Route 7 to Kent Falls. I
worked building a stone wall in Macedonia State Park.”
I live next to the beautiful Salmon Forest in Colchester. For the
past three years I have enjoyed walking on the roads and trails near
the Salmon River. After joining the local Colchester Land Trust, I volunteered to take hikers on monthly walks throughout the Salmon
State Forest. I just love to share the pleasant scenery especially the
towering hemlock and white pine forest. There had been a CCC camp
in the forest, Camp Stewart (Jul.'35--May,'37) where they planted
trees, built roads, thinned the forest and cleared miles of crosscountry ski trails. They constructed a dam creating Day Pond where
they built a pavilion, hiking trails, swimming area, and picnic areas.
They also rebuilt the Comstock covered bridge over Salmon River.
The Camp Macedonia Brook was located across the road from beautiful
Kent Falls where the enrollees constructed a scenic trail along the falls.
They also built a picnic area at the base of the falls that thousands of tourist visit throughout the year.
Camp Hadley (Sep.'35--Apr.'41) in Madison was in the SW
part of Cockaponset State Forest. Its main projects were building
truck trails, thinning the forest, planting trees and fighting fires. They
also helped remove fallen trees and debris after the devastating Hurricane of 1938 at Hammonasset State Park and surrounding communities. Hammonasset State Park campers and sunbathers can thank
the CCC boys for the roads, the bathhouse, and campsites.
Macedonia Brook Camp (June, '35--'37?) was the only CT
CCC camp established by the National Park Service because it was
a state park. The camp was located south of Kent Falls. It worked
primarily at Macedonia Brook State Park building picnic and
campsites and a 3-mile road with impressive stonewalls. They also
built a trail along Kent Falls and a picnic area.
The Connecticut CCC Museum is housed in the Administration Building
at Stafford Springs, CT.
M. Podskoch
Former Kent Camp enrollee Charles Bigelow made this diorama of his
camp. It is now on display at the Eric Sloan Museum in Kent, CT
“I was born on August 31, 1919 in Willimantic. During the Depression my parents, Charles and Edna (Brown) split up. My father
had no job and couldn’t raise us. My mother could only raise one
child, my sister Doris. My younger brother Francis and I became
wards of the state. We lived in a foster home and worked for our
foster parents. When I got to be 17, I learned about girls and the
foster parents said I had to leave.
Camp Conner (Sep.'35--May,'41) was established in the
Shenipsit State Forest in Stafford Springs. They built Avery Road,
truck roads, trails, and the forest ranger's house. The officers' barracks is one of the few remaining CCC camp buildings in the state,
and now serves as the Connecticut CCC Museum containing the second largest collection of CCC materials in the US.
There were two CCC camps that were primarily "bug camps."
They fought blister rust that attacked white pine trees. The CCCs removed currant and gooseberry bushes nearby because they were the
hosts of the disease. Enrollees also fought the gypsy moths by banding trees and destroying the egg clusters by coating them with creosote.
Camp Britton (Sep.'35--May.'37) was located on Connecticut
Agricultural Experiment Station land on River Rd. in Poquonock, a
section of Windsor. It planted trees and did insect eradication. The
Volume 39, Issue 2
Page 13
Civilian conservation Corps Legacy Journal
Exploring the CCC in Connecticut, continued
camp was converted into a migrant farm camp for the tobacco farms.
The Wooster Mountain camp was located on Route 7 in Danbury. It was called Camp Fechner (Sep.'35--May '37) after the national director of the CCCs. It removed and burned over 10,000 trees
affected by the Dutch elm disease. The campsite is presently rented
as a shooting range.
Camp Buck (Sep.'35--Jul. '41) was located in Meshomasic
State Forest in Portland and its workers constructed many miles of
truck roads and hiking trails, a fire tower, and numerous water holes.
It had a sawmill, charcoal kiln, and creosoting plant that made numerous wood products. Today a few CCC buildings remain and the
site is used as a storehouse for the DEP. Hikers, hunters, and mountain bikers use the trails today.
The local economies benefited from the camps because local
experienced men (LEMS) were hired as foremen to train and work
with the enrollees. They taught them masonry, carpentry, forestry,
mechanics and cooking skills.
Each camp worked on programs to prevent fires. They had
teams of ten men who were trained to fight fires and many could
leave the camp within one minute of receiving a call. The CCCs built
a network of truck trails throughout the forest enabling them to quickly get to a fire. They also built 1,000 water holes on state land and
another 200 on private land that provided water to combat fire. Hikers frequently find these along trails.
Since the average education of the enrollees was 8 th grade,
camps had an education advisor who had evening classes for interested boys. Some of the classes were: conservation and forestry,
machine construction, photography, reading, archery, mechanics,
writing and many more.
The CCC also helped residents recover from the devastating
1936 flood and the 1938 hurricane. They went to Hartford in 1936
and shoveled mud and cleaned up debris. Governor Cross showed
the state's gratitude by inviting the boys to the Hartford Armory for a
dinner and a watch.
In the late 1930s applications declined due to increased employment opportunities. By 1941 the number of enrollees decreased
nationwide from 600,000 at its peak, to 200,000. After the attack on
Pearl Harbor and our entrance into WWII our young men were now
needed for the war effort. The CCC program was never officially
closed but no longer received funding.
From 1933-1942 the CCC program employed 3.5 million men in
the 48 states including the territories of Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands. In Connecticut 28,447 enrollees and 2,223
officers and supervisors were employed. The federal government
funded the program and pumped $20,728,000 into the state's economy.
