Info wanted about enrollees in CCC camps, Northwestern PA
Communication from Susan Stout
"I'm a US Forest Service research scientist connected to a research forest near Kane, in northwestern Pennsylvania. During the depression, the work on the experimental forest was helped greatly by CCC enrollees from Camps 3 & 12 on the Allegheny National Forest. In this area, the CCC was strictly segregated, and the enrollees who worked on our forest and who built the nearby and still beautiful Twin Lakes recreation area were African-Americans, mostly from the Philadelphia area. We'd love to meet some of them or their descendants to tell -- or show -- how much their work still means. We have some partial enrollee lists from a CCC yearbook, and many photos. I'd be delighted to have any info anyone can provide."
[Anyone with information to be included is requested to contact the Afrolumens Project.]
Document Background
"With this message, I am attaching only a few narrative records. The first is the one page 'history' of CCC Camp ANF-12, published in what must be the 1935 or 1936 regional CCC Yearbook, as retyped by me [Susan Stout]. It includes a roster of enlistees in the Camp during that year. The second is a very brief excerpt from the Annual Report of our Experimental Forest, which was only established in March of 1932. The excerpts that I enclose show how important the contribution of Camp 4 (the predecessor to Camp 12) was in getting the research program going. These are for your information and dispersal as widely as possible.
"While the events that we sponsored this spring to honor this work and inform interested parties about this history are over, there are two upcoming events that are relevant to this activity. Sometime within the next year (we hope) the ANF will dedicate a marker at the site of the short-lived Camp #4 at Highland (the annual report text from the yearbook, enclosed, shows that camp was broken up in July 1935, when most enrollees were moved to Camp 12, only a few miles away). What a joy it would be if an enrollee could participate!
"Second, we hope to make our tours of Camp 12 and the benefiting sites -- The Kane Experimental Forest and the Twin Lakes Recreation area - annual events, probably in June of each year.
"Please don't hesitate to contact me or to refer those who might have information or interest in these camps to me at the contact points below. Susan Stout"
Excerpts From the Kane Experimental Forest Annual Report, 1933
Prepared by Ash Hough, Research Forester
“Plans for work during the field season of 1933 were modified by curtailment of funds in the Station allotment and non-availability of E.C.W. research funds. With the aid of enlisted men from C. C. C. camp #4 at Highland, and supervision by two technically trained silvicultural foremen, much was accomplished at the Kane Experimental Forest.
Administration: Kane Experimental Forest
Ranger Ackerman, aided by enlisted men of the C.C.C., erected a 50-foot weather tower and kept wind velocity records starting July 1, 1933… reconditioning of the Seven Mile road and the flat at Dahoga was done with C.C.C. labor. Both sides of the Dahoga road were improved by removal of dead trees, stumps, and debris from a 50-foot wide strip for a distance of 2 miles. The wood was hauled to the Highland camp for use as fuel. Improvements around the headquarters buildings completed by C.C.C. labor include: (1) grading and planting of lawns, (2) construction of 3 stone walks, (3) drainage and sub-grading of roads, (4) construction of an approach to garage and a parking space.
…A deer-proof fence around ½-acre of this site has been put up by the C.C.C. and ½-acre will be reserved as a weather station site.
…Establishment of 3 plots in 40-year-old second growth aggregating 8 acres in area, was accomplished by the Station staff with the aid of A.L. McComb cultural foreman from C.C.C. camp #4 at Highland. Two of the plots of 2 acres each were marked for a partial cutting to improve the stand for sawtimber production. Holdover beech and other species lacking value as potential sawtimber were cut for fuel by local people. This 4 acres was stem mapped, marked for cutting, trees measured, reproduction quadrats established and counted, and photographs taken before and after cutting…The following information is copied verbatim from a CCC Yearbook. The copies that I have are Xeroxed pages, so I don’t know the date of the yearbook. I can and will find that out, however.
HISTORY COMPANY 2314 ANF-12-Pa., Kane, Pa.
The following information is copied verbatim from a CCC Yearbook. The copies that I have are Xeroxed pages, so I don’t know the date of the yearbook. I can and will find that out, however. [Susan Stout]
HISTORY COMPANY 2314 ANF-12-Pa., Kane, Pa.
