Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Sites

Excellent example of recreational development in a state forest constructed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Co. 513 in 1934.

Some of these buildings may pre-date the New Deal, but between 1933 and 1939, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) engaged in considerable lumber milling activity while encamped here, and weekly built some of the sheds, at least (They built lumber sheds in a hundred of other state forests: Mogen-Monroe, Jackson, Harrison.) Some of the buildings may be post-WWII. They are difficult to document.

Stone walls, wood proches. Clark State Forest is one oldest, established in 1903. This building, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1935, probably replaced the old administration building constructed in 1905 at this site.

Only the 2 sandstone chimneys survive what had became a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)-built shelter house in 1935. 1 stone floor appears to be completely rebuilt. Nearby one … of 2 stone and timber picnic tables, another site has a tabletop. Documentation suggests that was the site of the “hilltop house”, briefly used as the forest headquarters when first acquired in 1903. (A new headquarters was built two years later at the eat side of the property.)

School foundation, from 1934, remounts in a celery now adjacent to I-65. On one consorts foundation a more rebuilt picnic shelter has been erected (Gabbled, open-sited). Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Co. 513 OCCUPIED CAMP S-51 in May 1933, along with the camp at Morgan-Monroe State Forest, the first in the state. Among their first projects was he construction of a summer school facility for the Purdue University School of Forestry. It had consisted of an assembly building, a study hall, and a shown building, and continued to be used at least through to 1950s.

7-acre Lake impounded by Earth Dam with concrete overflow outlet. Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1935.

Earth Dam impounding 13-Acre Lake. Early services (Outdoor Indiana 1934-1935) refer to Lake as “Frankey." Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Co. 513 constructed it in 1934.

Earth Dam impounding 2.5-acre lake. Small concrete spillway roughly centered in Dam. Similar to known Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)-constructed dams, but records are sparse and conflicting. Possibly pre-New Deal.

2-acre “lake” impounded by Earth Dam (N-S) with small concrete spillway. Small frame square building with hipped roof, presumably preprocess, SW of spillway. Small open picnic shelter with hipped roof, NE of dam (may be of Lake Vintage). Similar to known Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)-constructed dams, but records are sparse and conflicting. Possibly pre-New Deal. Possibly water source for nursery that had been established in the section of forest.

Earth Dam impounding 18-acre lake. Small frame gabled structure below dam at spillway outlet. Constructed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Co. 513 in 1934.

"Clarkco is one of Mississippi's eight original state parks. It was constructed in 1938 by Civilian Conservation Corps Company 1437, which, with other CCC companies, stayed in barracks in a camp along U.S. Hwy 45 within the park. Four of the original cabins and two large picnic shelters built by the CCC men are still in use. Unfortunately the original water tower and lookout tower fell into ruins and were removed... A side trail branches off from the lake circuit trail at the Island Rest Area, leading in 0.8 mile to the site of the CCC camp, which was used between...

The Clear Creek Outdoor Education Center in La Cañada Flintridge, CA, is based at former Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp Angeles Crest F-133, which was established in May 1933 for the development of Angeles National Forest. One of the projects undertaken by the CCC men stationed here was the construction of a road between 1933 and 1934; its location is unclear. Today, the Clear Creek Outdoor Education Center is a Los Angeles Unified School District science education facility and camp.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) conducted extensive development work in Grand Canyon National Park from 1933 to 1942. Among its trail development work, the CCC constructed the Clear Creek Trail, which connects North Kaibab Trail to Clear Creek to the east of Phantom Ranch. The National Park Service's CCC Walking Tour, discussing various CCC trail development projects, notes: "Even more ambitious was the nine-mile (14 km) Clear Creek Trail (1933-36) ..."

Vehicle access within the Willamette National Forest (WNF) was quite limited in 1933. Consequently, developing truck trails or access roads was a high priority for the US Forest Service for fire management. When Civilian Conservation Corps enrollees arrived in the summer of 1933, they were immediately put to work developing a truck trail from Belknap Springs on the McKenzie Highway north to Clear Lake, and ultimately connecting to US Hwy 20 and the Santiam Highway.  Portions of those road improvements are currently maintained as forest service roads while the remainder has been improved as State Highway 126, known at the...

The following is an excerpt from an interview with Abe Boehm, a CCC enrollee (Company 3740) stationed at Camp Clear Lake in northeastern California between February and June of 1937: "I must have worked on the Clear Lake dam for 2 or 3 months. Now you talk about work! Every stone we put in that dam was hand placed. There were about 60 to 80 men working on the dam. We had five or six 1932/1933 Chevrolet dump trucks; the truck driver and two guys would go out and drive through the sagebrush south of the dam, where those rocks were...

