11/13/2017
SOME VIEWERS MAY FIND THE FOLLOWING HISTORY OF WEOGUFKA STATE PARK INTERESTING. THIS IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK REFERENCED BELOW. THOUGH RATHER LONG READING, HOPEFULLY YOU WILL FIND IT ENJOYABLE.
The Civilian Conservation Corps at Weogufka State Park
(Taken from the longer initial rough draft of A Great and Lasting Good, the Civilian Conservation Corps in Alabama, 1933 - 1942”)
Chapter 7. The CCC and the Alabama State Parks
At the time of the creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps in April of 1933, the Alabama State Park system was still in its infancy. According to David Albert Burleson’s Alabama’s State Park System, the people of Alabama began considering the idea of State Parks in the early 20th century (Master Thesis, Auburn University, 1975). Prior to this time, few people in Alabama had the time or the income to spend on outdoor activities.
On September 29, 1923, the State of Alabama Legislature passed Act No. 529, which authorized the establishment of parks, park and recreation boards, and recreation systems within certain areas of Alabama. In 1925, Governor Brandon appointed a State park Committee to investigate and make recommendations. The committee submitted a bill after studying the recreational needs of the state. The bill called for the creation of a permanent state park commission as a state agency. The bill was not approved due a strong sentiment that there were enough State agencies in existence (Burleson 1975:27).
On September 6, 1927, the State Legislature passed the State Land Act, given the State authority to establish State Parks. In November of 1927, the State Forestry Board met to discuss an offer from the United States Government to sell to the State approximately 1,600 acres of land located in DeKalb and Cherokee Counties (Burleson 1975:33). Careful investigations of the offer revealed that the federal government had left certain rights for parties for power production. The State decided not to take the federal government’s offer. The Commission of Forestry suggested that the land be acquired through a fee simple title. The negotiations finally were resolved, with the tract being acquired as part of the Little River Canyon in DeSoto State Park in 1935 (Burleson 1975:34).
On December 22, 1930, the Birmingham News announced that the State Commission of Forestry had established the first State Park in Alabama in southwest Talladega County. The Talladega County State Park consisted of a tract of 421 acres along the banks of the Coosa River. The park received little attention or development (Burleson 1975:33).
In April of 1933, the Talladega County State Park was the only state park existing in Alabama. The first Civilian Conservation Corps camp to be established in an Alabama State Park was CCC Camp SP-1 at Hacoda, Alabama, at Geneva State Park. CCC Company 2421-V, a company of World War Veterans, was established on July 18, 1933.
According to Burleson, the State Commission of Forestry was very pleased with the work of the CCC Company at Hacoda, and immediately took steps to have more CCC camps allotted to Alabama (Burleson 1975:35). By the end of 1933, there were 11 State Parks designated in Alabama, comprising of approximately 6,000 acres: Talladega County, Cheaha, Geneva, Little River, Bromley, Sumter, St. Stephens, Fort Toulouse, The Lagoons, Weogufka, and Panther Creek (Burleson 1975:34).
Many of these early parks owed their existence to contributions of land by public-spirited individuals. Donations of land initiated the Little River State Park in Monroe and Escambia Counties in 1933. In late 1933, donations of land led to the initial development of Gulf Shores State Park and DeSoto State Park. By the end of 1933, over 4,000 acres of land had been donated to the State of Alabama for park development. A tract of 400 acres was also purchased at a very low cost to initiate Oak Mountain State Park in Shelby County (Burleson 1975:36-37).
In June of 1935, the Alabama Commission of Forestry was seeking additional land gifts. The financial situation of the state did not allow for the purchasing of land, and the State recognized the importance of the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Alabama could lose several camps if suitable sites were not made available. On June 23, 1936, the “Park, Parkway, and Recreational Area Study Act” was passed, expanding the role of the National Park Service in the planning of parks at all levels of government. On February 21, 1938, Governor Bibb Graves designated the Alabama Commission of Forestry to cooperate with the National Park Service in their nationwide study. Robert Fechner, Director of the Civilian Conservation Corps, wrote to Governor Graves, stating that he hoped Alabama would “cooperate to the fullest extent possible in this study” as the results would “be the basis of future cooperation and agreements between the State of Alabama and the Federal Government in all matters pertaining to Park and Recreational planning, development, operation, and maintenance, which, of course, will include any work which might be done by the Civilian Conservation Corps” (Burleson 1975:37-39).
Following the completion of the Park, Parkway and Recreational area Study, recommendations were made for the “systematic development of recreational areas on a long-term basis” (Burleson 1975:39). Master plans were drawn for most of the State Parks. Priorities were placed on the order of the parks based on their importance: Gulf State Park, Cheaha State Park, DeSoto State Park, Monte Sano State Park, Chewacla State Park, Valley Creek Regional Park, Oak Mountain State Park, Cedar Creek Regional Park, Little River Regional Park, Wheeler Regional Park (TVA Proposed), Chattahoochee Regional Park, Muscle Shoals and Wilson Parks (TVA Proposed), Weogufka Regional Park, Panther Creek Regional Park, and Chickasaw Regional Park (Burleson 1975:39-40).
On March 14, 1939, Governor Frank M. Dixon signed the Department of Conservation Act, creating the Department of Conservation. The Department of Conservation combined the functions of game and fish, forestry, parks, monuments, and historical sites. It also eliminated several old boards and commissions. Doctor Walter B. Jones was appointed to serve as the first director of the Department of Conservation. Mr. W.G. Lunsford was the Parks Division Chief. The Department of Conservation decided that rather than trying to develop and manage 14 State Parks in an uncoordinated manner, five of the most prominent parks in Alabama would be selected for development in the first year. Cheaha State Park, Monte Sano State Park and DeSoto State Park were chosen for their outstanding mountain scenery. Gulf Shores State park was chosen for its location and high attendance rates, and Chewacla was chosen to provide a balance in park distribution. All five parks had Civilian Conservation Corps camps established, and the CCC camps were operating satisfactory programs, and it was expected that the parks would open to the public by June of 1939. Three State Parks, Panther Creek, Little River, and Weogufka, were turned over to the Commission of Forestry to be operated as State Forests (Burleson 1975:40-43).
