Generous memorial gifts from family and friends make it possible for ccc legacy to enhance the awareness of ccc heritage. The inmates were trustee status and many worked for the neighboring cusino wildlife research station. The civilian conservation corps was president franklin roosevelts personal creation. Of course there were some ss soldiers that were definitely in the. In 2007, jamerson published a historical novel on the ccc. Typical rocks and minerals of michigan the samples. The location of camp wolverine ccc is owned by the state of michigan. The camp was officially called the cusino corrections prison work camp and was part of the corrections conservation prison camp program in the state of michigan. View a 1937 guide to ccc camps in wisconsin and a 1939 recruitment poster elsewhere at. Between 1933 and 1942 the civilian conservation corps, created by president franklin d. Saw a show on pbs last night and it grabbed my interest.
The cases were constructed by war veterans at ccc camp presque isle, near atlanta, michigan. He mentions every camp that existed in upper michigan and did his best to. Professor russ magnaghias book the way it happened noted that there were. Lumberjack songs and michigan history go together in bill jamersons musical programs.
Visitors will also enjoy an abundance of nearby offroad vehicle trails. Tahquamenon logging museum newberry 2020 all you need to. On the section leadership tab, youll find information regarding the leadership of both the great lakes region of which we are a part and local. Between 1933 and 1942, the michigan ccc planted 485 million trees, spent 140,000 days fighting forest fires, constructed 7,000 miles of.
A camp was identified by several different methods through the use of different nicknames, company numbers and agencies identifications. The states only national park service camps were on isle royale, which had been designated a national park in 1931. Photographs on the panels and quotations from ccc veterans make camp round lake the great depression, and the c. Camp forgotten michigan ccc michigan sportsman online.
The camp was originally built as a ccc camp and after the capture of thousands of german soldiers in africa, they were sent to the united states to be held as pows. It was not until recently that i knew michigan was home to several german pow camps during world war ii. Civilian conservation corps museum roscommon 2020 all. Official designation as camp raco f5 occurred in summer, 1933. In april 1933, only a month after roosevelts inauguration, 9,500 michigan men were working in 10 hastily constructed ccc camps up north. The map pictured below shows details of the number of ccc camps in each state as of august 1933, when the program had been in existence for just five months. Research on ccc camps or enrollees discharge papers and camp records in order to conduct research on a ccc member or enrollee, a discharge paper is essential as it will have the individuals record of assignments, promotions and assigned camps. Proud to work and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. The public is allowed to camp here but, permitting from the state of michigan needs to be obtained. The map pictured below shows details of the number of ccc camps in each state as of august 1933, when the program had been in existence for just. Dec 23, 2009 more specifically, the book provides a complete study of the ccc in the u.
Attractions near civilian conservation corps museum. Michigans towering trees created a thriving lumber. Formal dedication of camp marquette was held on april 25, 1935 for what turned out to be one of the very best ccc units in michigan. See more ideas about michigan colors, conservation and michigan. I enjoyed researching stories like these for my recent book, michigan pow camps in wwii, history press, 2018, and picked up many new anecdotes on doing library presentations around the state. Somehow these camps were left out of every single michigan history book i read in school and later in life. The name cusino was taken from a civilian conservation corps ccc camp that was located four miles east of melstrand, michigan. Camp sidnaw was one of the former ccc work camps the pows were sent to. Penetrating 25 miles into lake michigan, the garden peninsula gives you access to a multitude of coves and bays and offshore islands. One of the first jobs in a newly established ccc camp was to construct the permanent camp buildings. Oct 11, 2015 camp sidnaw was one of the former ccc work camps the pows were sent to. For more great stories on michigan aos past, look to michigan history magazine. Anyone know of any books on historic michigan ccc work. Sale of ccc camp buildings camp wolverine the conservation department will sell at public auction several buildings at ccc camp wolverine, located 11 miles west of wolverine, in sec.
In michigan, much of this work involved tree planting, which occurred during the spring to fall seasons. There will be camping, a barbecue, potluck dinner, and other events. As you begin your ccc research, it is important to get the feel for the fast paced movement of ccc military companies across the nation. A lot of the german pow camps in michigan were formerly ccc camps and filled mainly with germans that were forced into service in hitlers army that fought in africa. The camp was originally built as a ccc camp and after the capture of thousands of german soldiers in africa, they. Because enrollees were older, already skilled and represented many trades, the usual ccctype instructors called local experienced men, or lems. More than 55,000 men had served terms of either six months or a year. The photo above is part of 3 cs camp, a great set of photos taken by a man who served in the civilian conservation corps camp in 19331934, mainly in cadillac, michigan. Ccc camp ogemaw, west branch, michigan 1 photograph.