During the summer and fall of 1937, Civilian Conservation Corps enrollees from CCC camps Belknap and Cascadia/Marys Creek developed recreational facilities at Clear Lake. Improvements at the time provided opportunities for camping, picnicking and hiking. Today, the site operates as a day use area only with trails and picnic sites available for use. The CCC laid out campsites with attached picnic facilities above the Clear Lake/Belknap Springs road that are still visible but camping is no longer permitted there. Significant CCC constructed structures that do remain in the Day Use Area include the Clear Lake Picnic shelter and Information Booth. Both...

Clear Springs Recreation Area lake was constructed between 1935 and 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The lake retains its original design even though restoration work has been done on wooden shoring and spillway. The picnic pavilion was constructed in rustic style, and is a one-story, T-plan structure of logs. The structure includes a brick fireplace and wooden slab benches. The gazebo is a hexagon shape. The lake is a landscape element after the land was acquired in 1933 for the Homochitto National Forest. State forester was Fred B. Merrill and Supervisor was R. M. Conarro.

The park was built by CCC Co. 3804 who were at the park from the spring of 1935 to Aug 1940. According to "Parks for Texas," CCC work includes the dam and lake, a limestone residence and maintenance area, entrance portals, and fireplace units. Additional work was completed by the WPA in 1941, including a bathhouse and concession building, plus a water and sewer system.

The City of Clifton offered the State of Texas 80 acres of land along the Bosque River for a state park. The state never accepted the donation, and the area remained a city park. Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Company 878 arrived in June 1933 to begin work on the park. The CCC built picnic and fireplace units, a semicircular seating area, entry portals, concession building and latrine all out of limestone. The CCC left their camp in Clifton in January 1934.

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Company 1597 was active at Clifty Falls from November 1933 until 1938. The CCC built roads, trails, gatehouses, shelters, barns, and more. To enhance the outdoors experience projects exhibited designs that were rustic and harmonious with their surroundings, using native materials.

The Saddle Barn was completed in 1935 by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laborers. The style of the barn is classified as Parks Rustic. The barn was damaged during a tornado in 1974 and was later remodeled into a nature center.

CCC laborers completed two stone arched bridges at Clifty Falls. The first one was completed in 1936 and crosses Dean's Branch. The bridge has 2' high stone walls spanning the length of the bridge.

The Lilly Memorial Lookout was completed in 1936 by CCC laborers. The picnic area contains a stone seat that stands 4' high. The picnic area also contains 18" stone fences.

CCC laborers completed two stone arched bridges at Clifty Falls. The second bridge was completed in 1936 and crosses Little Clifty Creek.

Originally known as the Saddle Barn, this building was completed in 1935 by CCC laborers. The style of the barn is classified as Parks Rustic. The barn was damaged during a tornado in 1974 and was later remodeled into a nature center.

Using a variety of native materials, the CCC built gatehouses designed to appeal to the eye and draw in visitors with hints of the delights of nature within the park. The north gatehouse at Clifty Falls was completed by CCC laborers in 1935. The style of the gatehouse is classified as Parks Rustic.

The CCC laborers completed the picnic site in 1936. The site contains stone walls surrounding the picnic benches.

The pumphouse is located near Little Clifty Creek at the north section of the park. The pumphouse was completed in 1936. The style of the pumphouse is classified as Parks Rustic.

The Shelter House is located at Clifty Falls. It was completed  by CCC laborers between 1935 and 1936. The style of the shelter is classified as Parks Rustic.

Using a variety of native materials, the CCC built gatehouses designed to appeal to the eye and draw in visitors with hints of the delights of nature within the park. The south gatehouse at Clifty Falls was completed by CCC laborers in 1935. The style of the gatehouse is classified as Parks Rustic.