On August 1, 1940, The Cleburne News carried an insert in their magazine section entitled “Know Your Alabama.” The article contained information of the five State parks in Alabama, which had opened to the public in 1939. The five parks, Gulf Shores, Chewacla, Cheaha, Monte Sano and DeSoto, had a combined area of 14,444 acres. In 1939 the five parks had more than 200,000 persons registered. The 1940 season promised to be even better. A sixth park, Moundville State Monument was also described, but not included in the visitor statistics, as it had no over-night cabins. The other five parks contained a combined total of 57 cabins or cottages, built of wood or stone. The cabins were “fully equipped to meet the needs of vacationists, including stoves, iceboxes, furniture, dishes, kitchen utensils, and even towels.” The cabins had a maximum capacity of 209 persons. They rented for $9 a week. The article explained that because the legislature failed to provide operating funds for the parks, a small gate fee would be charged. For the 1940 season, the gate fee was 10 cents for adults, and five cents for children between the ages of six and 12. Everything else in the parks was free, except the rental costs of the cabins, bathing suits and lockers.
Company 260, Camp SP-4, Weogufka, Alabama
According to the Company History written for the 1934 District “D” annual by James Treacy, Company Clerk, Company 260 was originally formed at Plattsburg Barracks, New York in April of 1933. After several weeks of “conditioning,” the company was sent to Lewiston, Idaho. The work project in Idaho was not recorded in the 1934 annual, but as was the case with many of the Second Corps Area companies, they were sent to the western states for the 1st Enrollment Period, and then sent to the southern states for the 2nd Enrollment Period, as the colder weather arrived in the fall of 1933. Lewiston, Idaho was the location for numerous Forest Service supervised projects.
The 1934 annual reported that on October 20, 1933, an advanced cadre of 15 men under the command of Lieutenant George H. Toepfer, USN, arrived at Weogufka, Alabama to establish a camp. Arriving in Weogufka, they found nothing more than a wilderness, but work began immediately on clearing a site and erecting tents and the other buildings of the camp. Wooden barracks and other structures were completed by January 10, 1934.
On November 2, 1933, the Company received 175 new enrollees, arriving from Fort Dix, New Jersey. These new enrollees were mostly from upper New York state and a few from New York City. Project began on November 13th on State Park Project, SP-4, under the supervision of Roy Doran. Mr. Stanton Ready had replaced Mr. Doran as Project Supervisor by the time of James Treacy’s writing of the company history for the 1934 annual.
On March 15, 1934, Captain Guy D. Field, Infantry-Reserve, replaced Lt. Toepfer as Company Commander. On April 25th, Company 260 received another 131 replacements from Camp Dix, New Jersey. The 1934 annual reported that they adjusted to camp life quickly. In July of 1934, the original members of Company 260, having serving 15 months, were discharged. They were replaced by 31 new enrollees on July 15th.
The 1934 annual reported that the State Park would be one of the most scenic places in the State of Alabama when completed. The park was situated on Flag Mountain, 1,149 feet above sea level. Just south of the camp was one of the largest yellow pine forests east of the Rocky Mountains. The men of Company 260 were constructing overnight cabins for tourists and a museum, which would contain “Indian relics and other antiques of the early pioneer days.” An observation tower, 52 feet high, was under construction on the top of Flag Mountain. From the tower, on a clear day, a panoramic view of the surrounding country could be seen for a distance of 60 miles. The men had also constructed foot trails leading to all of the scenic points of interest, and constructed a road leading to the park from the county highway.
Dances were held in the recreation hall twice each month. These dances were attended and enjoyed by many local residents as well as the men of the company. First Lieutenant Maurice Seligman, the camp surgeon, also served as the camp athletic director. Company 260 had a “smartly uniformed” baseball team that competed with other teams from the nearby towns. Baseball, volleyball, boxing and horseshoe pitching were among the favorite activities in camp. The company was looking forward to the cooler weather and the beginning of the football and basketball seasons.
James Treacy concluded his company history by stating that the isolated location of Company 260 had taught every man in the company the necessity of using his own resources for work and pleasure. The members of Company 260 could say with pride the company’s slogan, “We can take it.”
According to a Camp Inspection Report dated May 2, 1934, the company strength for Company 260 was 200, including 16 local experienced men (LEM’s). Captain Guy D. Field was Camp Commander, and Mr. Stanton G. Ready was the Project Supervisor. The work project consisted of 400 acres of a state park. The work consisted of the construction and improvements of the park, including the construction of roads and trails.
The camp had recreational sports equipment for baseball, handball, horseshoes, boxing, volleyball, and basketball. There were also magazines and newspapers, checkers and cards in the camp. A traveling library visited the camp once each month, but it was noted that the library was sometimes delayed. At the time of the May 2, 1934 inspection, there was no educational program for Company 260, and no Camp Educational Advisor assigned to the camp. Mr. L.O. Kyzar was listed as the Camp Educational Advisor in the 1934 annual, but as of May 2, 1934, the company was apparently without a CEA. Kyzar arrived after the May 2nd inspection, and remained as the CEA through the summer of 1935.
Perishable food items were purchased on the local markets. Non-perishables were purchased from the Quartermaster. The menu for April 16, 1934 consisted of applesauce, oatmeal, creamed chipped beef on toast, butter and fresh milk for breakfast at a cost of $5.79 for the entire company; roast beef, mashed potatoes, brown gravy, stringless beans, buttered carrots, bread pudding, bread, butter and coffer for dinner at a cost of $11.24; and fried pork loins, gravy, hash brown potatoes, creamed corn, boiled turnips, plain cake, bread, butter and coffee for supper at a cost of $10.66.
Religious services were held in camp every Sunday. However, there was a problem finding a Catholic priest for services in the camp. Neill McL Coney, Jr., the Special Investigator that inspected the camp in May of 1934, wrote to Mr. James McEntee on May 3rd to report that there were no Catholic priests in the vicinity of the camp, and the nearest Catholic diocese could not afford the expenses of having a priest travel to the camp. The Commanding Officer, Captain Field, was of the opinion that if a priest could not be found, a great of discontent would be present from the Catholic members of the company. On May 11th, Mr. McEntee wrote to Colonel Alva J. Brasted, Chief of Chaplains, War Department in Washington, of the problem.
