May Newsletter 2023
THE CCC and CHERRY PLAIN STATE PARK
Have you ever wondered who built New York’s 180 state parks? If you guessed the State of New York, that would be correct for some, such as Grafton Lakes State Park, which was created in the prosperous period of the early 1970s. Ironically, many others came into existence during the worst economic period of the 20th century: The Great Depression. With 25% of the work force unemployed and many others only working part time, Congress allocated funds to create a new agency to employ young men, teach them vocational skills, and provide some funds for their families. This was the Civilian Conservation Corps, which nearly everyone knew by its acronym, the CCC.
The record of this short-lived agency in New York is impressive. Between its inception in April of 1933 and its dissolution in January of 1942, the CCC employed 210,000 men in 161 camps run by Army reserve personnel. Its members constructed roads, trails, bridges, ski resorts, lookout towers, camping and picnic areas and planted over 221 million trees in the state’s depleted forests. Their contributions created or improved the infrastructure of recreation venues as large as the 65,000-acre Alleghany State Park and as small as Cherry Plain’s modest 175 acres. For all that work, each worker in Roosevelt’s “tree army” received the munificent sum of $30 per month, $25 of which went directly to their families. Young men aged 17 to 25 constituted the bulk of their labor force, but veterans could join as well. The CCC administrative headquarters for the Capital Region was in Schenectady. By 1936 the “Schenectady District,” as it was known, was a massive 24-county area of eastern New York that was about 300 miles long and 100 miles wide.
Dam at Cherry Plain State Park, pic by M Waldman
Each CCC site had its own specific code name, which in the case Cherry Plain was S-78. This camp was staffed by men of Company 219. At the time of their arrival on November 15, 1933, the site was known as the Capital District Game Refuge at Cherry Plain. Interestingly, the Refuge itself only dated back to 1930 and consisted of abandoned farm land. Their principal task was the construction of a 550-foot dam across the Black River Valley, a project that was not completed until 1937. It is Daunting to think that the CCC did not even exist before April of 1933, but by November of that year the agency had formed the company, chosen the site, built the barracks for the men, and planned a task that today would require years of environmental reviews!
According to the CCC Schenectady District Annual of 1937, the work season for each year of construction lasted eight months, with men “working double shifts on the heaviest machinery . . . on the mammoth concrete core dam.” During the off season, the camp offered plenty of activities to keep the men occupied.
Spillway behind dam, pic by M Waldman
There were two in-house newspapers at Camp S-78, This Dam Thing, and later, as work progressed on their main project, The Spillway. Subjects included profiles of camp members, reporting on camp sports, and visiting speakers. Conservation work such as planting trees continued past the construction season, as did in-house courses available for the camp’s members.
My father, Thomas Wadsworth Prewencki, provides a good case study of the value of the CCC. His term of service lasted from July 14, 1936, to his discharge on March 31, 1937. During that time he participated in the Schenectady District’s largest construction project, was once named the “best homer-maker” on the camp’s baseball team, took courses in diesel theory and blueprint reading, rose to the rank of assistant leader, and helped rejuvenate an exhausted land. The skills he acquired in the CCC served him well. In World War II, he was a squad leader in the military police, with a rank of sergeant. In civilian life, he was a group leader in the final assembly of large steam turbines for the General Electric Company. He was always proud of his work in the CCC, something that inspired my own interest in conservation. By Cliff Prewencki
Black River Pond (lake) at Cherry Plain State Park, from near the spillway.
SATURDAY, JUNE 10: SPRING GATHERING, CHERRY PLAIN STATE PARK (CPSP)
Join us at the THC Spring Gathering, to be held at the Water’s Edge Pavilion at Cherry Plain State Park. You may come for all or part of the event. Meet old friends and make new friends! This is our first gathering at CPSP, it should be an adventure for all of us!
Morning: We will start with a brief meeting at 9:30 at the Water’s Edge Pavilion, followed by a group hike. We plan to hike up the Charcoal Trail, check out the evidence of an old charcoal kiln and continue to the Ravine Trail, hike part of that and return. We also plan to hike along the lake to check out the dam. You can paddle or stroll along the lake if you don’t want to hike.
Noon: We will meet again at the Water’s Edge Pavilion by 12 noon for a “bring your own” picnic lunch. If you cannot make the morning hike you can still join us for the picnic lunch. Picnic tables are available.
Water’s Edge Pavilion at Cherry Plain State Park
Afternoon: After the picnic you can paddle in the beautiful lake, take another hike - maybe hike the Waterfall Trail, swim - if the swimming area is open, or relax and hang out at the pavilion. Bring your own kayak or canoe; remember to bring your life vest, white light, and whistle. (We will have a better idea on if the swimming area is open as we get closer to the date.)
See the outings page for registration information.
CELEBRATE THE WATERSHED with HVA
From May 26 - July 4, Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) is inviting everyone to “Celebrate the Watershed” and help protect waterways and lands by exploring the outdoors through friendly competition (most miles hiked, biked, paddled, etc.), attending one of their events, or simply enjoying nature your own way. There’s something for everyone, including the chance to win exciting prizes from places like REI, Patagonia and more!” Click here for more information: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/celebrateourwatershedwithhva/
OUTINGS: Refer to the THC website outings page for details about the outings and how to register. We schedule on a monthly and short-term basis, so check the website periodically.
Wednesday May 3: Berlin Pass Loop B
Friday, May 12: Trail Work on the Taconic Crest Trail
Saturday, May 13: Perry’s Peak & Hollow Fields B
Wednesday, May 17: Sheep Hill to Buxton Ravine loops hike B
Tuesday, May 23: Overlook Mountain B
Friday May 26: Stony Ledge and March Cataract Falls C/C+
Friday, May 26: Empire Trail Bike Trip, Albany B
Saturday, June 10: SPRING GATHERING - CHERRY PLAIN STATE PARK
Thursday, June 15: Valentino Family Forest, Grafton NY C
Thursday, June 29: Hand Hollow C
“A walk in nature walks the soul back home” - Mary Davis
Trout Lily - spring has arrived! Pic by M Waldman
THC trail workers, removing blowdown from the TCT, despite the wet and cold conditions. Pic by K Ross.
Steven’s Glen, pic by M Waldman
Albany Pine Bush, pic by J Nissan