Army Personnel
1st Lt. Louis D. Hubbard, Commanding
1st Lt. G.L. Countryman, Exchange Officer
1st Lt. Ralph B. Hanahan, Camp Surgeon
1st Lt. John R. Thompson, Adjutant
Capt. J. Frank Howard, Chaplain
Mr. Joel T. Carter, Educational Advisor
On July 3, 1935, Company 336, Camp ANF-4, located at Highland, Pa., was divided and 67 enrollees under the command of Captain John E. Mosley, with First Lieut. John R. Hulcher, Adjutant, moved to a new location on the outskirts of Lamont, Pa., a short distance from Kane, Pa. At that site the group established Company 2314, Camp ANF-12. On July 4, 1935, Lieut. Gilbert L. Countryman was added to the official staff.
On September 3, 1935, Captain J. Frank Howard was ordered to active duty at Camp ANF-12 as Chaplain. Chaplain Howard organized a singing group that traveled with him when he conducted religious services at Colored camps in what was then Sub-District No. 5. Religious activities conducted were Sunday Morning Church, Sunday School in the afternoon, and Bible Class.
On October 5, 1935, the company moved from tents into permanent barracks. Since occupying the camp, the enrollees have made excellent records on work projects, and did heroic work in keeping open snow-drifted roads during the several winter of 1935-36. The members of the company have rebuilt five miles of telephone lines, constructed a stone base on Seven Mile road from Lamont to the Experimental Station, as well as quarrying, cutting, and hauling 1200 yards of stone from Twin Lakes Dam stone cut masonry spillway.
Projects now being conducted include the installation of culverts, and the construction of stone base on Twin Lakes Road No. 91, the quarrying and hauling of stone for headwalls, and the actual masonry work for the walls.
Since its organization, the glee club and quartet have had the pleasure of serving citizens in Kane, James City, and Bradford, Pa., as well as Olean, New York. On one occasion the quartet broadcast from Station WHDL, Olean, N.Y. as guests on a program sponsored by the Ministerial Alliance. The various athletic teams have established records of which the camp is justly proud.
Members of the Radio Class erected a building, complete in every detail, which housed radio equipment and provided an operator’s office as well as classroom for the radio and aviation groups. Leader Ernest Paxton and Enrollee Henry Fuller passed their examination for Radio Amateur Operator licenses. The two members are still students in the radio class.
In June of 1936, 1st Lt. Louis D. Hubbard was placed in command of the company, and fostered many camp improvements and a diversified educational program. Under his command the enrollees have laid many brick walks, completed the flag pole plot, finished the parking area, and build coal sheds. In addition, a chicken house, and a Mess kit shed were built, and one barrack remodeled for educational uses.
ROSTER, COMPANY ANF 2314, ANF-12-Pa., Kane, Pa.
Technical Personnel
Jefferson, H.H., Supt.
Henry, Roy
Cussins, Charles
Morgan,, John J.
Leaders
Antrim, C., Phila., Pa.
Harris, J., Erie, Pa.
Horton, J.B., Kane, Pa.
Neal, L., James City, Pa.
Paxton, E., Phila., Pa.
Threadgill, W., Phila., Pa.
Nelson, L., Phila., Pa.
Assistant Leaders
Anderson, R., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Arnett, E., Braddock, Pa.
Bishop, O., Erie, Pa.
Butler, C., B. Falls, Pa.
Dunmoore, A., Phila., Pa.
Dunnavant, J., G’ville, Pa.
Hall, R., Philadelphia, Pa.
Harper, W., Chester, Pa.
Kahn, L.B., Phila., Pa.
Neal, H., James City, Pa.
Wooden, E., Phila., Pa.
Members
Alexander, T., S. Hill, Pa.
Allen, C., Philadelphia, Pa.
Allen, F., Philadelphia, Pa.
Anderson, T., P’burgh, Pa.
Ambrister, J., P’burgh, Pa.
Arnett, J., Braddock, Pa.
Averheart, D., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Bailey, B., Philadelphia, Pa.
Banks, J., E. Phila., Pa.
Banks, J. X., G’mantown, Pa.
Brooks, F., Atlas, Pa.
Brown, G., Steelton, Pa.
Bryant, C., Cardale, Pa.
Burrell, W., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Calhoun, H., Phila., Pa.
Campbell, T., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Carter, C., Lewistown, Pa.
Casey, M., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Cooper, F., Phila., Pa.
Cosby, J., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Davis, J., Phila., Pa.
Davis, N., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Day, S., York, Pa.
Dearring, A., S’ville, Pa.