The young men benefited from the CCC program with improved self-esteem, self-discipline and a sense of purpose. They received technical training in more than 150 marketable skills, from
engine repair to cooking.
With our nation experiencing one of the worst financial crises
since the Depression, many are calling for a restoration of the CCCs.
It would not only give our young folks jobs, but would also help them
to develop a strong work ethic, learn skills and develop and experience the satisfaction of building useful, enduring projects and conserving our natural resources.
About the Author
Marty Podskoch, a reading teacher from the Catskill Mountains,
moved to East Hampton, CT to be near his daughter’s family in
2005. He is the author of three books on fire towers in the Catskills
and Adirondacks. He writes a weekly newspaper column,
“Adirondack Stories, in five newspapers. Marty has also written Adirondack Civilian Conservation Corps Camps: Their History, Memories and Legacy. His latest is a travel book, The Adirondack 102
Club: Your Passport and Guide to the North Country. Contact Marty
at 860-267-2442 or [email protected]. See also his Web
sites, http://www.cccstories.com www.firetowerstories.com
www.adirondack102club.com and www.adirondackstories.com
Marty Podskoch
43 O’Neill Lane, East Hampton, CT 06424
860-267-2442
[email protected]
BIOGRAPHY
Marty Podskoch recently retired from teaching reading for 36
years. He taught the last 28 years at Delaware Academy in Delhi,
NY. He and his wife Lynn raised their three children in an old farmhouse along the West Branch of the Delaware River. He became
interested in fire towers after climbing Hunter Mountain in the fall of
1987. He met an old observer and Podskoch wanted to find out
more information about the history and lore of the fire towers. Purple
Mountain Press then asked him to write about the history of the
Catskill fire towers and the restoration project that was occurring in
the Catskills.
After interviewing hundreds of observers, rangers and their
families, he was able to gather stories and pictures about working at
the 23 Catskill fire towers. In 2000 his book, Fire Towers of the
Catskill: Their History and Lore, was published by Purple Mountain
Press, which also published his second book, Adirondack Fire Towers: Their History and Lore, the Southern Districts, in June of 2003
and his third title, Adirondack Fire Towers: Their History and Lore,
the Northern Districts, in November of 2005.
The July/August 2003 issue of Adirondack Life states, “A few
icons seem never to wear out their welcome with Adirondack audiences, and fire towers are no exception.”
Marty also writes a weekly newspaper column, “Adirondack
Stories” in five newspapers. Sam Glanzman, a noted comic book
illustrator for the past 50 years, illustrates the stories. In July 2007
their 150 Adirondack Stories was published and is available for purchase.
Marty has also written Adirondack Civilian Conservation
Corps Camps: Their History, Memories and Legacy. His latest is a
travel book, The Adirondack 102 Club: Your Passport and Guide to
the North Country.
Podskoch presently lives in East Hampton, CT where he is
doing research on the Civilian Conservation Camps in the Connecticut and Rhode Island.
For further information contact:
Marty Podskoch,
36 Waterhole Rd.,
Colchester, CT 06415
860-267-2442
[email protected]
www.adirondackstories.com
www.ccstories.com
Page 14
March / April 2015
Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy Journal
Young coal miner gains life experience in the CCC
Contributed by: Life Member, Marty Podskoch
A
t the Annual CCC Museum Reunion in Stafford Springs on Oct.
11, 2008, I met Peter and his
daughter Julia Wonsewicz from East
Hartford. He told me he had worked at
CCC camps in three states. I followed up
with a telephone interview with Peter on
March 12, 2009.
“I was born in Georgetown, Penn. on
Oct. 10, 1920. My father, Peter, was laid off
when the coal breaker burned down in
Georgetown. He had to search for jobs to
help his family survive. My mother, Jadwiga,
had six children. She lost two before I was
born: a girl at three years old from the flu and
another in childbirth when the doctor accidently broke her neck. I was born next followed by Ralph, Valentine, and Geraldine.
“Another job was when a farmer called
us from a field that we were working in and
asked us to clean out his mule barn.
“One time there was a swarm of honey
bees flying near our camp. This boy in camp
who was a farmer went to the kitchen and
banged a pan with a metal spoon. The queen
bee came down to a limb on a tree and the
whole swarm of bees hung onto the queen.
The boy called someone nearby who had bee
hives and he cut the branch off and took it
home.
“On another day we went to help two
farmers with a stallion and a mare. The mare
was in heat. They put a bar between the mare
and the stallion. Then when they figured the
stallion was ready they took the tease bar
down and the stallion took over.
“I only went to 9 grade because I
had to help my family. It was rough during the
’36 flood. Word got around the neighborhood
about the CCC. My cousin was going to go
with me but he changed his mind but I still
joined. I weighed only 113 pounds and was
5’5” tall.
“In the evenings we played baseball in a
field. There was no rec hall like other camps
but there was a PX to buy soda, candy, and
cigarettes.
“When I left home I felt good because
I wanted to see what the world looked like. I
signed up at the Kingston Armory on April 19,
1936. We left from the railroad station in
Wilkes Barre. We traveled to Fort
Meade, Md. and stayed there for six days for
conditioning.
“Guys liked to play jokes. One was to
put corn flakes in a bed. When the guy crawled
in, he got a crunchy surprise. They also caught
some snakes and put them in beds.
th
“Then I traveled by train to Chatham,
Va. My first camp was Co. 378. It did soil
conservation work. It was near a small town
and a lot of farms. We planted a lot of Southern pines. We also built check dams. When
there was a gully, we built steps with stones
or concrete so the stream wouldn’t wash
away the soil.
