Civilian Conservation Corps

These past couple weeks, Kurt and I have had a lot of joy recreating scenes from "the past" staging Civilian Conservation Corps workers, lumberjacks, etc. 

We learned a few things in the process:

- Most iconic buildings and structures in State and National Parks were built by the CCC boys (Civilian Conservation Corps)

- The original visitor center in Gooseberry Falls (built by the CCC) was still in use as late as 1996!

- The CCC program ran from 1933 until 1942 and no other federally funded program has been created since that rivals it both in its scope and degree of accomplishments.

- the North Shore's popularity is not new: visitors and outdoorsmen have been enjoying the area for over a century much like today

- Heavy logging and even farming used to take place in the Northland and large areas were depleted of their trees and left bare: CCC replanted many trees in the 1930s and brought back the landscape we enjoy today.

Looking at what the CCC's legacy: why couldn't there be  a mandatory program that would put the youth to work for a set amount of time on projects that up the quality of life for all of society? These young people would learn a trade of their choice, gain much needed life experience and the hours put in would pay for their college education! ​

Each stone is hand-picked by experienced stonemasons based on quality and color

In the background, a CCC boy is chiseling the rock for proper fitting

CCC enrollees build the 300-foot long “Castle in the Park” stone retaining wall in Gooseberry Falls State Park

logs are staked up, waiting to be transported for processing

Strong bonds develop in a hard profession where mosquitos is only a small part of the many challenges they face

The lumberjack team is posing in a rare photo at the end of their work day in the northwoods

Lumberjacks at work in the forest

Lone fisherman on the banks of the Gooseberry River