Duncan, N., W. Grove, Pa.
Fuller, H., Phila., Pa.
Gendraw, W., Phila., Pa.
Gibson, W., James City, Pa.
Gilbert, J., Aliquippa, Pa.
Goode, W., Phila., Pa.
Guest, H., Phila., Pa.
Hinton, R., Phila., Pa.
Hollis, W., Germantown, Pa.
Holston, W., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Irvin, L., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Jackson, H., Phila., Pa.
Jamison, C., Duquesne, Pa.
Johnson, J., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Lane, W., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Lewis, J., Bressler, Pa.
Lipscomb, L., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Lucas, C., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Maddox, B., Phila., Pa.
Millner, R., Phila., Pa.
Morgan, F., Phila., Pa.
Morgan, R. L., McK’port, Pa.
Nelms, G., Phila., Pa.
Oaks, H., Bertha, Pa.
Perkins, W., Phila., Pa.
Phelan, M., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Phillips, E., Bridgeville, Pa.
Pleasant, R., Chester, Pa.
Porter, J., Phila., Pa.
Powell, A., Hays, Pa.
The last column on the list is incomplete in my copy. In some cases, I’m guessing on the city. [Susan Stout]
Pruitt, W., Phila., Pa.
Pugh, T., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Riley, W., Phila., Pa.
Roberts, H., James City, Pa.
Robinson, W., Phila., Pa.
Sandford, R., James City, Pa.
Sawyer, J., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Scott, E., Hays, Pa.
Shaw, V.L., Cardale, Pa.
Smith, R., Washington, Pa.
Sordon, R., Phila., Pa.
Stevenson, L., B’ville, Pa.
Taliferro, S., Phila., Pa.
Terry, E., Indianola, Pa.
Thomas, J.J., Phila., Pa.
Thomas, J., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Thompson, J.J. N. C’t….Pa.
Tracey, W., L. Lynn, Pa.
Turner, A., R. Terrace, Pa.
Waddy, S., Phila., Pa.
Walker, P., Roxborough, Pa.
Watson, E., B. Falls, Pa.
White, W.D., Phila., Pa.
Williams, A., Aliquippa, Pa.
Williams, H., Phila., Pa.
Williams, G., Phila., Pa.
Williams, H., W-Barre, Pa.
Williams, J.R., J. City, Pa.
Williams, L., Phila., Pa.
Williams, R., Phila., Pa.
Wilson, T.E., N. Hills, Pa
Responses Received
From Calobe Jackson, Jr., July 9 and 11, 2005
"I have a copy of the 1936 Colored CCC Annual for District No. 1, Third Corps Area, located at New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. This booklet contains many pictures and rosters of men. Most are from Philadelphia, but a few are from Harrisburg, Steelton. York and Lancaster.
"Alexander Banks and John Waters, both members and past Commanders of American Legion Post 733, served in the CCC. They are both in pretty good health and love to talk about the past. John Waters often mentions being at Gettysburg in 1938. The CCC erected the camp for the last encampment of the veterans of the Civil War. I think it was held the week of July 4, 1938. He remembers seeing President Roosevelt there.
"The G. Brown who was listed by Susan Stout as being from Steelton may be related to the well known Brown family of Steelton. If so, great, as this family keeps excellent records. Perhaps Barbara [Barksdale] could help identify him and his descendents.
"Below is a quick list of local Black CCC members in my 1936 Book. The Atwell from Steelton may be the one that just died a few weeks ago. His obit was in the Patriot-News.
Name, Hometown, Station
Atwell, A, Steelton, Gettysburg
Lewis, C., York, Grantville
Moore, T., Harrisburg, Grantville
Green, L., York, Schnecksville
Johnson, G., Harrisburg, Schnecksville
Boyer, J. S., Lancaster, Beaver Springs
Dorum, C. S., York, Beaver Springs
Giddens, L., Harrisburg, Beaver Springs
Banks, O., Harrisburg, Gettysburg
Graham, R. N., Carlisle, Gettysburg
Bush, W., Harrisburg, Gettysburg
Waller, B., Harrisburg, Gettysburg
Braxton, J., Harrisburg, Gettysburg
Banks, G., Harrisburg, Gettysburg
Stinson, J., Harrisburg, Gettysburg
Kitrell, R., York, Gettysburg
Holmes, C., York, Gettysburg
Regards,
Calobe
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