- City:
- Smyrna, DE
- Site Type:
- Parks and Recreation, Forestry and Agriculture, Pest Control
- New Deal Agencies:
- Work Relief Programs, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
Description
“In 1937, 12,000 acres (49 km²), mostly tidal salt marsh stretching eight miles (13 km) along Delaware Bay, were purchased to establish the Bombay Hook Migratory Waterfowl Refuge. The land was purchased with duck stamp funds.
On April 1, 1938, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) based at Leipsic, Delaware started work on the refuge. They cleared wooded swamps and built a dike to create Raymond and Shearness Pools and a causeway to separate Shearness and Finis Pools, creating three freshwater impoundments; they planted over fifty thousand trees; and they built a headquarters building, a boathouse and marine railway, an observation tower, and houses for the manager and a patrolman. They also ran ditches for mosquito control, and conducted various wildlife surveys. The camp ended March 18, 1942.
In 1939, the Bombay Hook Migratory Waterfowl Refuge was renamed the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge.”
Source notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombay_Hook_National_Wildlife_RefugeContribute to this Site
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David Sauls
Notice: The Story of the Civilian Conservation Corps at Bombay Hook – 1938 to 1942
By: Robert W. Mayer
Company 3269-C, BF-1
This was the only African American company in Delaware, On April 1, 1938, a newly established CCC company, Company 3269-C, BF-1. The new enrollees occupied an existing CCC site at Leipsic, Delaware. The young African American men worked at Bombay Hook Refuge. My step-father was an enrollee at the tender age of 17. I have close to 25-27 names of the enrollees in a photo in my possession.
I have been doing research on this company and the camp enrollees. This research just begun, I have exhibited/discussed brief facts learned so far. I am requesting more information if you can add to the facts..