In 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps was formed to work on critical conservation-related projects in the U.S. From 1933 to 1942, 3.5 million men served in the Corps. More than 40,800 worked on projects in Vermont’s forests and state parks.
According the Agency of Natural Resources, their work is still visible today. If you’ve ever hiked a mountain trail in Vermont and used a lean-to, a fireplace, or a picnic shelter you may have experienced their handiwork. You may also have driven on roads they built or used beaches they constructed.
The American landscape was forever changed by the CCC. VPR explores how those changes occurred and how the Corps’ legacy still resonates in America in the documentary Those CCC Boys. We’ll spend time with some of the original members to hear their stories.
And we’ll talk with park rangers Laura Cohen of the Prince William Forest Park in Virginia and Bob Audretsch at the Grand Canyon about the legacy of the CCC boys and how they transformed much of our natural and hitorical environment.
We’ll also speak with historian, Neil M. Maher, Author of Nature’s New Deal about the critical thinking that germinated the seeds of an environmental movement that would flourish decades later.
Photos: Courtesy of the National Park Service, National Archives and Records Administration.
Listen to Those CCC Boys with the audio player above.
This documentary broadcast on Vermont Public Radio on August 19 and September 19, 2008. The transcript is available as a PDF at this link.
Here are some of the people we spoke with earlier in the year about their CCC experience, along with the date in 2008 their story broadcast on VPR.
Monday, June 23
Lanyard Benoit
Lanyard signed with the CCC in 1940 and worked in camps in Moscow and Waitsfield.
Tuesday, June 24
Herbert Hunt
Herbert signed with the CCC in 1940 and worked in a camp in Bellows Falls.
Wednesday, June 25
Casper Lyford
For a teenager, Casper saw a lot from his post in the Northeast Kingdom.
Thursday, June 26
Paul Hughes
Paul was in the CCC from 1935-1939 and was stationed at a camp in Mount Tabor, near Danby.
Friday, June 27
Interview: Director of State Parks, Craig Whipple
VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb went to New Discovery State Park in Marshfield to speak with the Director of State Parks, Craig Whipple, about the lasting impact of CCC projects.