In operation from Dec. 9, 1933 to Jul. 30, 1941, C.C.C. Camp Filley conducted extensive development work in the Cockaponset State Forest in Middlesex County, Connecticut. Camp Hadley, Company #2101, also operated on this site, from Sept. 5, 1935 to Apr. 4, 1941. Projects included tree planting; renovations to the Forest Ranger's house; construction of a lumber shed, garage, brick charcoal kiln, a picnic shelter, and clean-up after the flood of 1936 in the town of Middletown. Work also included development at Chatfield Hollow State Park, designated as such in 1949. It was originally a Civilian Conservation Corps recreation area within Cockaponset State Forest.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the Colliding Rivers Overlook (or Viewpoint), where the North Umpqua and Little Rivers come together. The work as presumably done in 1938, the same year the CCC constructed the Glide Ranger Station just across the road (now the Information Center for the Colliding Rivers Viewpoint). The overlook consists of a small parking area and terraces on two levels for viewing the rivers, with both a ramp and stairway between levels. There is a path to a secondary overlook that is today blocked by trees, and there is a restroom (comfort station) that appears to be...

Colonial National Historical Park (CNHP) was created by Congress and President Herbert Hoover in 1930 and consists primarily of the Yorktown Battlefield, the historic Jamestown Settlement, and Colonial Parkway. Several federal agencies participated in its development. The National Park Service (NPS) provided general supervision of the entire historic site project after it was given responsibility for all historic battlefields by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Public Works Administration (PWA) contributed at least $600,000 (and probably much more) in funding. Relief agencies provided labor power: the Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked over the winter of 1933-1934 (probably for mosquito control and general...

Colonial National Historical Park (CNHP) was created by Congress and President Herbert Hoover in 1930 and consists primarily of the Yorktown Battlefield, the historic Jamestown Settlement, and Colonial Parkway. Several federal agencies participated in its development. The National Park Service (NPS) provided general supervision of the entire historic site project after it was given responsibility for all historic battlefields by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Public Works Administration (PWA) contributed at least $600,000 (and probably much more) in funding. Relief agencies provided labor power: the Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked over the winter of 1933-1934 (probably for mosquito control and general...

Colonial National Historical Park (CNHP) was created by Congress and President Herbert Hoover in 1930 and consists primarily of the Yorktown Battlefield, the historic Jamestown Settlement, and Colonial Parkway. Several federal agencies participated in its development. The National Park Service (NPS) provided general supervision of the entire historic site project after it was given responsibility for all historic battlefields by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Public Works Administration (PWA) contributed at least $600,000 (and probably much more) in funding. Relief agencies provided labor power: the Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked over the winter of 1933-1934 (probably for mosquito control and general...

Colonial National Historical Park (CNHP) was created by Congress and President Herbert Hoover in 1930 and consists primarily of the Yorktown Battlefield, the historic Jamestown Settlement, and Colonial Parkway. Several federal agencies participated in its development. The National Park Service (NPS) provided general supervision of the entire historic site project after it was given responsibility for all historic battlefields by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Public Works Administration (PWA) contributed at least $600,000 (and probably much more) in funding. Relief agencies provided labor power: the Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked over the winter of 1933-1934 (probably for mosquito control and general...

Colonial National Historical Park (CNHP) was created by Congress and President Herbert Hoover in 1930 and consists primarily of the Yorktown Battlefield, the historic Jamestown Settlement, and Colonial Parkway. Several federal agencies participated in its development. The National Park Service (NPS) provided general supervision of the entire historic site project after it was given responsibility for all historic battlefields by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Public Works Administration (PWA) contributed at least $600,000 (and probably much more) in funding. Relief agencies provided labor power: the Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked over the winter of 1933-1934 (probably for mosquito control and general clean-up)...

Colonial Parkway is part of the National Park Service's Colonial National Historical Park. It is a scenic 23-mile parkway that links together Virginia's Historic Triangle of colonial-era communities: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. Different portions of the parkway were built between 1930 and 1957. In the 1930s, the US Forest Service and the National Park Service used Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) workers to built the parkway.

The Devils Kitchen Picnic Shelter in Colorado National Monument was built by  the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1941. It is unusually large, with three sandstone fireplaces, and includes a comfort station (restrooms). The shelter was built in National Park Service Rustic style. Much of the material came from Rim Rock Drive construction. Construction was carried out by CCC enrollees from Camp NM-2-C in the monument and led by LEMs (Local Experienced Men) with the requisite craft skills, reputedly stonemasons of Italian descent.      

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive from one end of the Colorado National Monument to the other.  It is a remarkable road that winds along the top of the cliffs, with spectacular views of the Colorado Plateau countryside below. Construction of the road was a risky undertaking, with three tunnels through the cliffs, the longest of which is 530 feet.  Apparently, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) also participated in the construction of the road and the Public Works Administration (PWA) provided funding to the National Park Service for the road, but that needs further confirmation. Rim Rock road...