“Then we worked on farms. We put
logs on fields that were plowed to prevent soil
erosion.
“We also fought one forest fire. We
used Indian tanks and stayed there for about
24 hours till we put out the fire.
“I was only 15 years old and so light
that the guys picked me up on their shoulders
and had a lot of fun with me.
“At our camp we dammed up the brook
and made a swimming hole. When a storm
came and washed the dam out, we’d go
through the nearby farmer’s high corn and
swim in our birthday suits in deep areas of
the stream.
“Lights went out at 9 pm and then we all
went to sleep because we had to get up at 6
am.
“They liked to play jokes on new recruits. They’d send them to the kitchen for a
bucket of steam. The recruits believed this and
everyone laughed when they tried to get that
bucket of steam.
“I was lucky because the guys didn’t
play jokes on me. The older guys took care of
me.
“My mother missed me and she found
me a job at a furniture store. She wrote a letter
asking that I be discharged. Air Reserve Capt.
William H. Thomas who was in charge of the
camp discharged me. On Aug. 10, 1936 I was
discharged.
“I came home but I wanted to be back at
a camp. For about a year I worked at a few
jobs. First I worked in a rock quarry and then
for the state in Nanticoke. We ripped up trolley
rails and loaded them onto cars.
“On Oct. 27, 1937 I reenlisted in the
CCC. I went by train to Cedar Run, Penn. near
Williamsport where I had been at Co.
328. Here we did roadwork, built fire trails, and
trimmed trees.
“One suppertime we went on a hunger
strike because they weren’t giving us enough
Peter Wonsewicz proudly shows a photo of the
CCC camp in Cuchillo, New Mexico where he
worked to help farmers.
Podskoch
to eat. They had to go somewhere to get us
some meat to feed us and after that we
never went on strike again.
“One day this guy asked if anyone
wanted a ride to Wilkes Barre. He had a
car. On the way we passed a lady hitchhiking. There were six of us, three in the front
and three in the back. We stopped and she
got in and sat in the back on one of the
guy’s lap. She only had to go about 6-7
miles. Then she got off. When we got to
Wilkes Barre we were supposed to go back
the following day but we were delayed because the guy said he wasn’t leaving till the
next day.
“When we got back we were
AWOL. For our punishment we had to put
on hip boots and go into the grease pit. We
cleaned the walls with brushes and rinsed
them down. Boy did that stink!
“One day in July they asked for volunteers to go to New Mexico. I and about
15 others volunteered. We left on the 13 th of
July 1938. We were taken by truck to Tobyhanna, Penn. and got on a train to New
Mexico.
“The land was beautiful and flat. We
got off the train at Engle. It was a cattle
loading area. There were only about ten
people and two houses. My daughter, Julia,
and granddaughter, Felicia, visited there in
2007. It hadn’t changed much.
“A truck took us over Elephant Butte Dam
to get to Cuchillo, New Mexico. It was in the
(Continued on page 15)
Volume 39, Issue 2
Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy Journal
Page 15
Peter Wonsewics, continued
(Continued from page 14)
southwestern part of the state. The camp was a
Division of Grazing camp on a 250,000-acre ranch.
It worked with ranchers to protect federal lands
from overgrazing.
“We didn’t stay long. They asked for 26 volunteers to go to a side camp on another ranch and
I volunteered. When we got there, it had small barracks that housed only six men. It had a building
with a shower and toilet.
“There was one foreman who supervised our
camp. We dug fencepost holes and waterholes,
which were like a dam built in a gully. We loaded
dirt on flatbed trucks and brought it to form a dam.
They were designed to catch water when the rainwater came off the mountains. Then the cattle had
enough water for weeks and months.
guys went to beer joints and I and younger guys
went to the movies. There were no churches.
“The food at camp was good. We ate a lot of
spaghetti. For lunch we had sandwiches with tea
and coffee.
“On Dec. 18th, 1938 I was discharged and
came back home. I left the CCC because my father
had a job for me in the coal mines. You had to be
21 years old to work there. I was only 18 but I told
them I was 21. There was also a company rule that
family members weren’t supposed to work together
but my father and I worked together. It was near
the East End of Wilkes Barre. It was in a 3’ high
coal vein.
“There were a lot of rattlesnakes but nobody
“The first day they put explosives in a burlap bag
and I carried it down the slope. I crawled on my
hands and knees. I was working with my dad. We
drilled holes with a jackhammer. Then we had to fill
the hole with explosives. We had to pack the hole
with moist dirt. Dad said you had to piss on the dirt
and put it into a tamping bag. Next we pushed the
bag into the hole behind the dynamite. Then we
went to a safe place, hooked up wires to a plunger,
and pushed down on the plunger.
“Every weekend we went to Hot Springs.
Today it’s called Truth or Consequences. The older
“After working in the mines for two years I
went to New Britain, Conn. and got a job in Stanley
Works. My job was moving materials.
“In fall we took loco weed and burned it
because it caused brain disease to farm animals.
“We didn’t have any stoves in camp but it
never got below freezing. They just heated water
for showers and cooking.
got bit.
“I joined the Navy in April 1942. While at
the Naval Training Station in the Great Lakes, I
met an old CCC friend named Cook. I learned
how to cook in the Navy where I was a cook
and a butcher. I was in the Navy for 45 months
and discharged in January 1946.