It is a wonderful human episode, unfolding in the shadow of a terrible global war, that more people should know about. Summary photograph shows a group portrait of young men, participants in the civilian conservation corps, seated next to buildings at camp ogemaw, west branch, michigan. Many logging outfits and pulpwood contractors asked for the pows to be sent to the upper peninsula to help cut pulpwood 5. A statewide ccc camp reunion will be held at north higgins lake state park on thursdaysaturday june 57. Civilian conservation corps museum roscommon 2020 all you.
Enrollment during its sixplus years averaged from 100 to 150. Civilian conservation corps ccc camps memorial michigan. The book focuses on a young italian army captain who is sent to autrain in 1944, incurs the wrath of the camps sadistic, highestranking nazi officer and escapes to the lower peninsula. Visible features include old foundations and the newly replaced flag pole. In his introduction, chabot shows he has done his homework, having perused every copy of the mining journal from 19331942. It is located one mile west of shingleton, michigan. More heavy machinery was operated at camp germfask than at any other michigan ccc camp. Ccc camp ccc camp, michigan, united states, north america. Red cross inspectors noted the camp was clean and orderly. Sidnaw, mi wwii pow camp military history of the upper. Located in a grassy clearing, interpretive panels show what the camp buildings looked like and describe everyday life there. The civilian conservation corps ccc had come to michigan. Christian camp and conference association michigan section.
The states only national park service camps were on isle royale, which had been designated a national park. The federal government formed the civilian conservation corps ccc during the 1930s to help the nations forests begin to recover from the intensive logging of the 1800s. Sexton, topeka, ks, who passed away in july 2017 generous memorial gifts from family and friends make it possible for ccc legacy to enhance the awareness of ccc heritage. Typical rocks and minerals of michigan the samples were. After capture, the germans were loaded onto empty troop ships and shipped back to the states. Find out where member camps are located, then drill down to additional information about these great camps.
Civilian conservation corps michigan forest history society. Sometimes referred to as the clarion ccc having a clarion mi postal address. Come and be our guest in this truly extraordinary place. Sep 18, 2006 the photo above is part of 3 cs camp, a great set of photos taken by a man who served in the civilian conservation corps camp in 19331934, mainly in cadillac, michigan. The civilian conservation corps in michigan absolute. Camp sidnaw, a former civilian conservation corps work camp, became home to around 250 german prisoners. Therefore, they were not thought of as too terribly dangerous and were brought here to work at various camps. The cement as shown in the photos below remains from walkways to the multiple camp wolverine ccc buildings, and slabs from under the various buildings from the mid to late. The ccc records arent indexed and few are microfilmed. Camp newspapers of the civilian conservation corps, 19331942 jefferson, nc.
More specifically, the book provides a complete study of the ccc in the u. Camp wolverine ccc chandler township charlevoix county. Between 1933 and 1942 a total of 128 different ccc camps existed in communities throughout the upper peninsula and northern lower peninsula. This national archives blog post has excellent information on ccc worker research at the archives, as does the finding aid preliminary inventory of the records of the civilian conservation corps by douglas helms. In michigan, the boys performed a variety of conservation and reforestation projects. Salmond, the civilian conservation corps, 19331942. In addition, while most public land is currently open for local day use, camping is currently prohibited on all state land.
The small town of sidnaw in the centralwestern upper peninsula was home to one of several pow camps throughout michigan. In michigan, however, the forestry schools at michigan state college and the university of michigan lent tools to get the states first ccc camps going. Within months there were fortyone similar camps across northern michigan housing nearly eight thousand young men. Civilian conservation corps historical albion michigan. The civilian conservation corps ccc was a voluntary public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the united states for unemployed, unmarried men. Many of the ccc enrollees in michigan were natives of the state and did not have as far to travel as did the enrollees from the urban areas of the east who served in the far west. Then, download expertgps mapping software, which will allow you to print maps of any camp in michigan, view camps on usgs topo maps and aerial photos, and send the camps as waypoints or pois. It offers excellent opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, tubing and flyfishing.
