• Sunday-What'sUP April 27 - 08:05 pm

Thanks to Larry Chabot for a look back at the Civilian Conservation Corps, which this week will mark 75 years since the first camp opened in Michigan.

In researching for this week's Cameo, one side benefit of the CCC became apparent. This all occurred in the years leading up to World War II. Having 3 million young men spend those years with the discipline and focus provided by the CCC, surely helped give a head start to the USA when our country was dragged into the War.

Don't miss the bonus Cameo of Cameo,FDR's visit to a CCC Camp. We would really be interested to know if there are still any of the guys around who worked in any of those camps.

Have a good week :o)

I have seen a lot of work the CCC has done all over the country. My father-in-law worked in the CCC in Tennessee along the Natachez Trace. I just hope the young of today could admire the work of the young people of yesterday.

It was really great to see and hear Roosevelt like that. Thanks for the interesting cameos this week. They were worth the wait.

Charlie, Great Cameo today. Most of us have a family history of someone who was in the CCC.

Will my images be around seventy five years from now? Maybe. Film life seems to be a known quantity. Digital is here to stay, but back it up with film especially those important family photos.

Most families have shoe-boxes of photos(and the negatives used to produce those photos)taken over the generations. I hope that the current crop of digital images survive as well as they have.

My dad worked in the CCC camps near Big Bay. He said he joined for the assured meals when food was very hard to come by. He died the November before last and his stories are missed. These men look like they are ready for their dinners, too. Thanks for the photo reminder.

My dad worked in a camp in Michigan somewhere - I was never clear where. He would comment every time we'd go by a stand of trees that were planted in straight rows. I wonder if he's in the photo... I'm not sure I'd be able to tell. He died ten years ago, so I'll never know.

Charlie, that was a very touching cameo today. Something our country needed at the time. My husband guided a group of YACC (young adult conservation corps) members in the late 70s and they did a lot of good work too. Thanks for all the wonderful cameos. I look forward to them everyday.

Did a search for the CCC just last week. Surfed into this site. Very informative.

http://www.cccalumni.org/index.html

I just spoke on the phone with my father. His father (my
grandfather), Emil Koskimaki and hit uncle Sulo Virta (my great
uncle) worked for the CCC out on Isle Royale building the old lodge
which my family saw a few years ago when we traveled to Isle
Royale. My dad told me that he worked for the NYA while he was in
high school at about the same time sweeping floors,etc. and
earned $6 a month. Seems like a good way to deal with
unemployment.

My dad was with (CCC) Camp Bonifas out of Watersmeet.

I know that hundreds and hundreds of 4H'ers learned to live in the great outdoors and to work in teams. They developed a comradarie that would serve them the rest of their lives. From the raising of the flag in the chilling morning to the singing around campfires at night it was a wonderful experience for young children. That was all provided by the CCC corp that built Camp Sidnaw which is still used today by many. A fine tribute to the CCC men.

My dad was at the CCC camp at Seney. I think this may have been where he picked up his love of growing things. We always had a garden. Sure wish I had asked him more about his time with them!

Again,the CCC camps were one of the main topics during my visit with an eldery gem from Painesdale. His favorite was Camp Pori,near Mass City. When the time came for the good men to come to come to the aid of their country,the camp housed German prisoners,who worked under civilian supervision.
My father-in-law worked in a CCC camp near Newberry.

The summer immediately after graduation from high school I got the opportunity to work with what was then called the YCC in 1976. As a troll I got to spend 8 fantastic weeks in the UP with our base camp at Sidnaw. We got our work orders from the DNR at Kenton and it was the best summer of my life. Hard work during the week, however very fulfilling. Can't remember all the work locations and jobs, but working on the Black River Harbor trails grooming them is one that comes to mind. It was the cammodre of sharing this unique experience with 60 other kids from all over the state that stands out most, along with the fantastic weekend trips we got to go on for our r&r. Hiking in the Porkies, canoe trip down the Painted River, trip to the Devil's Log Slide. Certainly one of the best experiences of my life, and what was my introduction to my love affair with what I now call God's Country. All who live there are so fortunate!

Dad was in the CC's in 34-35, working out of Camp Jumbo and Camp Pori. He just passed last month at 91. In '34 he would have been 18. He had fond memories of those days and all of the beneficial work that was done.