Conservation Corps Camp (CCC)
Swinford Springs Conservation Corps Camp
The CCC camp, which was located right here on our ranch, was a thriving community for the couple of summers in the 1930's when it was active. With the help of the internet, we have been able to garner some relevant facts about this camp. You will notice the differences of the land then and now (see photos below). The most significant change over the past 75 years is the amount of juniper that has spread over the ranch, even though we have cut many acres of it down.
“In 1936-7, Swinford Springs and Board Corrals were CCC camps. The only time I was ever at Swinford Springs was when I wrecked Roy Godfrey's car coming down the hill west of the Maintenance station. My friend caught a ride back to Cedarville, and I walked to the station for help but there was no one available so I walked to Swinford Springs – just in time for dinner – although food was the least of my concerns – I especially remember the celery sticks stuffed with peanut butter – I had never seen that before! The officers in charge provided transport to Cedarville afterward. I dated boys from the Board Corrals CCC camp, although boys from both camps frequented my foster brother's Locust Club in Cedarville on weekends. I married Roy Godfrey to pay for the damage to his car.” E. Maxine Edwards, former resident of Mosquito Valley, 1928-33.
The slogan of the Civilian Conservation Corps was, "We can take it!" Building strong bodies was a major CCC objective. More than half the enrollees who entered the CCC in its last year were seventeen years of age. Work, calisthenics, marching drills, good food, and medical care featured the CCC health program.
The CCC camp, which was located right here on our ranch, was a thriving community for the couple of summers in the 1930's when it was active. With the help of the internet, we have been able to garner some relevant facts about this camp. You will notice the differences of the land then and now (see photos below). The most significant change over the past 75 years is the amount of juniper that has spread over the ranch, even though we have cut many acres of it down.
“In 1936-7, Swinford Springs and Board Corrals were CCC camps. The only time I was ever at Swinford Springs was when I wrecked Roy Godfrey's car coming down the hill west of the Maintenance station. My friend caught a ride back to Cedarville, and I walked to the station for help but there was no one available so I walked to Swinford Springs – just in time for dinner – although food was the least of my concerns – I especially remember the celery sticks stuffed with peanut butter – I had never seen that before! The officers in charge provided transport to Cedarville afterward. I dated boys from the Board Corrals CCC camp, although boys from both camps frequented my foster brother's Locust Club in Cedarville on weekends. I married Roy Godfrey to pay for the damage to his car.” E. Maxine Edwards, former resident of Mosquito Valley, 1928-33.
The slogan of the Civilian Conservation Corps was, "We can take it!" Building strong bodies was a major CCC objective. More than half the enrollees who entered the CCC in its last year were seventeen years of age. Work, calisthenics, marching drills, good food, and medical care featured the CCC health program.
A short history of the establishment of Swinford Springs DG-7, located on the ranch, is on the CCC Written History page.
In an attempt to show the before and after of the CCC location relative to today's ranch, the pictures below were taken for comparison with their historical counterpart above. Note the proliferation of the juniper tree growth on the hillsides from then to now.
In an attempt to show the before and after of the CCC location relative to today's ranch, the pictures below were taken for comparison with their historical counterpart above. Note the proliferation of the juniper tree growth on the hillsides from then to now.
Disbandment
Although the CCC was probably the most popular New Deal program, it never became a permanent agency. The Gallup poll of April 18, 1936, asked, "Are you in favor of the CCC camps?" 82% said "yes", including 92% of Democrats and 67% of Republicans. [Public Opinion, 1935-1946 ed. by Hadley Cantril and Mildred Strunk 1951. Page 111]
The last extension passed by Congress was in 1939. After the draft began in 1940, there were fewer and fewer eligible young men. When war was declared in December 1941, all CCC work, except for wildland firefighting, was shifted onto U.S. military bases to help with construction there. The agency disbanded one year earlier than planned, after Congress voted to cut off funding for the CCC entirely after June 30, 1942.
For more information about the Swinford Springs camp, go the following link: livingnewdeal.org/projects/swinford-springs-ccc-camp-board-corral-nv-vya-nv/
Although the CCC was probably the most popular New Deal program, it never became a permanent agency. The Gallup poll of April 18, 1936, asked, "Are you in favor of the CCC camps?" 82% said "yes", including 92% of Democrats and 67% of Republicans. [Public Opinion, 1935-1946 ed. by Hadley Cantril and Mildred Strunk 1951. Page 111]
The last extension passed by Congress was in 1939. After the draft began in 1940, there were fewer and fewer eligible young men. When war was declared in December 1941, all CCC work, except for wildland firefighting, was shifted onto U.S. military bases to help with construction there. The agency disbanded one year earlier than planned, after Congress voted to cut off funding for the CCC entirely after June 30, 1942.
For more information about the Swinford Springs camp, go the following link: livingnewdeal.org/projects/swinford-springs-ccc-camp-board-corral-nv-vya-nv/