Originally for young men ages 1825, it was eventually expanded to ages 1728. Robert fechner was the first director of this agency, succeeded by james mcentee following. Michigan history center the ccc in michigan state of michigan. It was home to company 667, which was organized in april, 1933 with 200 enrollees from detroit and hamtramck. Garden peninsula michigan escanaba michigan hotels. Plat book of ogemaw county, michigan library of congress. Civilian conservation corps ccc in wisconsin wisconsin. Aug 25, 2009 a lot of the german pow camps in michigan were formerly ccc camps and filled mainly with germans that were forced into service in hitlers army that fought in africa.
Because enrollees were older, already skilled and represented many trades, the usual ccc type instructors called local experienced men, or lems. Each camp also had a library with an average of 1,000 books and magazines. Map and download gps waypoints for 899 camps in michigan. Image courtesy michigan history magazine ccc accomplishments in michigan most michigan ccc camps were in either national or state forests.
About bill bill jamerson filmmaker songwriter author. Tahquamenon logging museum newberry 2020 all you need. The ccc also provides another very valuable service. The dnr has closed or modified public access to many locations, activities and services to help prevent the spread of covid19. The civilian conservation corps in michigan absolute michigan. May 22, 2007 formal dedication of camp marquette was held on april 25, 1935 for what turned out to be one of the very best ccc units in michigan. Bergquist, junior geologist for michigan state ccc assisted in assembly of the bulk material and supervised technical phases of the project. Trucks parked at a civilian conservation corps camp in michigan. The installation appears small, with two permanent buildings and six tents visible in the aerial view. Beginning in 1933, the michigan ccc planted almost half a billion trees, built roads and stocked lakes with fish, among many other improvements to the forests.
This mapbook is available for purchase at most motorcycle shops in the area, and also comes with membership in. The movement of ccc camps and their identifiers was flexible and fluid. As you begin your ccc research, it is important to get the feel for the fast paced movement of cccmilitary companies across the nation. The ccc was a yearround program, however, and the men were still in camp during the winter. For more great stories on michiganaos past, look to michigan history magazine. Jul 14, 2010 in april 1933, only a month after roosevelts inauguration, 9,500 michigan men were working in 10 hastily constructed ccc camps up north. Records of the civilian conservation corps ccc national. Over 100,000 michigan men participated in important conservation work of the states natural resources during the nine years of the civilian conservation corps ccc existence. As an independent agency by act of june 28, 1937 50 stat. While youre there, check out the new exhibits inside the ccc museum. View all attractions near civilian conservation corps museum on tripadvisor.
An original panorama photograph print of a civilian conservation corps camp. Map and download gps waypoints for 899 camps in michigan click here to download gps waypoints pois for all of the camps in michigan in gpx format. The timezone in ccc camp is americaiqaluit morning sunrise at 06. The club has compiled a very detailed map book of all the trails in the system, entitled the michigan orv trail system. The german pow camps of michigan during wwii gift baskets. Camp forgotten the civilian conservation corps in michigan, which aired on 58 pbs. Set among a stand of red pines, the ccc bridge state forest campground is located on the banks of the beautiful manistee river. The michigan section is made up of ccca member camps from the great state of michigan.
We got off the train and it was raining and cold and we were standing in. Roosevelt, undertook an extensive program of tree planting, road building, campground construction and wildlife habitat improvement. Ccc is a lifegiving church in midland, mi with a fun and energetic kids program, biblecentered. Robert fechner was the first director of this agency, succeeded by james mcentee following fechners death. Here in photos and frequently in their own words are the highlights of the ccc in michigan. Most michigan ccc camps were in either national or state forests. The section members tab provides a list of all ccca member camps in the michigan section. In 1951, some of the ccc buildings were moved to shingleton for the prison camp. When pows logged michigans north woods great lakes echo. The 7 october 1943 detroit free press on page 11 read. The campground is home to 31 sites for tent and small trailer use. Subject, ccc, civilian conservation corps, 36 company camp evelyn.
243 667 1540 299 242 1070 167 572 1357 480 993 417 305 1103 519 1361 611 710 113 363 123 701 1166 1245 1011 1601 611 866 311 154 126 570 424 905 176 671 787