“When I got back to Connecticut I went
to a culinary school in New Britain, but I never
went into that field. I got a job at Pratt & Whitney in the shipping dept. Then I moved on to
other jobs in the company.
“In 1947 I got married to Frances Paczkowski. We met in Hartford at the Polish Home.
We had one daughter, Julia.
“After working at Pratt & Whitney for 32
years I retired.
“I went back twice to my old CCC camps
in Cedar Run and New Mexico.
“Today I help my daughter plant, clean,
and cook.
“The CCC was a great experience for
me. I was a poor boy from Pennsylvania and I
got to travel to many places. I got to meet a lot
of guys and I learned how to get along with
people.”
West Virginia, Continued
(Continued from page 3)
Dr. Robert E. Anderson of Bridgeport, West Virginia and Piercy updated the gathering on the
progress of projects at the museum. Piercy recognized the contributions of the Harrison County
Commission, the Clarksburg Harrison Cultural
Foundation, the West Virginia Heritage Crafts
group, the Quiet Dell United Methodist Church,
the Bridgeport Convention and Visitor's Bureau,
the Clarksburg Convention and Visitor's Bureau,
the Media, and those who donated monetarily
and memorabilia to the association.
James R. Walters of Beverly, WV, who serves
as chair of the Parades and CCC Apparel Committee. Walters than discussed the centerpiece
display donated in April by Randy and Juanita J.
(George) Kyle of Elkins. Mrs. Kyle's brother,
James J. George served in the CCC at Camp
Northfork, Randolph County. He was killed in
action near Shelden, Germany on April 6, 1945.
Walters pointed out the US Colors, Purple Heart,
and Medal of Honor presented in ceremonies by
President Harry S. Truman in November of
1945. Walters commented: “Our museum is
thankful to the family of Mr. George. It is a cherished display. These artifacts will be displayed
with honor at our new Camp Harrison #2 Museum.
Edwin Winet of Fairmont, West Virginia, presented traditional music performed during the
nineteen thirties on squeeze box (accordion)
and harmonica. He also discussed briefly the
workings of a 1930s truck carburetor. Winet is
CCC Truck Restoration Project chairman.
CCC Alumni and their families were recognized.
CCC Alumni attending were: Harlen C. Frederick
of Fairmont, WV, James Lewis of Helvetia, WV,
Bern D. Linn of East Grafton Rd, Marion County,
WV., Ken Scribner of Yadkinville, North Carolina,
and Raymond E. Teter of Elkins.
West Virginia State CCC Museum Association Hall
of Fame chair Richard S. Bailey of Bridgeport, WV,
introduced the Spring Class of 2015 Honorees.
Edwin “Sonny” Gunno (board) of Cross Lanes
handed out the certificates and medallions. Dr.
Robert E. Anderson, a key contributor and founder
of the museum back in 2003, Professor Emeritus
at West Virginia University, retired Colonel United
States Air Force, and author of CCC and Civil War
publications. Bailey stated: “The committee is so
proud to present the highest award to Dr. Anderson. He has worked tirelessly on behalf of the museum and the legacy of the CCC for many years.”
He continued: “Bob is the only remaining founder
of the museum still living. Anderson is the first recipient of the honor who was not a member of the
Civilian Conservation Corps.”
final honoree with the Spring Class. Teter,
who would turn one hundred years of age on
April 19, served his CCC at Fort Knox and
Slade. “When I arrived at Fort Knox, I was a
mere 124 pounds. But, in just three months, I
was up to 164. The CCC had good, locally
raised meals.” He continued: “When I got to
Camp 567, hundreds of us worked hard to
make the beautiful Natural Bridge State Park
a much more attractive and accessible place
for citizens to be proud.”
Dorothy and Sonny Gunno, WVCCC Newsletter Chairs, brought copies of the last newsletter and commented on the importance of
the newsletter project.
The luncheon catered by Gourmet Cafe Catering of Clarksburg, was served by Shirley
Bingman of Kingmont WV, Mary Ann Frederick of Fairmont WV, Vickie Mick of Bridgeport, WV, Pat Piercy of Kingmont WV, and
Joy Winet of Fairmont.
Tommie O. Davis, 91, of Oak Hill, West Virginia
was the second of three recognized. Davis who
served 1934-36 at Camp Anthony Wayne, Defiance, Ohio, and who now resides in Newark, Delaware received his medallion on CCC Anniversary
Day on March 29, (2015) at the museum.
The CCC Auction was conducted by Matthew
Earl, of Big Flint, West Virginia. Assisted by
Reggie Rogers of Mt. Clare, WV, Vickie Mick,
and Joy Winet. Kevin Snodgrass of Marion
County donated some fine handcrafted art
pieces to the auction. His relative, a CCC Boy
was Hall of Fame Inductee, the late Harold
Wilson of Mannington.
Raymond E. Teter, 99, of Swallow Rock, Sinks of
Gandy, near Whitmer, West Virginia, and long time
resident of Elkins, surrounded by family as far
away as Seattle, Washington, was the third and
The WVSCCCMA meets the third Sunday of
every month at 2 p.m. At the Quiet Dell
Schoolhouse and CCC Museum. The public
is invited to the May 17, (2015) meeting.
Page 16
Volume 39, Issue 2
Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy Journal
Jake Keene reaches Chapter Eternal at age 96
Contributed by Member: Kathleen Pagan
C
hapter 143 in Gainesville, Florida, began in
1988 and remained active until June 2013.