On November 30, 1934, Project Superintendent Stanton Ready wrote a Narrative Report to the National Park Service. The work project consisted of 400 acres of “beautifully situated forested land” on Flag Mountain. The chief attraction of the project was the lookout tower that was being constructed out of native stone. At the time of the report, the tower was 40 percent completed, and was already proving to be popular with visitors. A caretaker’s home was also under construction. This structure was being made out of halved logs and stone, which reflected the general type of construction in the remote rural community of the area. Four overnight cabins were also under construction. Four miles of foot trails had been built over all parts of the park, giving access to hikers and horseback riders to all of the points of interest. Superintendent Ready reported that the attitude of the members of Company 260 was “nothing short of remarkable. They go about their work happy, and content very much absorbed in the fact that their efforts are being expended to construct lasting land marks, and scenic centers for vacationists to enjoy for years to come.” Superintendent Ready also reported that the Army personnel of the camp were to be commended for their ability to manage the camp in perfect harmony and discipline.
By December of 1934, Company 260’s Educational Program was up and running with Mr. L.O. Kyzar was the Camp Educational Advisor. The camp had begun publishing a camp newsletter, entitled the “Reflector,” which the members of the company published semi-monthly. According to the “2nd December Issue, 1934,” Mr. Kayzor’s educational program offered classes in auto-mechanics, woodworking, photography, rock gardening, and garage building. The company was trying to organize a pinochle tournament. The entry fee was 10 cents, and the winner was to receive a two-dollar canteen book. The second place winner was to receive a dollar’s worth of merchandise from the canteen, and the third place winner was to receive 75 cents worth of merchandise. The company was also trying to organize a chess and checkers club. The Army personnel and foresters were invited to attend the meetings once it was organized. The second December issue of the “Reflector” also included a menu for the Christmas Dinner. The meal included sweet pickles, olives, hearts of celery, cream of tomato soup, roast turkey, sage dressing, cranberry sauce, giblet gravy, mashed potatoes, candied yams,, cream peas, combination salad, American cheese, mince pie, pumpkin pie, hot rolls, chocolate cake, cocoanut cake, pineapple, nuts, candies, apples, oranges, ci******es and coffee.
Although Superintendent Ready was reporting that the camp was being managed in perfect harmony back in November of 1934, not all of the members of Company 260 considered Camp SP-4 as harmonious. On January 12, 1935, a letter was written to President Roosevelt complaining about the conditions in camp. The anonymous letter was signed by “25 Members, C.C.C. Camp SP-4, Company 260.” The letter contained complaints about the work schedule, inspections, food, excessive fines, and the “fact this camp is run by local politics and Northerners are most unwelcomed here and the Senior Leaders and Asst. Leaders who are Southern try to make it miserable [for the northerners]….” James McEntee, Assistant Director of the CCC in Washington forwarded the letter to Mr. Neill McLaurin Coney, Jr., Special Investigator on February 9, 1935. Although the CCC did not as a rule pay attention to anonymous letters, Mr. McEntee asked Mr. Coney to investigate the allegations.
Meanwhile, the Superintendent’s Narrative Report dated January 31, 1935, made no mention of disharmony. In fact, he reported, “since the first of last December the enrollees, supervisory personnel and Army officers seem to have a more co-operative spirit and a greater interest in the projects.” He also reported, “the mess has improved, and this has improved the general moral of the entire Company.”
The Superintendent’s Narrative Report recorded that the work on the lookout tower was progressing. The timbers being used in the tower were hand-hewn by the CCC enrollees, and the framing was accomplished by the CCC boys with the help of one Skilled Carpenter. The foreman was making every effort to have the enrollees do as many of the different jobs as possible. One enrollee by the name of “Domagla” from New York had mixed all of the mortar used at this point in the construction of the tower. As a reward, he was allowed to go to Montgomery with the E.C.W. truck for supplies. He visited the State Capitol and stood on the spot where Jefferson Davis had been sworn in as President of the Confederacy. The enrollee boasted that very few Yankees could say that they have done that.
Work on the overnight cabins was also progressing. Foreman Jones had a crew of ten to twelve boys that had never done any construction, and were not familiar with the tools used in construction. However, all of the boys were interested in learning, and they were given instruction on stone masonry one at a time. Their masonry was considered the best on all of the cabins. The cabins were field rubble masonry from the foundation to window height, and rounded logs from window height to rafter plate.
The masonry for the open pavilion had been completed, and the timbers for the roof were being framed. It was estimated that the pavilion would be completed in 30 days if the weather permitted.
The caretaker’s home was a combination of masonry, to the window height, and half logs. The masonry, except for the fireplace, was completed, and the logs had been placed up to the rafter plates. Two or three Local Experience Men (LEM’s) were working with the enrollees on the structure. The notches on the ends of the half logs were given the enrollees some troubles with cracks showing, and the varying diameters of logs made the wall alignments difficult. An enrollee that had some experience working with his father, who was a brick mason, was working on the fireplace. His work was “conspicuous for its good quality.”
The major road up to the park was now open to traffic. There was no surface on the road, which would get slick when wet. There were also no guardrails at this point, however, there were few dangerous points along the road. A truck trail had been constructed between the major road and the overnight cabins. Most of the foot trails were completed, however, some of them required additional work, as some of the grades were too steep, causing erosion. The revised trails were holding up well after a heavy rain.
The project area had been fairly well cleaned of debris, and the weather was permitting the burning of the brush. A large portion of the project area was cleared of brush at this point.
The Superintendent ended his Narrative Report with a final observation about the camp having only one dump truck, one short base stake body truck, and two long base stake trucks. The crews had to be trucked two and one-half miles to the project area, with their lunches being trucked out to them at mid-day. The sand for the mortar had to be transported to the site from 18 miles away. The stone for the masonry was trucked from ten miles away. The project was in need of additional trucks.
By mid-February, Special Investigator Neill McLaurin Coney, Jr. had finished his investigation into the complaints reported in the letter from January 12th. Coney’s investigation report of February 15, 1935, found that there had been excessive work hours assigned to the enrollees, beyond the 40 hours per week maximum; fines had been imposed on enrollees without just cause; money had been deducted from the enrollees for haircuts they never received; money was being diverted from the mess funds to pay for gasoline for automobiles owned by forestry personnel; the food was unsatisfactory; and there was an excessive amount of camp work being assigned above and beyond the project work.
