The complete title of this book is The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Building of Guernsey State Park, With Folktales and Stories of the Park. The author Neil A. Waring did a very creditable job by writing this history of one of the most visited recreation spots in the State of Wyoming, the Guernsey State Park at Guernsey Lake near the town of Guernsey and not far from Fort Laramie. It contains everything you ever wanted to know about the park with the history of the CCC.
The Civilian Conservation Corps was one of Franklin D. Roosevelt's programs in the New Deal to return the country to prosperity from the deep depression it was in. There were CCC projects in about every State. This is why I wanted to read the book since three of my older brothers (or was it two?) joined the group back in the 1930's. They worked on the Moon Lake project in northeast Utah not far from home at the time. Neil's book describes the architecture, buildings, roads, trails, bridges, etc., that the CCC built from bare land around Guernsey Lake to make it what it is today. Two camps were built to house the workers during their time working on the project complete with all the amenities of home (er, just about), kitchens, lodging, latrines, canteens, etc. One camp on each side of the lake. They also built picnic tables, boat docks, parking lots, shelters, etc., for the visitors, including a "Million Dollar Biffy", as the author says for one of the park restrooms. Waring describes the wildlife that abounds in and around the park, including an occasional bear, and uses his photographs to illustrate the many buildings and remnants of buildings and architecture of the park along with pictures of the wildlife.
I found the book interesting and entertaining, but the author had a little trouble with the layout in placing the photos into the manuscript. It didn't interfere with my enjoyment of the book, though. A considerable amount of research went into this book and included is an extensive list of it. A fine book.
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ReplyDeleteThanks, Oscar, glad you enjoyed it. I have found the CCC to be a much-underappreciated group of workers. Their projects live on today, but not many people are aware of the who and how of it.
ReplyDeleteYou hit the nail on the head with the photos. They are perfect in the book, but the eBook leaves too much white space between text and photos and sometimes moved my captions. Glad you liked it.
The computer ghosts do strange things sometimes. The WPA was another program that put a lot of people to work in the 1930's.
DeleteOscar, I keep an open mind on most issues and topics and that would include reading about the building of Guernsey State Park in the backdrop of FDR's New Deal that I often read about in passing. Thanks for reviewing Neil A. Waring's book.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Prashant. I concentrate on reading westerns, mostly, but I like some variation on subjects that interest me.
DeleteI still remember seeing the CCC engraved on various projects like bridges in Arkansas when I was growing up.
ReplyDeleteYes, some of those projects are nearing a hundred years old.
DeleteThat's one heck of a title!
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