During the 25 years of meetings, occurring
monthly for many of the years and then waning as the
group aged, James C. “Jake” Keene never missed
once. As Chapter Secretary he kept records of members and provided detailed typed newsletters with
meeting information as well as member’s family news.
From a large family, which he helped during his CCC
service, Jake always cared for others within his own
family and the larger community.
A frequent attendee at Chapter meetings for many years, Hank
Sulima, drove with his wife Irene from Vero Beach
when they were able to attend and was a close friend
of Jake’s. All the Chapter members are too numerous to name, but all were touched by Jake’s kindness
and humor.
When Chapter 143 was able to donate a CCC Worker
statue at Oleno State Park (near High Springs FL),
Jake was responsible for coordinating the installation
with State Park staff. Thanks largely to a major donation by George LeCouris and his wife Peggy (Tarpon
Springs residents who made the trip monthly over
several years), and other monies Jake collected from
Chapter members, the statue dedication occurred on
March 15, 2008. Sadly George died very suddenly
only days earlier and the ceremony took on a bittersweet feeling for everyone.
Jake and his wife Mary were both previously widowed, and their union happened soon after the for-
mation of Chapter 143. Mary supported his CCC
work for the Chapter, which included work done by
the men during the 1990s at Oleno State Park restoring one of the original CCC Buildings to house a museum of their CCC memorabilia. The display is simple yet striking, and Jake was responsible for collecting the materials and deciding on placement. For
many years as members died and went to Chapter
Eternal, pine seedlings were planted nearby. Since
the large deer population at the Park kept snacking
on the young tree, this ritual ended and instead
names were added to a plaque in the museum instead. During the early years of the new century the
group participated in an annual event serving
“Hamburgers and Such,” in a booth set up next to the
CCC Museum (where the statue now stands).
When the decision was made to close the Chapter
due to decreasing attendance and both Jake and
President Joanne Stevens (daughter of a CCC) battling serious illness, a nice article was included in both
the local “Senior Times” and “Our Town” magazines.
At the meeting Jake explained to everyone he would
never want to miss a meeting, and all present would
agree his presence was important. No meeting began without Jake brewing a large pot of coffee, and
his collection of meeting materials included an American flag for the Pledge of Allegiance and a CCC hat
for collecting donations. He also sold hats and shirts,
and the magazine featured a group photo of multigenerational CCC supporters. Walter Atwood attended
many meetings over the last several years after retiring to Jacksonville and was in attendance when the
Chapter closed, adding to those present thanking
Jake for 20 years of CCC Legacy service.
Jake’s dedication to the Chapter helped to build a
strong group of close knit CCC members and their
families, who supported one another despite many
difficulties. Very likely Jake’s resilience since youth,
and his work ethic learned in the CCC, contributed to
the successful Chapter. He served in CCC in Wells
Tannery, Pennsylvania, afterwards joined the US Navy and later worked for CSX Railroad.
The CCC Worker statue at Oleno State Park looks
towards an Cypress Log Open Air Pavilion and the
footbridge built by the Cs there. The CCC Legacy
and Jake’s memory live on among everyone who
knew him and will remain on at that bend in the Santa
Fe River. He said of the Depression, “we were all
paddling the same canoe.” He finished the race well.
At his memorial service everyone was remembering a
loving man, a hard worker yet one who liked to have
fun, and a deserving member of CCC Chapter Eternal.
Links about Oleno State Park
https://www.floridastateparks.org/park-history/Oleno
CCC Museum -https://www.floridastateparks.org/
photos-browse/Oleno?page=4
CCC Open Air Pavilion made of cypress logs- https://
www.floridastateparks.org/photos-browse/Oleno?
page=7
CCC Worker Statue—
Oleno State Park, Florida
Inez Williams and Walter Atwood
Oleno
Footbridge
built
by
CCChttps://
www.floridastateparks.org/photos-browse/Oleno?
page=31
J.C. “Jake” Keene
February 21, 1919 to April 7, 2015
Service: Co. 5442 Wells Tannery, PA
Co. 5441 Logandale, NV
Chapter 143
Afterward:
My thesis work researching the Civilian
Conservation Corps history in Florida,
where the worst disaster of the program
occurred when the Labor Day Hurricane
of 1935 hit a WWI Veterans CCC Camp in
the Florida Keys leaving hundreds dead,
left me with great gratitude that the New
Deal began the development of many of
the Florida State Parks we still enjoy today. I included a quote by Vice President
Henry Wallace now paraphrased from my
memory “although conservation has
overtly to do with trees, its underlying purpose is social.”
After the local alumni chapter started, I
moved away from Florida for 12 years,
still receiving some Chapter newsletters,
and when I returned was very pleased to
renew my acquaintance with the group
and enjoy meetings to hear stories and
annual visits to the Oleno Museum, which
the CCC alumni worked hard to restore.
The strong intergenerational friendships
and generosity of the group, in particular
the donation of the bronze CCC Worker
Statue at Oleno, demonstrate the community and character values the program
instilled in the young men. As elders their
concern for the families of their friends
was evident at every gathering, and in
recent years includes attending memorial
services. Very few remain now, and they
are all missed and remembered. Jake
joins the other friends in Chapter Eternal
March/April 2015
Page 17
Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy Journal
Remembering Henry Joseph Carlyle
Contributed by daughter: Loretta McKercher
April 24, 1916 to September 24, 2014
Henry Carlyle was an orphan in New York city at the
time of the orphan train movement. He was sent
out on trains several times but was never adopted.