Factors contributing to the unsatisfactory mess were that there was not enough variety. Members of the company complained that there was a prevalence of beans in the menu. An over abundance of starches in the diet was causing constipation and indigestion. The poor menu was affecting the work performance, as the food was insufficient, and the men were protesting against the work. The milk at the camp was often diluted water and evaporated milk. Mess records indicated that there were 15 gallons of milk purchased daily, which was more than sufficient to supply the men with a half pint of non-diluted milk each day. The menus and meals did not always correspond. Many items on the menu never appeared on the table.
The men had also complained about excessive work hours. On Saturdays and in the afternoons after work hours in the field, the men were called on to perform fatigue duties in camp. They were also constructing a small welfare building. The construction of buildings with CCC enrollees outside of the eight-hour day was in violation of the existing regulations, and the men were being detailed according to the company roster, rather than volunteering. The company commander felt justified in the detail, as not enough volunteers came forward, and the welfare building was for the enrollee’s benefit. The company commander’s right to employ the enrollees beyond the 40-hour workweek was upheld by the District Executive Office for District D at Fort McClellan.
Another complaint was in regards to the Senior Leader of the company. According to Coney’s report, he was “thoroughly disliked by the enrolled personnel.” He had a reputation as a “rat or stool pigeon.” It was reported that the man had formerly been an informer for the local prohibition agents. Although Coney had seen him “making efforts to overhear conversations” during the investigation no evidence was found to prove or disprove the contention, but the “belief was widespread throughout the company.” According to the company commander, the senior leader was the only man qualified for the job, and his unpopularity was only confined to “a small group of agitators.” The company commander stated that if the senior leader left the company, he, the company commander, would leave as well.
Other complaints were made in regards to the limited recreation facilities. A recreational truck was sent to Sylacauga six nights each week, but this only allowed one night of recreation each week per man. The Forest Service reported that additional trucks could be made available if the Army requested them.
It was also charged that there was discrimination against the enrollees from the Second Corps Area, New York and New Jersey. Coney found that Alabama enrollees made up less than 12.5 percent of the company, and yet made up more than 50 percent of the company’s leader and assistant leader ratings. The company commander defended this situation by stating that the best available men in the company had been promoted to the rated positions. Further, he stated that is was difficult developing leadership qualities among the Second Corps Area enrollees.
A deposition taken for this investigation, signed on February 14, 1935, shows that the Project Superintendent was Mr. Roy E. Parke, replacing Mr. Stanton Ready.
In spite of these difficulties under investigation, the first February 1935 issue of the “Reflector” reported that Company 260 was in the running for the District “D” title for the best company. There was no mention of bad morale. It was reported that Mr. McElwee settled arguments in the mess line over food by having the enrollees run races. The winner received the extra food item. The associate editor and “Rambling Reporter,” Joseph Warhol, thought this was a fun way to solve a bad problem, and wished other foremen would use the same method. The company bathhouse had been converted into a “Pompeiian bath reminiscent of Ancient Rome… with its glistening brass fixtures, mirrors and marbled floor.” The “Rambling Report” observed that all that was missing was the fatal beauty of Cleopatra.
The second February 1935 issue of the “Reflector” reported that Company 260 had won the title of the best company in District “D.” The contents of the letter from Colonel George F. Baltzell, District Commander at Fort McClellan, were published in the newspaper. In part the letter read, “It gives me great pleasure to extend my congratulations to Company 260, to each enrollee, to the Camp Educational Advisor, your officers and yourself (Captain Guy D. Field, Company Commander). You have severally and collectively worked hard and have set a high mark of excellence.”
On March 5, 1935, Special Investigator Coney wrote to Mr. James J. McEntee, Assistant Director of the CCC in Washington, to report that the Fourth Corps Area headquarters had approved his recommendations for Camp SP-4. A mess officer and mess sergeant would be assigned to the camp. Coney felt with the addition of these two men, the difficulties of the mess would be taken care of. He made no mention of any of the other conditions discussed in the investigation.
On April 29, 1935, Mr. James J. McEntee wrote to he Adjutant General at the War
Department. McEntee enclosed the investigation report of Mr. Coney. The letter states
that the investigation had been initiated by a complaint made to the White House. The investigation found the mess to be in poor condition, milk was being diluted, and the enrollees were working on a construction project in violation of regulations. McEntee concluded, “All the data in this case appears to bring out the fact that the Camp Commander was either incompetent or indifferent… and the Director respectfully requests the removal of the present Camp Commander and he not be assigned to any further duties in connection with the Civilian Conservation Corps.” Captain Field, the Company Commander, would leave Company 260 with the other Second Corps Area officers on June 20, 1935.
Back at Camp SP-4, the second April 1935 issue of the “Reflector” gave no clue of any morale problems. On April 12th, the camp hosted a dance for the “charming and lovely visitors” from Sylacauga, Sycamore, Mignon, Weogufka and other nearby towns. Over 40 ladies, “comely Southern maidens,” came to the recreation hall where a band from Sycamore provided the music. Additional entertainment was provided by two ladies from Sylacauga who tapped danced, and “Mahatma Moliorp, the world famous master of magic and other occult sciences” put on a display of magic, fire swallowing, and other tricks “never before seen by a Western audience.”
Other camp news reported by the “Reflector” included that the basketball team had finished a successful season, winning 24 out of 35 games. The team’s style was described as “smooth play and clean sportsmanship.” The sports editor of the paper, Roy “Farmer” Christensen, announced that Company 260 was looking forward to making a tennis court. The company had eight tennis rackets and a sufficient number of tennis balls. Practice for the baseball team had begun as well. Their first practice game had been played against the Weogufka high school team, with the Company 260 team winning five to four. Many of the enrollees had finished their enrollments, and Coach Grady C. Jones was waiting to see what baseball talent would arrive in camp with the next group of replacements.
A new radio had been acquired in camp. Based on the success of the April 12th dance, dance lessons were being offered for those interested in learning how to “trip the light fantastic.” Those enrollees wanting lessons were asked to drop their names in the “The Reflector News Box” in the company canteen. It was also announced that the clubroom had been constructed under supervision of the Camp Educational Advisor, Mr. Kyzar. Two schoolmarms from Sylacauga would be coming out to the camp for classes.
