FDR’s Jobs Program: Why the CCC Began
In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt directed Congress to establish the Civilian Conservation Corps. It was one of many programs that were part of his New Deal, which hoped to provide meaningful work for those unemployed after the stock market crash of 1929. The CCC specifically focused on “forestry, the prevention of soil erosion, flood control, and similar projects.”
Just one month after Roosevelt's bill, CCC companies were already being assigned around the country. The first one in Indiana was started in Morgan-Monroe State Forest, followed by companies at Spring Mill, Lincoln, Turkey Run, McCormick's Creek, and Indiana Dunes. The CCC companies were responsible for building park structures, planting thousands of trees, and even hand-digging many of the park’s lakes.
Almost 64,000 Hoosiers served in camps across Indiana, and there were also CCC boys who traveled to other nearby states. Each company had about 200 men, typically 18 years old and into their early 20s. While the camps weren't part of the military, the discipline and structure provided many young men with a strong foundation for life, which was important for what came next in history, World War II. They didn't know it then, but the routines and lifestyle were equipping the boys to soon defend our country around the world.
A Day in the Life of One of the CCC “Boys”
The boys had consistent routines that structured each day. I attended a presentation about the CCC at Pokagon State Park. Local author and historian Glory-June Greiff shared about their schedule. She explained for the CCC boys stationed at Pokagon, “The day would start at 5:30. [Corpsman] Johnny Romanak would sound Reveille on his bugle…and then they would all quickly get dressed and assemble down at the flag.” After breakfast, the boys were off to work on various projects at the park. Those included building incredible structures that are still standing, like the county road bridge and toboggan run at Pokagon, along with the stone arch bridges at McCormick's Creek and Clifty Falls, the triple arch bridge at Spring Mill, and fire towers at Lincoln and Ouabache.
When the boys weren't physically active, they were working mentally. Glory-June said, “Some boys would instead go to classes because they were learning some special skills… A lot of the boys did not finish high school, so they went to classes for the high school equivalency.” For those who had graduated from high school, nearby colleges could sometimes help them further their education.
Looking back at his time in the CCC, Corpsman Roger Woodcock said, “We learned how to live with others, learned what tolerance is, and most of us learned some type of skill. We can be proud today because what we did at Pokagon left this world a better place in which to live. It gave one a sense of pride and self-esteem.” The CCC was an opportunity for boys to learn valuable skills to prepare them for whatever came next in their lives.
African Americans in the CCC
Johnny, Roger, and the other young White men weren't the only Americans who found self-confidence and purpose through the CCC. Young Black men were also part of the CCC. Glory-June shared, “They did have segregated African American camps… and there were some camps that were lightly integrated.”
In Indiana, of the 50-some CCC companies, eight were African American. Some of the Black men were WWI veterans coming to the CCC with additional maturity and experiences. Some Black companies had Black officers and supervisors, but most were supervised by White men. There were Black CCC medical officers and chaplains, and more than 90 percent were part of education programs, with young men later attending Black colleges and universities. There were all-Black companies at parks like Spring Mill and O’Bannon Woods. One that really stood out to me was Company 517.
African American CCC Company 517
Thanks to the Indiana Historical Society, I discovered pictures of African American CCC Company 517. In them, groups of 10 or 20 young men sit or stand in front of the barracks, their hands in their pockets or arms at their sides. A few men have their arms on someone else's shoulder. One young Black man crouches down while holding a bugle. They're dressed in dark pants, white long-sleeve shirts with leather boots, and often wearing hats. Some are smiling; some are stoic. They're young and many are handsome. Some are dressed in cook's clothes, and a few stand in front of the medical building. There are some White commanders and supervisors included as well. Joseph Ramsey was a member of Company 517. He said, “I've never seen such camaraderie anywhere, not even in a fraternity or a church. It's like blood brothers.”
Company 517 began as an integrated company, but as time passed and the size grew, it became a segregated group. With 250 Black men, it was the largest African American CCC company. They worked at Camp Wyandotte in Harrison-Crawford State Forest in what is now O'Bannon Woods State Park. During their three years at Camp Wyandotte, the young men built trails, roads, the fire tower, campground, and more. They fought fires and rescued people from the Ohio River floods in 1937. Like the other White companies, they had fun taking trips to nearby Corydon to play softball and write the company newsletter.
The young men were committed to their work, both the assigned manual labor and their educational studies. Classes were offered in technical skills, as well as typing, first aid, and French. There were positive interactions between the young men and the nearby city of Corydon, like basketball games and track meets against the local high school team. It was a far cry from true inclusion, but overall Company 517 was in good spirits.
The company later moved to work at a camp in South Bend. They continued to receive superior ratings, but then moved a final time to Portland, Ind., where, despite their contributions to the community, White citizens weren't used to African Americans in town. Fear isn't easy to uproot.
Tragedy for Company 517
Things seemed stable for a few months until Dec. 30, 1939. On that night, CCC member Marshall Carter was in Portland running an errand. The 22-year-old stopped in an alley to relieve himself before heading back to camp. Remember, as a Black man in 1939, there were likely not indoor or even outdoor bathrooms available for him to use.
A White citizen saw Marshall, shouted at him to halt, pulled out his gun, and shot him! Marshall managed to escape, fled town, and amazingly got back to camp, bleeding from a bullet wound that passed through his torso above his heart. After receiving first aid from the company commander, Marshall was rushed to the hospital and straight into surgery. Amazingly, he recovered with no lasting physical impact.
The incident certainly led to additional caution and fear in the CCC camp, but it didn't even make the papers in Portland. What was a life-altering event for Marshall Carter was sadly not even newsworthy to the White public. The occurrence was a reality for many African Americans in the 1930s and beyond. Whether related to the shooting or not, over the next few months 34 men left the camp for other jobs. By 1941, the work in the area was finished, and Company 517's responsibilities were complete.
Months before the shooting, Marshall Carter submitted a poem to the CCC newspaper. It reveals the thoughts he wrestled with. He wrote,
When you see a man error don't let him down;
You may some day trod similar ground.
Don't judge a man by the way he looks at you;
and say harsh things about him, for it may not be true.
Marshall's commitment to forgiveness, graciousness towards others, and humility about himself is commendable. Knowing what he faced months later in a dark alley makes his poem even more admirable. Unfortunately, I don't know what happened to Marshall Carter after he left the hospital. His time with the CCC ended, and he is lost to history.
He and the other CCC boys of all ethnicities were strong examples of commitment and integrity. Of course, they were also young guys, and I'm sure there were many hijinks and stories they’re thankful stayed in the barracks. But overall, the men appreciated their time with the CCC no matter what happened. Afterward, many found success serving in the military, their communities, and throughout the nation.
Building a Legacy for Future Generations
Whether White or Black, the CCC boys understood their contributions were important. Jody Heaston from Ouabache State Park explained why the young men were so committed to the work. She said each company had its own newsletter. The boys at Ouabache wrote in theirs that their goal for the park was for it to be “built for your use, a monument that will be handed down from generation to generation.” I wish all the CCC boys could see the state parks now and witness the millions of people who visit them every year, enjoying the fruits of their labor.
The CCC boys left their fingerprints across the state in parks and forests, in cities and across the countryside. Their hard work, humility, heartache, and laughter created the places where we make memories and connections today. I'm so thankful for the work of the CCC and how they lived their lives for something greater. They infused each day with purpose as they considered the legacy they would leave behind for the coming generations.
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