The Foundling Hospital, New York City, a refuge
for orphaned children was helpful in placing the
children in homes. Since he was not adopted he
was sent to a convent run by Sisters of Charity and
educated by the Sisters and ultimately he lived in
two or three more convents. He stayed until he was
16 and he was released.
After his life in convents, he “rode the rails” and
traveled west. This led him to be a ranch hand
breaking horses and working as a lumberjack.
While in Idaho, he was served in the CCC at Horseshoe Bend, Idaho from 1938 and 1940. Following
Idaho he served in a soil conservation service camp
in the Catskill Mountains of New York in 1942.
After the CCC he served in the Army for 5 years.
He was in the 87th Mountain Infantry at Ft. Lewis,
WA, (Private 1st Class) and transferred to 10th
Quarter Master Battalion in 1943. He came to
Camp Hale, CO, June 1944 and was put in the
1257th Quarter Master Pack Company and trained
the Pack Mules they took to Italy to get over the
Alps. He was a Corporal when he received his honorable discharge in 1945. He received two bronze
stars.
He came home from the war & married Elvira in
August 1945. He went to Salt Lake to college and
the first daughter was born there. The came to Colorado and bought a home in Wheat Ridge. It had
been his home for 66 years. He had four more children all educated at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic
Church (SSPP).
He was a life long member of the Grange. He
worked
at several greenhouses, before he
found a permanent job with Conoco He retired
from there after 30 years.
After his retirement he continued to learn and be
involved in his community. He helped build the
first SSPP Church and was active in every part
of the parish community. He was a volunteer in
all type of things when he retired. He loved to
read and gained so much knowledge on all subjects. He never stopped learning. When macular degeneration started taking his sight he
signed up for books on tape.
Working in his yard kept him going. He was a
wonderful organic gardener and had his whole
yard filled with flower gardens. He loved to go
on walks with anyone who would walk with him.
He loved his grandchildren & taught them everything he could.
He remembered his time in the CCC’s with great
fondness and supported the organization until
his death.
Camping and fishing filled his spare time in the
summers until he could no longer sleep on the
ground...then the family traveled square dancing
all over the country.
His first daughter, Lillian, and his wife preceded
him in death. He has four children and numerous
grandchildren, great grandchildren and greatgreat grandchildren. He was loved by all who
knew him and will be missed.
Henry Joseph Carlyle
Member of 31 years
Joined NACCCA: May 1, 1983
Life membership #: 634
Henry Carlyle died September 24, 2014 at 98 years and 5 months.
Harry McKee—Pennsylvania Ambassador to the CCC
H
arry “Mousey” McKee, the Pennsylvania
Ambassador for the Civilian Conservation
Corps passed away on March 6, 2015.
He loved his family, sports and the CCC. Harry
had the personality that made him stand out in the
crowd.
Amazingly, Harry served in four different CCC
camps between 1936 and 1939. He started out at
the Pennsylvania Moore’s Run Camp which developed Prouty Lick State Park. Then he went to the
Two Mile camp that developed Kettle Creek State
Park. His third Pennsylvania camp was at Slate
Run, Company 364, on the Tiadaghton State Forest. He was on the crew that built the swimming
pool dam. This wooden structure was a recreation
of the logging era splash dam. His last camp was
in Norton, VA , Company 2348, in the Jefferson
National Forest.
In 1986, he helped establish the alumni group of
enrollees from Co. 2348 from Norton and served
as secretary/treasurer. He was also a member of
NACCCA /CCC Legacy.
Mr. McKee retired from Washington Steel Corpo-
ration in February 1980 after 24 years and was
previously employed by Penn Manufacturing from
1940 to 1953. He also worked for McWreat Dairy,
Nickels Bakery, Alcoa of Cleveland and Grinnel
Co. of Cleveland.
Mr. McKee was a well-known local athlete who
played soccer, baseball and softball, both slow
and fast pitch. His baseball years spanned from
1943 to 1958. He played for McWreath Dairy in
the community league from 1943 to 1946 and subsequently played for the Alpine Club, Scott Motor
and S.A. Meyers in the Wheeling Intelligencer
League, winning the batting title in 1948, with a
batting average of .463. He also played for
Cokeburg and Van Voorhis in Pigeon Creek Wagner League. His softball teams included Washington Steel, Fairhill Manor Church and Silver Bullets.
He last played softball when he was 91 years old.
Mr. McKee was a member of Old Timers Baseball
Club since 1966, where he served as secretary/
treasurer. He participated in soccer, playing for the
Lincoln Hill and Arden Soccer clubs in the 1940s
and 1950s. He served as vice president of West
Penn Soccer Association and secretary/treasurer
of Washington County Soccer League. In 1986, he
Harry McKee
Born February 11, 1918
Joined NACCCA July 1, 1982
Life Membership # 3148
was a charter member of Washington-Greene
County Sports Hall of Fame, which he was inducted in 1988 for baseball. He served as president, vice president and induction chairman.
He was a very generous contributor to many
charities and organizations, most notably the
Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA of
which he was a founding sponsor.
Page 18
Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy Journal
March/April 2015
Chapter Eternal
Bass, Floyd L. - March 1, 2015
Service: Co. 517, South Bend, IN.