The first May 1935 issue of the “Reflector” announced that improvements were being made in the educational and welfare programs. The newspaper reported that the new bill passed in Congress continuing the work of the Emergency Conservation Work had provisions to put $1.65 each month into each company’s welfare and educational programs. Mr. Kyzar, the Camp Educational Advisor for Camp SP-4, was quoted in the article, stating that the money would allow the camp to buy equipment for the educational program. Company 260 had also received two visitors from the District “D” headquarters at Fort McCellan. Major Mathews, District “D” Regular Army Chaplain, and Lieutenant Chalker, Sub-District Chaplain, visited the camp and addressed the 200 members of Company 260. Major Mathews asked the boys to remember their mothers on Mother’s Day. Lieutenant Chalker did not preach. He possessed a great sense of humor and “threw the boys into fits of laughter.” He promised the boys that he would be increasing the District sports program, creating inter-camp competitions in every sport, and promised to ask the District Commander to supply Company 260 with all the athletic equipment it needed. Lieutenant Chalker also wanted Company 260 to develop a dramatic club, a glee club, a debating team with an open forum, classes in handicrafts, and other classes that would create a better appreciation of culture, refinement, education and physical fitness. He remained in camp late into the night, visiting with the boys in the barracks, talking and kidding.
A page for educational news had been added to the “Reflector” for the first May 1935 issue. The schedule for classes was listed in the newspaper. Courses were offered in auto-mechanics, book keeping, business English, current events, citizenship, stage and theatre, general science, journalism, math, photography and woodworking. The library was opened all day. The times for baseball and boxing practice was also listed.
The first May 1935 issue of the “Reflector” also contained a “Personalities” section, containing an article about the company’s Senior Leader. This is the same man that was described in an investigation report in February 1935 as being “thoroughly disliked by the enrolled personnel,” and being considered by the enrollees as a “rat or stool pigeon.” Captain Field, the Company Commander, however, had defended the Senior Leader, stating that he was the most qualified man. According to the “Reflector,” the Senior Leader was “well liked and highly respected.” The article concluded by saying, “[He] will treat boys square if they treat him square… but he can play rough too… can take it… and he can dish it out.”
The Memorial Day Issue of the “Reflector” reported that on May 24, 1935, Mr. Reixach, one of the Park Service foreman, transferred to another camp in Florida. As a farewell, a party was held in one of the cabins recently finished by the enrollees. A five-piece orchestra, consisting of Eddie Leslie on the violin, Leslie Johnson and Frank Rizzo on guitar, and Joseph Reinhardt and Fred Batkins on harmonica, provided the music for the affair. James Lannigan, singing with a beautiful Irish tenor voice, provided “specialty numbers,” and Frank Romano thrilled the audience with his dancing. Jack Lerman recited “Boots” by Rudyard Kipling.
On May 28, 1935, Captain Field invited the Rotary Club of Sylacauga to the camp. A string orchestra from Sylacauga provided music. The Weogufka Dramatic Company, invited by Captain Field and Mr. Kyzar, Camp Educational Advisor, presented a play entitled “A Wild Flower of the Hills” in the recreation hall. The Company 260 drama class built the scenery for the play. George Malinson supervised the technical work for the play. Company 260 also put on an exhibition of boxing.
The educational program had expanded as promised. The “rookies,” those replacement enrollees just arrived in camp from the Second Corps Area, had been enrolled in the classes. Attendance in the Citizen Class was 153 enrollees. The clubroom was soon to be completed, and the enrollees were enjoying dominoes, checkers, chess, volleyball, and horseshoe pitching. The tennis court was soon to be completed. The athletic tournament, organized by Fort McClellan as promised by Lieutenant Chalker, had the boys practicing on the athletic field. The Dramatic Company of Company 260 was planning on presenting a play every two or three weeks throughout the summer and fall. The townspeople of Weogufka and Sylacauga were to be invited to the camp to see the plays. It was also hoped that the girls of the surrounding neighborhood would participate in the productions and be part of the cast.
On May 31, 1935, the Project Superintendent reported to the Park Service with another “Narrative Report.” Back on March 28th, ninety-nine of the Second Corps Area enrollees departed for Camp Dix, New Jersey to be discharged, reducing the company strength to 83. This number included 38 overhead positions, so the field force only numbered 45 enrollees. Several of the men that had been trained to lay stone had been discharged, causing the work on the tower to be suspended. New enrollees were being trained in masonry, learning by working on the overnight cabins. It was expected that work on the tower would proceed in early June.
The 45 enrollees in the field had made exceptional progress in their work. A four-inch sewer line, measuring 300 feet in length, was excavated, laid and backfilled. Two concrete septic tanks were constructed. A dam was constructed making a “water hole.” The dam was located in an area of impossible access by truck. The building materials were brought to the work site by “bone cart.” In other words, carried on the backs of the enrollees. The construction technique for the dam was “Cyclopean Masonry.” The forms were made of rough lumber, and using “One Man Rock” and smaller rocks imbedded in the concrete grout. A 300-foot chute was constructed to deliver the cement to the dam site. The dam was 35 feet long and averaged four feet high. It was built in a gulch with a spring, which was producing about eight gallons of water per minute. An area was excavated above the dam to store 50,000 gallons of water. This water was to be delivered by hydraulic water ram to a 1,500-gallon storage tank, which was built on a wooden tower on a small hill just south of the overnight cabins.
The Cyclopean Masonry technique used in the dam construction was also used in the construction of Brushy Dam on the Bankhead National Forest, and on the Lake Chinnabee Dam on the Talladega National Forest. It was a labor-intensive construction technique, obsolete by the 20th century, but brought back by the Civilian Conservation Corps (Pasquill 1990, 2002).
When the new replacement enrollees arrived in camp from the Second Corps Area, there was a 2,000-foot ditch staked out, ready for excavation. The new replacements were assigned to this project upon being turned over to the Park Service. The “Gold Bricks,” those men not doing their share of the work, were soon spotted. Fourteen men refused to do the work. They were discharged on May 6, 1935. A total of 17 of the new enrollees had been discharged by May 31st for refusing to work, bringing the company strength down to 169 enrollees.
