History of the CCC

The Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s brings pleasant memories to mind. As part of the U. S. Army whose recruits would live in camps and serve communities all over the country, the CCC filled genuine needs and was well received.

Linden in Cass County was home to CCC Camp 1841 from June 4, 1937, to October 4,1939.

When written about, the local corps members were referred to as “boys” and treated as part of the community family.

The idea for the corps had its beginning in the Wall Street crash of 1929. Suddenly people had no money and no work. Small towns were dying, large cities had bread lines.

President Franklin Roosevelt acted and formed the CCC in 1933. Everyone seemed to love the corps, although some thought it a form of welfare even if its members worked hard.

Its work was regimented by the army. The corps built fire roads, parks and bridges, planted greenery, fought fires and engendered self-esteem in young men.

Members were required to attend school in camp if they didn’t have high school diplomas. They earned $30 a month, most of which was sent home to parents. But members got to keep $5 for entertainment.

It was in October of 1937 when CCC Camp 1814 moved from Groveton, TX, to Linden where it stayed until October of 1939 when it moved to Arizona.

When Linden’s camp was visited by inspectors early in 1938, here are remarks it received: “This is an excellent camp, in excellent order throughout and very clean and orderly. It shows a good administration ... improvements made here have been of the excellent type ... especially complimenting the addition of the kitchen and mess hall is the recreational hall and reading room ... equipment (is) showing to be in good shape. Moral corresponds (sic).”

The report tells that the Linden camp properly displayed all safety notices, had plenty of fire equipment, good food and was well-supplied from local growers with fruit and vegetables The camp had two vehicles for army use and 10 for “technical service.” Among these last uses, the question was asked whether the trucks were being provided for “recreation use.”

“Yes,” was the answer. “To the town of Linden, one mile away, the trucks went weekly.”

Not all was work or play, of course. In one month’s education report, camp members compiled over 500 man hours of instruction. The courses included reading and writing, spelling, arithmetic, agriculture, auto mechanics, bookkeeping, business math, surveying, carpentry, forestry, typing, cooking and baking, road and telephone line construction.

That wasn’t all. In that same month, 17 corps members put in 92 man hours of learning about current events and etiquette. The report also tells of 90 enrollees in the camp receiving counseling and guidance. And of eight lectures given during the month, some 722 attended, many attending more than one lecture, of course.

At this time, the camp had 158 men and seven leaders. Names dotting the report may not be familiar today, since members came not from Linden but from across the state. The company commander was 1st. Lt. Stanley D. Roberts. James A. Hicks was project supervisor and Charles E. Davis the camp’s doctor.

The report says that at this time the camp was involved with erecting telephone lines and towers, building truck trails and mapping in a 22 mile radius around the camp.

The period of the CCC’s presence here of two years seems short now. World War II put an end to the CCC program. The young men were needed in battle.

When the newspaper wrote of the camp’s leaving, words used were almost as if reporting a funeral.

“Word has been received,” said the Citizens Journal of September 28, 1939, “by the Texas Forest Service ... that the CCC Camp would close Sept. 30 due to the completion of work within the authorized time ... as approved by the Civilian Conservation Corps Director Feebear’s office at Washington, D. C.”

A summary of the camp’s accomplishments included: — The Linden camp built 35 miles of excellent fire protection roads — 25 bridges built — 75 rock dips and fords constructed. — 147 miles of telephone lines connecting fire towers — 3,600 man days used in actual suppression of forest fires “The benefits derived by the state are impossible of measure,” the Texas Forest Service said.

“In return, the forest service and CCC organization thanked the people of Linden and other communities for their fine cooperation with the CCC program,” the Journal article concluded.

County Judge Sam L. Henderson wrote of his high regard for the CCC.

“Its major objectives were to give jobs to hundreds of thousands of discouraged and undernourished young men, idle through no fault of their own,” he said. “Since being in Linden, CCC Company 1814 has made remarkable progress The camp grounds have been landscaped and beautiful flowers and grass are now flourishing on what used to be a common sand hill. Over 1,500 men have gone through its ranks.”

The CCC left Linden Oct. 4, 1939, but the program itself was never officially disbanded.

When the historical marker was being dedicated here June 11, 2002, Texas Gov. Rick Perry sent a letter of commendation about the Linden camp and the CCC program statewide.

“CCC’s legacy in Texas includes excellent work in 33 state parks, 15 county and city parks, two national forests, the Franklin Canal System in El Paso County and Big Bend National Park,” the governor wrote.