After his CCC service, Dr. Bass served in the Navy
from 1945 to 1946. Under the GI bill he successfully
completed his bachelor of science degree from Indian State Teachers University then earned his masters degree. He obtained his doctoral degree from
the University of Colorado in Boulder and completed
a fellowship through the Phillips Foundation at City
College in New York. After continuing his teaching
experience at Lemoyne College in TN he became the
Dean of Alabama State University and later the University of NC in Durham. Because of his involvement
and knowledge of the Civil Rights Movement, he was
sought after for the position of the first Director of the
Center for Black Studies at the University of Connecticut. He enjoyed golf, bridge and organic gardening.
He was a 33rd Degree Mason.
Carlyle, Joseph—September 24, 2014
Service: Horseshoe Bend, McCall, ID 1938—1940 ,
Catskill Mountains SCS, 1942.
See Page 17 for more information.
Deslauriers, Emile R.—February 9, 2014
Service: Uxbridge MA 1938—1941
After his service in the CCC he enlisted in the US
Navy. Emile saw duty in the Pacific during WWII and
served on the USS Denver and the USS Montpelier
as a radioman 1st Class. After the war, Emile returned to Woonsocket, RI, and married. He worked
for Belisle Bakery and was part owner of the Donut
Kettle until 1959 at which time he started working for
Dunkin Donuts. Emile became a Dunkin Donut franchisee in 1968 and had shops in Central Falls, RI,
Providence, RI and Attleboro MA. He retired in 1985
and moved to Florida where he lived until his passing.
DiBiasio, Carmion J. April 18, 2013
Service: Co. 1188 Hope Valley, RI and Co. 1187
Greene, RI.
Carmino worked for McKess & Robbins for 35 years
and was also a travel agent for good friend Danny
Sullivan of Collette Tours. He was a member of
NACCCA, Johnston 5th District Democratic Club,
Commissioner of the Johnston Housing Authority and
Past President of both the Holy Name Society and
Aimie J. Forand Tennant’s Association.
Gaetano, Joe—November 4, 2014
Service: S-122, Boonville, NY
Joe enlisted in the United States Navy in June of
1944 and served honorably until his discharge in
February 1946. He received the following service
medals, Victory Medal and the American Campaign
Medal. Upon discharge, Joe returned to Dolgeville,
where he began his own barber business and continued for many years, until retiring unofficially years
ago. His business, Joe's Barber Shop, was a fixture
on Main Street in Dolgeville for many years
Mastriano, Joseph—June 28, 2014
Service: Co. 257, Bovil, ID; Co. 252, Glenada Or,
and Packwood, WA.
Norton, Norman—March 30, 2015
Service: Co. 723 Orr, MN, 1933-1934; Co. 715, Virginia, MN, 1935 and Caledonia, MN
After his CCC experience he served in the U.S. Army
during WWII. Norman worked for Northern
Pump Co. from 1941—1944, where he doubled
as an underground agent for the Office of Strategic Service, a forerunner of the CIA.
Founder and owner of Norm’s Auto Parts, Inc. in
Orlando, FL since 1975. He trained men to be
mechanics under the G.I. Gill and filled in as
night instructor at the old St. Paul Vocational
school.
Norman was a Golden Glove Boxer and he also
played city league football and fast pitch softball.
He was a 32-degree Mason, member of Triune
Masonic Blue Lodge #3 of St. Paul and other
Masonic entities.
He attended Hamline University, Dunwoody Institute and received a Bachelor of Law degree in
1992 from the University of Miami, FL.
He was honored as the longest serving American Legion Commander in the world, Abe Lincoln Post #634, St. Paul.
He hunted and fished in Minnesota, Wyoming,
South Dakota and Canada. He also enjoyed
ballroom dancing.
Levey, Lawrence Harald—December 20, 2014
Service: Chapter 169, Sebring, FL
Many may remember Larry Levey as the President of Chapter 169 in Sebring, FL. His work
elevated the connection between the Chapter
and Highlands Hammock State Park. He was
not a CCC Boy, but he supporter the heritage of
the local CCC history that is an honor to his effort. As a freelance writer, he became involved
with the CCC Chapter and eventually helped to
sustain the organization until he was no longer
able and the Chapter disbanded. Larry as the
organizer of the 1993 NACCCA Reunion in Sebring.
Ludlum, Audry B. - March 16, 2015
Service: Co. 2403, P-77, MS
McKee, Harry - March 6, 2015
Service: Co. 364 Slate Run, PA; Co. 2327
Westport, PA; Co. 380 Croudersport, PA; Co.
2348 Norton, VA.
See Page 17 for more information.
Parkhurst, Francis L. - June 7, 2011
After his service in the CCC he served in the
Army in the 1901st Corp of Engineers. He was a
polisher in the jewelry manufacturing industry
and worked for the former Coro Jewelry company for 40 years. He also worked for Gorham
Textron. He was a member of the Steelworkers
Union, the AMA since the 1940s and was an
avid Harley Davidson fan.
Pennell, David E.—February 11, 2015
Service: Co. 249, Allegany State Park, NY
Sheen, Marion Francis—April 4, 2015
Service: S-122 Boonville, NY
Born December 28, 1919 in Harrisville, NY he
attended Harrisville Schools and at the age of 17
entered the Civilian Conservation Corp in Haw-
kinsville, NY for a year. He left for a job
in Hartford Connecticut where he met
and married Florence P. Beaulieu, on
August 2, 1940, in Windsor, CT. The
couple resided in Hartford where Mr.
Sheen worked several years for sheet
metal companies. The couple moved to
Watertown in 1959 and he went to work
for Northern Glass Comp in Watertown.