By the time of the May 31st report, Cabin Number One was completed except for the hanging of the window shutters. The fireplace was finished, the flagstone floor laid, the plumbing fixtures installed, and the cracks between the logs, which had given them concern, had been filled with a mixture of lime, cement and sand. Cabin Number One was constructed out of longleaf pine logs, 11 inches in diameter, on masonry up to the windowsill height. The floors of the living room, bedroom and toilet were of flagstone. Cabin Number Two was constructed of hand-hewn square timber, seven inches by ten inches, erected on masonry up to the windowsill height. The floors were flagstone. Cabin Number Three was constructed of round logs, eight inches in diameter, on masonry to windowsill height. The flagstone floor was not yet laid. The construction of Cabin Number Four had not yet been started. The Caretaker’s Home was nearly completed, with only minor tasks remaining. Sewer lines from the cabins and caretaker’s home were completed and connected to the septic tanks.
The outside dimensions at the base of the tower were 18 feet by 18 feet, with in inside dimension of 10 feet by 10 feet. Therefore the walls are four feet thick for the first 16 feet. There is a one-foot “step back” at this point. The tower still lacked about two and one-half feet of masonry, and the construction of the lookout house was ready to begin. Enough sand and rock had been hauled to the work site to finish construction. Approximately two miles of firebreaks had been cut around nearly acquired land in the park. The new area was remote, with no roads, and the men had to be trucked 12 to 15 miles around Flagg Mountain to get to the project area.
The May 31, 1935 Narrative Report concluded by saying that the morale of the enrollees was very good. New pool tables had been purchased for the recreation hall, and that was “answering a long felt desire for more entertainment.” One truckload of enrollees went into Sylacauga to “attend the picture shows.” A swimming pool had been promised to the enrollees. Mr. Wood, from the Park Service’s Washington Office, had visited the camp, and “expressed himself as being well pleased with the type of work that is being accomplished.” Mr. J.H. Gadsby, Park Service Regional Officer, visited the park on May 11, 1935.
On June 15, 1935, “A letter from the field” was submitted from Camp SP-4 to the National Park Service in Washington, D.C., presumably from Park Superintendent Parke. The letter addresses the morale of the men. The morale of 90 percent of the enrollees was improving as they adjusted to their new surroundings. The transition from sidewalks and bricks to a virgin forest is not an easy transition. The other 10 percent “is such as one would find in any stratum of society where large groups are economically destitute. Unrest, dissatisfaction, murmuring and fomentation find recruiting ground in this group.”
The letter also reported that the cooperation between the Army personnel, Project Supervisory personnel, and enrollees was less than ideal, but conditions were improving. The camp slogan, which was emblazoned in bold black letters on a specially designed formal gateway at the main entrance to the camp, summed it up: “We Can Take It.”
The letter reported that although the summer tourist season had not yet arrived, the park had welcomed 1,500 visitors from the surrounding areas, and as far away as Montgomery and Birmingham. The stone tower, 50 feet high, situated on Flagg Mountain at an elevation of 1,159 feet above sea level was a main attraction. The park was being developed with all of its natural appearance being preserved. “One who tries to improve on nature will merely show how presumptuous he can be.” They were making the park accessible to the public, but without destroying “nature in the raw.” The park was a “Masterpiece of Nature.”
The letter from the field also included comments about the young men coming from New York and New Jersey to the virgin forests of Alabama. “We work with city bred boys, unskilled and to whom the great outdoors, work tools, wild life, mountains and nature are a sealed book.” The supervision of these young men took patience, with safety being stressed continually. They were unfamiliar with the tools. “They need to be told that an axe can not cut granite.” There were two tasks at hand, making a park and remaking manhood. Slowly, both were being accomplished. The letter concluded, “May it not be true that the impress of a new vision striven for in this park is greater than the objective structures so proudly made by hands.”
The Fourth of July Issue of the “Reflector” reported that Captain Guy D. Field had been relieved from duty at Company 260. In spite of Director Fechner’s request to the Adjutant General of the War Department that Captain Field not be assigned any duties connected with the CCC, Captain Field was transferred to Company 251 at Wilson Dam, Camp TVA-P-4. First Lieutenant Ernest W. Howell, who had served at Camp SP-4 under Captain Fields previously, was to assume command. Lieutenant Louis Rosenberg, was also transferred to Company 251 to serve as the Mess Officer there. Lt. Ralph Ellison would take his place as the new acting quartermaster.
Lt. Howell was welcomed back by the enrollees. The “Reflector” reported that Lt. Howell had announced at a retreat formation that he expected each enrollee to participate in one or more of the classes offered by the educational program. Three new classes, boxing, discussion and study, and auction and contract bridge, had been added to the educational program. Boxing was taught by James Mulligan; the discussion and study meetings were to be held by Jack Lerman, the editor of the camp newspaper, and Herbert Stritch; and the course on bridge was being taught by Jack Silberman. The photography class was doing outstanding work with Sam Jones as instructor. The class had been developing their negatives, and was beginning printing their photographs.
Company 260 was preparing for the athletic competitions to be held at Fort McClellan in August. The company had recently lost Mr. Grady C. Jones, their FERA teacher and athletic advisor, but the enrollees were being encouraged to participate to their fullest extent. The events that the enrollees of Company 260 were anticipating to participate in were auction bridge, boxing, checkers, track, discus, dominoes, glee club, hammer throwing, horseshoe pitching, javelin, jumping, pole vaulting, shot put, swimming, and tennis.
On July 31, 1935, Park Superintendent Roy E. Parke submitted another Narrative Report to the Park Service. He commented on the departure of the former Commanding Officer, saying that he had taken little interest in the recreational activities of the enrollees, and morale had suffered for it. The Second Corps Area Army Officers had been “removed” from the camp on June 20th. Parke described Captain Field as “a very high-strung-ill-tempered-man,” and stated that if a complaint was made by any of the supervisory personnel from the Park Service, he would “go up in the air and issue forth profanity.” He had on one occasion “vilified all the male citizens South of the Mason-Dixon Line,” although Captain Field had admitted that the Southern enrollees had never caused any troubles while he had discharged numerous enrollees from the Second Corps Area for misconduct. With the arrival of Lt. Howell, the new Commanding Officer, the cooperation between the Army personnel and the Park Service personnel had been 100 percent.
