During the years when recovery from the Great Depression was part of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, the Civil Conservations Corps was a popular work relief program. Designed for unmarried young men, ages 18-25 (later expanded 17-28), it gave young men the opportunity for a job that helped the conservation and development of natural resources in rural lands owned by federal, state, and local governments. In 1935, Civil Conservation Corp (CCC) Camp No. 3726 was opened in Clarion to serve the Wright County area. Proposed to be a portable summer camp, it initially was devoted to clearing out and reconditioning approximately 1,000 miles of drainage ditches. The camp was located north of the high school (current middle school). When the camp first started, three buildings were erected (mess hall/kitchen, lavatory/bath, and latrine) and men stayed in tents. Starting with 117 enrollees and considered full at 216, the canvas tents gave way in August 1935 to insulated wood barracks so work could be year-round. While working on drainage ditches in the summer, the cold winter months found the enrollees building shelters and feeding wild life and clearing snow off blocked roads.

Lyle Nelson of Roseburg, Oregon (originally from Glidden, Iowa) wrote his memories of the camp for the Historical Society in 2001. Following are excerpts from his letter. “Eight big army tents were set up, with 20 or so cots in each tent. A big hole was dug with a canvas wall put around it for the latrine and showers. Eight barracks, latrine, mess hall, officer quarters, engineer quarters, hospital and headquarters buildings were built. Enrollees were paid $30 a month, $25 of which went home to our parents. I was surprised to find that 40 or so of the enrollees had not finished high school.”The camps were set up and overseen by military, and followed military rules, meals and offered classes to the young men to further their education. Passes to enjoy the night life in surrounding towns were given out, and they also participated in sports. By 1942 the Clarion camp was done, and buildings were sold off in September 1943.

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What I remember from my days in the CCC Camps

 by Albert R. Matson

I was inducted in the CCC Camp at Clarion, Iowa. We were given our clothing—brown army clothes. Pants had bell-bottom legs, army shirts, heavy army coats that went well below the knees, our underwear and a army cap that was shaped like a tent called a g-i, and very good leather shoes. We were awakened at 6 am – dressed and made our beds before breakfast. A lieutenant would come around checking each bed and hitting the bed with a cane. I assume this procedure was to make sure there were no wrinkles that would form, if so, I also assume the person the bed belonged to would have to remake their bed or get a demerit. We then gathered outdoors around the flag pole to pay allegiance to our country and the U.S. flag, then we would all rush into the mess hall for breakfast. We were served pancakes, sausage, coffee, and milk – we had all we could eat. Some of the boys were chosen to stay for KP duty. We did have a bugle call for breakfast. We climbed into canvas-covered trucks with benches on each side. We were taken about five miles across farmland to a creek where trees had grown up (some were of a good size) and we were to cut the trees down, cut them into lengths and burn the wood.

Many people, at that time, were using wood to heat their homes and they could have used the wood, but we were told to burn the wood. Sandwiches were brought out for lunch. About 4:30 pm we were taken back to the camp, and later served a big supper. I received $30 per month. Then orders were given that about one-fourth of our camp group would be transferred to Cresco, Iowa to work in a rock quarry breaking large rocks into smaller ones. We were put on a train to make the trip.

Each CCC Camp had a library where we could pick books we wanted to read. Each Camp had a Captain and other officers. The work was hard, but it helped to put muscles on the boys. After about a year I was given an honorable discharge because my brother needed me to help him on his farm. The following year I was asked to be a leader of another program for boys (teens) called the NYA (National Youth Association). The NYA was formed to help give work, plus a small salary to youth who qualified and wanted to work.

I lived in the southeast corner of Hamilton County. The town was Randall and I had seven boys from the Randall/ Story City area to sign up. The work consisted of building a dam on the Skunk River, not much material was furnished. Big rocks plus chunks of wood from cut down trees were used to build the dam. This dam was located close to a deep fishing hole and the dam made it even deeper. A few years later a flood broke the dam. The purpose for the dam was to have better fishing. I was instructed to keep the time the boys worked and sent the report into headquarters in Webster City to a Mr. Wilkenson. In the winter months I was given corn for the boys to distribute to feed the pheasants. The National Youth Association did not work too well and so was discontinued after a year. The Iowa government did not seem to have the finances to continue the program.

April 2019