In the 60’s and 70’s Mr. and Mrs. Sheen
owned and operated the Seaway Gas
Station and the TV Service Center, both
on Mill Street. In 1974 the couple
moved to Cape Vincent, where they operated a hobby farm. While there they
were foster parents to more than 35
children.
Mr. Sheen also worked for the sheet
metal Local Union 7 throughout the
North Country and operated a farm machinery repair shop out of his farm in
Cape Vincent. He worked during that
time at Finks Snowplow in Clayton for
five years. The couple moved back to
Watertown in 1986 where they were
neighbors to their daughter Marilynn
Hibbard. Mrs. Sheen died March 23,
2004. In 2002 at the age of 83 he started a personal publishing company,
“Last Chance Publishing”. Since then
he has written “The Sheens, Stowells
and Harrisville” about his growing up in
Harrisville NY. He also wrote “Life in
the Civilian Conservation Corp” and
“Recalling the Past of the Civilian Conservation Corp’.
To read more about camp Boonville and
Marion Francis Sheen refer to CCC
Legacy Journal, July/August 2011, page
19.
Simonini, Constant L. “Dino”
Service: Co. 2101 Madison, CT; Co.
1186
Escoheag,
RI;
Co.
141
Charlestown, RI. 1938—1941.
Simonini was a 1937 graduate of the
University of Rhode Island. He served
in the CCC from 1938—1941 and then
in the Army where he reach the rank of
LT. Colonel. After serving 22 years as a
special agent with the BI he served for
15 years as the Director of Planning and
Research for the City of Warwick CT
Police Dept and retired in 1985. He was
a member of the National Association of
Retired Federal Employees, the Warwick Council Knights of Columbus and
the Warwick Lodge of Elks. He was a
communicant of St. Benedict Church.
Smith, Virginia—February 15, 2015
Wife of CCC enrollee George Smith
who supported the service to Chapter
#113.
Wallace, Wayne T.—December 11, 2014
Service: Co. 553 Yellow Springs and
Napoleon, OH.
Volume 39, Issue 2
2015 Board
Philip Gouzie
30 Arlington Road
South Portland, ME 04106
Phone: 207-799-1419
Fax: 207-299-8051
Email: [email protected]
Jean Martin, Vice President
457 North Lee Street
Woodstock, VA 22664
Phone: 540-459-7377
Email: [email protected]
Tim Montgomery, Treasurer
2343 Alva Avenue
El Cerrito, CA 94530
Phone: 510-237-5293
Email: [email protected]
Daniel Newquist
77 Salt Marsh Circle, Unit 18G
Pawleys Island, SC 29585
Phone: 843-344-4543
Email: [email protected]
Joan Sharpe, President
P.O. Box 341
Edinburg, VA 22824
Phone: 540-984-8735
Cell Phone: 540-758-7009
Email: [email protected]
Naomi G. Shaw, Secretary
6863 N. State Hwy. 125
Strafford, MO 65757
Phone: 417-736-3609
Email: [email protected]
Martha L. Smith
5230 North Road
North Street, MI 48049
Phone: 810-334-8515
Email: [email protected]
The CCC Legacy Journal is published bimonthly and is the official publication of the
CCC Legacy, P. O. Box 341, Edinburg, VA
22824. 540-984-8735
All contributions will be considered for publication.
Submit event information three
months prior to help coordinate printing
deadlines. When submitting articles for
Chapter Eternal, please include the name
and address to which condolences may be
sent. All material is subject to editing.
CCC Legacy does not have a staff or reporters. We depend on members to share their
CCC experience and research.
The CCC Legacy Journal is not responsible
for the return of unsolicited manuscripts and
photos.
If you would like to donate memorabilia to
the Archive or to the Museum, please call
and tell us about your donation before it is
mailed. CCC Legacy is not responsible for
the loss of heirloom photographs.
© 2015 CCC Legacy. All Rights Re-
Page 19
Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy Journal
New Members
Leveridge, Bill
New Castle, IN
35620
Downey, CA
Joined in honor of Henry Lee
Krankota, Sarah
Denver, CO
Granddaughter
35621
Pixler, Joe
35628
Lubbock, TX
Joined in honor of Truman Pixler
Rineer, Francis, Jr.
35622
Towanda, PA
Interested in the CCC history of Pennsylvania
Pixler, Tammy
35629
Lubbock, TX
Joined in honor of Truman Pixler
Lund, Michael
35623
Perryville, MO
President of the Perryville, MO, Historical group
and interested in promoting CCC history
Bavis, Gene
Walworth, NY
Walworth Town Historian
Barners, Pricilla
35624
Seattle, WA
Joined in honor of Mary B. Parrott, wife of CCC
Boy Walter Parrott.
DiBenedetto, Amanda
Rocky River, OH
35625
Lee, Henry B., Alumni
35626
Downey, CA
Service: Co. 447, P-73, AL; and Co 466, F-1,
Mississippi 1933-1935
Payne, Joan B.
35630
Cox, Lewis K.
35631
Gift membership from Ken Baldridge to honor his father
Allen M. Cox of Co. 961, UT.
Harding, Stillman, Alumni
35632
Gift membership from Ken Baldridge. Served at Co.
1967 Jericho, DG-26, UT and Co. 736, Willard SCS-4,
UT.
Pollock, Stanley
Wellsville, UT
35633
35627
- Encourage family members to learn about the CCC Give them a gift membership.
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Page 20
Volume 39, Issue 2 — March/April 2015
Civilian conservation Corps Legacy Journal
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