Mr. Parke reported that the local communities were very pleased to have a State Park in their area. The local people had donated stone, sand and tools to the park work project. Several groups of visitors from about 25 miles south of the park had recently visited. They were not aware a park was being constructed in Coosa County, and were “amazed with what was being accomplished.” Mr. Parke suggested that more newspaper articles needed to get the word to the people.
Mr. Parke’s report stated that on July 17, 1935, the Second Corps Area enrollees of Company 260 were sent west. Many of the new replacements from May 2nd had just been turned over to the Park Service after conditioning. Great effort had gone into training the new enrollees, many of which did know one tool from another. With the loss of the enrollees, work had come to a standstill. The supervisory and facilitating personnel (LEM’s) were doing surveying and carpentry work. The tower was nearly completed. On a clear night, lights from Sylacauga, Anniston, Birmingham, Montgomery, Clanton, Wetumpka could be seen. The lights from the Lay Dam and Mitchell Dam on the Coosa River could also be seen.
Two overnight cabins were ready for occupation. Construction was underway on two more cabins. The building materials, logs, stones, sand, for two more cabins had been delivered to their work sites. Plans had been submitted for 2.67 miles of park road with small stone arch culverts. A large portion of the road was situated on hillsides, and blasting was going to be required. The park had recently acquired another 170 acres. Fire hazard reduction had been accomplished over this new area, and three miles of firebreaks had been constructed around it.
With the Second Corps Area enrollees gone, Mr. Parke reflected on their experiences in Alabama. “There can be no greater transition in the United States than from a city like New York, especially among the poverty stricken classes and slums, to an almost virgin forest, and purely agricultural region.” While some of the enrollees had come from good home surroundings, with advantages and education, most had stopped at the grammar schools. Some of the enrollees were illiterate. Most of them were either underfed, or malnourished and underweight. Almost all of the enrollees gain weight while in camp. This was believed to be a result of the balanced ration, regulating the eating and sleeping habits, the out-of-doors work, and the change of environment. Much of the weight gained was lost in the hot summer months, but there was a constant exchange of flabbiness for muscle. There was also a look of virility and alertness of action gained by the enrollees.
During the time that Company 260 was at Weogufka, Alabama, six of the Second Corps Area enrollees married “local girls of good family.” When married, the former enrollees thought the first thing to do was to get a job and make a living.
Company 260 was transferred to Hawthorne, Nevada. They arrived at Hawthorne in late July of 1935 and established Camp M-2. According to the September 1935 issue of the “Reflector,” Company 260 went through many days of travel and constant change. Nevada was a very different environment than what they had known in Alabama.
Company 4498, Camp SP-4, Weogufka, Alabama
In August of 1935, Company 4498 arrived at Camp SP-4 at Weogufka, Alabama. According to a Narrative Report by Project Superintendent Roy E. Parke, written on September 30, 1935, the company of unconditioned men, mostly young boys from farms in Mississippi, arrived on August 13, 1935. After a period of conditioning, they were turned over to the Park Service on September 3, 1935 for project work.
Work had begun on Cabin Number Four in the first part of September, and by the writing of the Narrative Report on September 30th, the stone foundation had been completed and the logs were being placed. The stone fireplace in the cabin was being constructed as the logs were laid. The stone floor had been laid in Cabin Number Three, and it only lacked plumbing fixtures.
The floor of the lookout tower had been laid. Within the floor, a Coast and Geologic Bench Mark was placed in the exact center of the tower room. The stairway, which was made of wood, was completed. The windows in the lookout room were in place. The exterior masonry was a tedious job, requiring two men to lower themselves on scaffolding. The exterior woodwork was scored with a blowtorch. This process was also very tedious, as they only had one blowtorch in camp and the enrollee also had to be lowered by scaffolding. The wind was also frequently blowing out the blowtorch. The flagstone floor had been laid in the museum, which was connected to the tower. The museum and an open pavilion, which was also connected to the tower, were completed.
Materials had been delivered to run telephone lines from Weogufka to the camp, a distance of four miles. The telephone line would connect the camp, the caretaker’s home, and the tower to the town. The telephone poles had been delivered to the camp’s railhead at Sylacauga and set out along the line. A total of 150 holes had been dug for the poles. It was estimated that full communications would be in place by October 1, 1935.
The camp was supplied water from a spring that had been producing eight gallons of water each minute. During the summer of 1935, a very dry summer, the production of the spring was reduced to three gallons per minute. A hydraulic ram delivered water from the spring to a reservoir, which when full, had a capacity of 50,000 gallons. Water was stored in a 1,500-gallon cypress tank. The tank was erected near the overnight cabins. Initially, there were some troubles with the water pressure, which required moving the tank to a higher elevation. There were also some problems with leaks. The leaks in the water tank system were considered “more or less minor” by the time of the September 30th report.
Six picnic table and bench combinations had been constructed and were waiting to be painted.
On September 3, 1935, construction was begun on the park road down the south side of the mountain. Large stumps were pulled with a caterpillar tractor. The small stumps still required pulling, but they would be grubbed with pick and shovel. Due to the amount of rock encountered, blasting was necessary. The trees that had been cut out of the right-of-way were being used in construction of structures in the park and other Alabama State Parks. Longleaf yellow pine was being cut into shingles. Trees between the sizes of 18-inch and 30-inche diameters were being cut in the right-of-way. Posts for guardrails were also being cut from the road right-of-way. All other timber was being cut for fuel wood to heat the structures.
The survey for the road leading down the mountain was completed, as well as surveying the lines of the newly acquired land. A topographic survey of the park area was also completed.
Project Superintendent Parke made a general comment in his Narrative Report regarding the excellent progress that the new enrollees had made in less than a month of project work. Company 4498 consisted mainly of boys from farms in Mississippi. While unconditioned, they were familiar with tools and accustomed to working. Although none of the enrollees had ever done carpentry or masonry work, the particular boys selected for this work had done “exceedingly well.”
During the “conditioning” period, Commanding Officer, First Lieutenant Ernest W. Howell, had ordered a considerable remodeling and reconstruction of the camp. The bathhouse, mess hall and kitchen had been improved. A sewer line, measuring 800 feet in length, had been placed. Footlockers had been constructed in the barracks for all enrollees. The enrollees were receiving a greater amount of recreation, which was improving the men and their morale.
