Celebrating the Legacy of The Civilian Conservation Corps
Over the past several months, national political leaders have focused their attention and resources on the struggling economy. Similarly to the present day, national leaders in the 1930s were faced with an even greater economic problem – The Great Depression.
Last year, marked the 75 anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a Depression era program created as part of one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal Initiatives. I first learned about the CCC at a presentation in May 2008 at a training academy for Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation park rangers. The presentation, titled “Civilian Conservation Corps in Massachusetts: A Legacy of Stewardship,” was conducted by Alec Gillman – Visitor Services Supervisor at Mount Greylock State Reservation in Lanesborough, Massachusetts. At 3,491 feet, Mt. Greylock is the highest point in Massachusetts. Mt. Greylock State Reservation is the location of a collection of CCC historic resources.
1933 was the worst year of the Great Depression with the national unemployment rate peaking at 25%. Job creation and natural resource protection were two of the primary goals of the CCC program. The CCC was organized as a federal program that was administered on the state level. The federal departments of Agriculture, Interior, Labor, and War participated in the program.
Although the CCC program began in the 1930s, the concept for an entity that would bring civilians together to work to improve the quality of forest land originated in the 19th century. In 1850, Thomas Carlyle, a Scottish writer, wrote that unemployed men should be organized into teams to work in forest areas to improve society.
The CCC program lasted from April 5, 1933 to June 30, 1942. During this time a total of 3,463,766 men were enrolled as workers in all of the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The program was only open to single men ages 18 to 25. They were paid $1 dollar a day. Nationally, over 800 state parks were developed by members of the Corps. In Massachusetts there was a total of 68 CCC camps. In the New England states, the camps were open to African American men. Contrastingly, the U.S. Army did not integrate until July 1948.
In Massachusetts, workers in the Corps participated in seven primary tasks including: camp construction, fire hazard reduction, pest control, recreational development, road building, silviculture, and wildlife management. Harold O. Cook the Chief Forester of Massachusetts was chosen to organize the bay state’s Civilian Conservation Corps program.
In the Boston area, members of the CCC worked at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus, the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, and the Boston Harbor Islands. The Eliot Observation Tower, which remains in use to the present day, located in the Blue Hills was constructed by the CCC. At Harold Parker State Forest in Andover, the CCC built ponds for fire control and recreation. Remnants of the construction work completed by the Corps can be seen at Freetown-Fall River State Forest as evidenced by well preserved bridges, roads, and water holes. In 2002, a 6-foot bronze Civilian Conservation Corps statue was placed at Freetown-Fall River State Forest. Also in 2002, Acting Governor Jane Swift signed legislation establishing March 31st as Civilian Conservation Day in Massachusetts.
With a new presidential administration in control of the federal government, I think starting an initiative similar to the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s, would be a good idea to create jobs for people, especially at a time when unemployment has increased and the environment is in danger.
Last year, marked the 75 anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a Depression era program created as part of one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal Initiatives. I first learned about the CCC at a presentation in May 2008 at a training academy for Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation park rangers. The presentation, titled “Civilian Conservation Corps in Massachusetts: A Legacy of Stewardship,” was conducted by Alec Gillman – Visitor Services Supervisor at Mount Greylock State Reservation in Lanesborough, Massachusetts. At 3,491 feet, Mt. Greylock is the highest point in Massachusetts. Mt. Greylock State Reservation is the location of a collection of CCC historic resources.
1933 was the worst year of the Great Depression with the national unemployment rate peaking at 25%. Job creation and natural resource protection were two of the primary goals of the CCC program. The CCC was organized as a federal program that was administered on the state level. The federal departments of Agriculture, Interior, Labor, and War participated in the program.
Although the CCC program began in the 1930s, the concept for an entity that would bring civilians together to work to improve the quality of forest land originated in the 19th century. In 1850, Thomas Carlyle, a Scottish writer, wrote that unemployed men should be organized into teams to work in forest areas to improve society.
The CCC program lasted from April 5, 1933 to June 30, 1942. During this time a total of 3,463,766 men were enrolled as workers in all of the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The program was only open to single men ages 18 to 25. They were paid $1 dollar a day. Nationally, over 800 state parks were developed by members of the Corps. In Massachusetts there was a total of 68 CCC camps. In the New England states, the camps were open to African American men. Contrastingly, the U.S. Army did not integrate until July 1948.
In Massachusetts, workers in the Corps participated in seven primary tasks including: camp construction, fire hazard reduction, pest control, recreational development, road building, silviculture, and wildlife management. Harold O. Cook the Chief Forester of Massachusetts was chosen to organize the bay state’s Civilian Conservation Corps program.
In the Boston area, members of the CCC worked at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus, the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, and the Boston Harbor Islands. The Eliot Observation Tower, which remains in use to the present day, located in the Blue Hills was constructed by the CCC. At Harold Parker State Forest in Andover, the CCC built ponds for fire control and recreation. Remnants of the construction work completed by the Corps can be seen at Freetown-Fall River State Forest as evidenced by well preserved bridges, roads, and water holes. In 2002, a 6-foot bronze Civilian Conservation Corps statue was placed at Freetown-Fall River State Forest. Also in 2002, Acting Governor Jane Swift signed legislation establishing March 31st as Civilian Conservation Day in Massachusetts.
With a new presidential administration in control of the federal government, I think starting an initiative similar to the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s, would be a good idea to create jobs for people, especially at a time when unemployment has increased and the environment is in danger.
Very informative and highly educational, great job! :-)
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