Happy Sepia Saturday, folks! This may be the last of the CCC themed posts, as I seem to have culled the best of those images from my Dad’s album. But never fear: I have lots more old family photos to share on upcoming Sepia Saturdays.
As the last in the CCC series, I thought I’d offer a little background information about the Civilian Conservation Corps. It’s almost 70 years since the program was disbanded, so its history has faded—& I’ve been pleased to see that blogmates from other countries have expressed interest in knowing more about the CCC. The information in this post comes from Wikipedia.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a public work relief program for unemployed men, providing vocational training through the performance of useful work related to conservation and development of natural resources in the United States from 1933 to 1942. As part of the New Deal legislation proposed by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the CCC was designed to aid relief of the unemployment resulting from the Great Depression while implementing a general natural resource conservation program on federal, state, county and municipal lands in every U.S. state, including the territories of Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The CCC became one of the more popular New Deal programs among the general public, providing economic relief, rehabilitation and training for a total of 3 million men. The CCC also provided a comprehensive work program that combined conservation, renewal, awareness and appreciation of the nation's natural resources. The CCC was never considered a permanent program and depended on emergency and temporary legislation for its existence. On June 30, 1942 Congress voted to eliminate funding for the CCC, formally ceasing active operation of the program.
During the time of the CCC, volunteers planted nearly 3 billion trees to help reforest America, constructed more than 800 parks nationwide that would become the start of most state parks, forest fire fighting methods were developed and a network of thousands of miles of public roadways and buildings were constructed connecting the nation's public lands.
Hope you enjoy the pictures & the background info on the CCC. Please be sure to visit other Sepia Saturday participants. You can find links to all participating blogs here.Info on the photos:
- Shorty Gentile [R]; John Barbosa [L]; John E Hayes [m]; July 1935, Townsend, Vermont [in my Dad’s handwriting on the back—he would have been 21 at that time]
- The completed stone house
- Walter Mack; Stephan Danko; John E Hayes; Victor Burnett – Hayes’ crew – masonry 1935-36 [again, in my Dad’s writing. I don’t know if this was supposed to read from L to R or R to L, but I can tell you my Dad is second from the left]
We Could All Do with The CCC now.Thanks John for sharing the Series.
ReplyDeleteHey! Have A Fine Saturday!
I had not heard of the CC prior to reading your posts. It's been a very interesting and enjoyable learning experience.
ReplyDeleteJust think, the U.S. owes a real debt of gratitude to the men of the CCC for the forests that exist today. It's quite an accomplishment, and such a worthy way of training the unemployed. We could use similar programs again, I think.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos, as always John. I'm glad to know you have a whole bunch more to share.
Wonderful series and Poetikat has a good point here, yes?
ReplyDeleteHappy week-end sir :)
Wonderful photos. I especially love how the first one captures that long ago sunshine...
ReplyDeleteThere is evidence of the CCC works all over the Adirondacks, especially forests where the now-tall trees are planted in beautiful, symmetrical rows as far as the eye can see.
Thanks for shedding light on the CCC. What a great initiative! I wonder if we have a politician in the UK, brave enough to suggest such a nationwide scheme today? Heaven knows, we could do with it.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post! I agree with the others that a similar program might be a good thing!
ReplyDeleteHow interesting to learn about the CCC. What a constructive way to provide work and experience in such a difficult time.
ReplyDeleteReally great pictures, John...and I learned something, too! 3 billion trees...that is amazing!
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed your CCC series, John. Your dad was such a handsome guy. I think you look a lot like him. That last pic is especially nice.
ReplyDeleteHi everybody!
ReplyDeleteTony: You are 100% right! Thank you.
Nana Jo: I'm so glad you enjoyed the series!
Kat: You're also right on both counts--both about the debt of gratitude & about similar programs now.
Subby: You have a good one too! Thanks!
Leah: Yes, that looks like a warm day; well, it can get hot in Vermont in the middle of summer. CCC work can be seen in so many places!
Martin: We could do with it, but I'm not sure if we have a politician who could pull it off.
Vicki: Thanks for stopping by! So glad you enjoyed it.
Paul: Yes, I believe it was a very good program. Thanks!
Betsy: Glad you enjoyed them. Yes--that's a lot of trees!
Willow: Gee, thanks! I like that last photo too, tho it's showing its age.
I have learned a lot about American 20th century history from this series John, thanks for that. And the photos just bring it to life so much lifting events off the pages of history books and displaying them within a framework made up of ordinary people.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to see this series end. It has been wonderfully informative.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, wish they were still around; they played a huge role in our town. Love your photos.
ReplyDeleteHi Alan, Barry & Sun Dance Hill
ReplyDeleteAlan: I suspect both you & I are firm believers in history being displayed "within a framework made up of ordinary people." Well said, & thanks!
Barry: So glad you've liked it!
Sun Dance Hill: Thanks so much!
Three hard working contented men.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I love old photographs the character touches.