On November 30, 1935, Project Superintendent Roy Parke submitted another Narrative Report to the Park Service. Mr. Parke commented that the farm boys from Mississippi were well suited to the work. A few of the enrollees were homesick, but they were fast becoming adjusted to camp life. A number of the enrollees were becoming skilled at masonry and carpentry.
Overnight Cabin Number Four was completed with the exception of the flagstone floor and the plumbing. Cabin Number Four, constructed of masonry foundation to the floor level and hand hewn logs above the foundation, was similar in design to the first three cabins, but without the “dogtrot” hallway between the rooms. Cabin Number Four would be finished with four or five more days of work. Overnight Cabin Number Five was constructed out of 5-inch by 10-inch logs. The logs were cut at a local sawmill. The cabin contained one large living room, one bedroom, one kitchenette, a bath, and a toilet. Cabin Number Five was completed except for the plumbing fixtures. Overnight Cabin Number Six was identical in design to Number Five. The flooring, walls and roof were completed. The fireplace was completed, except for the laying of the hearth. Cabin Number Six would be completed in ten or less workdays.
All of the right-of-way of the park road going down the south side of the mountain had been cleared. Eight culverts of semi-circle design had been constructed out of native stone. The culverts ranged in diameter from 18 inches to 24 inches, and averaged 25 feet in length. The telephone line connecting the camp, caretaker’s home, and the lookout tower was completed. The telephone line was connected to Weogufka, with long distance service to Sylacauga. The long distance service to Sylacauga was owned by the Rockford Telephone Company, which ran low quality lines. As a result, the long distance service was not what it should be, however, was “much superior to none.” A topographic survey had been completed for a site for a swimming pool. A plan for an earthen dam had been submitted to the local park authorities. A survey had also been conducted for a proposed bridge across Weogufka Creek on the south boundary of the park.
Mr. Parke concluded his Narrative Report with observations on the morale of the enrollees. Improvements to the camp barracks, recreation hall and mess hall had been completed over the last two months. The buildings had been covered with tarpaper, stripped with ¾-inch by 3-inch wooden strips, and painted white. New tongue and groove flooring had been placed over the old flooring of the buildings. The mess hall had been rearranged. The two long tables placed lengthwise had been replaced with smaller tables with a capacity for eight. The enrollees welcomed this change as it eliminated crowding at the tables.
According to a Camp Inspection Report dated December 20, 1935, Company 4498 had a company strength of 180 men under the command of First Lieutenant Ernest W. Howell. The “Junior” enrollees were from Mississippi and Alabama. The work project, under the supervision of Mr. Roy E. Parke, consisted of construction of park roads and overnight cabins, installation of a sewerage disposal system, and fire hazard reduction over a park area of 800 acres.
The indoor recreational equipment available to the enrollees consisted of a basketball court, two basketballs, one piano, two radios, six checkerboards, and a library and reading room. The outdoor recreation equipment consisted of four sets of horseshoes, a volleyball court with two volleyball nets and two volleyballs, an outdoor boxing ring, four sets of boxing gloves, baseball gloves, bats and protective catchers gear. A swimming pool and a tennis court were under construction.
Thomas Cleveland Harris was the Camp Educational Advisor at Camp SP-4. Courses were offered at the elementary school level in literacy. Courses were offered at the high school level in citizenship and safety, English Literature, history, practical English, bookkeeping, practical arithmetic, typing, journalism, first aid, hygiene and sanitation, and choral singing. Vocational courses were offered in auto-mechanics, blacksmithing, and woodworking. College level course were offered in current history and bible study. On the job training instructions were given for road construction with air drill and dynamite, general construction and cabin building, forestry, soils, stone and concrete, plumbing, blacksmithing, and surveying instruments.
Informal educational and recreational activities reported by CEA Harris included debating, group singing, dance, string band, basketball, and working on the newspaper staff. According to the records of the CCC Camp Newspaper Guide at the Center for Research Libraries at the University of Chicago, Company 4498 produced a camp newspaper called the “Flagg Mountain News.” One issue from December 20, 1935 was filed at their facility. For other educational facilities, Camp SP-4 had 493 volumes in its library. It received six daily newspapers, three weekly newspapers, six copies of “Happy Days” the national newspaper of the CCC, thirty-five magazines, three class rooms, two blackboards, an old automobile to be used by the auto-mechanics class, three typewriters (two owned by enrollees, one by the CEA), one typing chart, one globe, two world maps, and a blacksmith shop and woodworking shop.
According to Mr. Harris, CEA, 100 percent of the enrollees of Company 4498 were enrolled in at least form of educational activity in the camp, 63.2 percent of the enrollees were enrolled in two or more educational activities, and 70 percent of the enrollees were regularly receiving instructions on the job. The class records showed that the average attendance in the various educational activities was 90 percent.
Staples were bought from the Quartermaster, and beef, pork, and lard were bought on Quartermaster contract. Onions, potatoes, milk, bread, eggs, and cheese were bought on the open market. Pasteurized milk was acquired from cows that had been tuberculin tested. The District Veterinarian occasionally inspected the dairy plant. The menu for Sunday, December 15, 1935, consisted of bananas, dry cereals, milk, butter, toast, coffee, syrup and sausage for breakfast, for a cost of $31.13; chicken, dressing, butter beans, slaw, devils food cake, hot cocoa, and bread for dinner, for a cost of $26.47; baloney, pork and beans, potato salad, peach cobbler, bread and coffee for supper, for a cost of $21.97.
A Protestant clergyman volunteered to come out to the camp to perform Sunday services on an average of two services each month. The services were attended by 80 percent of the company strength. A Catholic priest was under contract to visit the camp twice each month. The company had only one enrollee of the catholic faith. The regular Army Chaplain had not visited the camp since October of 1935, two months previous.
It was recorded in the December 20th inspection report of Special Investigator James C. Reddoch, that Camp SP-4 was not expected to remain at its present location after January 1, 1936. According to the CCC Camp Directories for Alabama, Camp SP-4 was closed during the Sixth Enrollment Period, which ended on March 30, 1936.
