All my life I have heard of The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). I am not sure if it because my father thought Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was a god and preach to me about him, or if it because we have been traveling in the National Parks, but yesterday we took a tour around the Grand Canyon to see some of the work the Corp did here.
In 1933 severe economic depression challenged the confidence of the people of the United States. One in four people was unemployed. Many were homeless. Serious drought gripped large areas of the West and Midwest. The nation's leaders felt that the economic and social problems demanded immediate action. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was sworn into the presidency on March 4. He called Congress into emergency session on March 9, introduced legislation for the Civilian Conservation Corps on March 27, and had the bill on his desk on March 31. On April 7 the first enrollee took the CCC oath! By the end of 1935 the CCC employed more that 500,00 men at over 2,650 camps in every state. The creation of the CCC was a model of speediness. It became the most popular of Roosevelt's New Deal programs. (I think we could use some of this today.)
The original purpose of the CCC was to put young men to work on worthwhile conservation projects that would benefit the country. Early in its existence, however, the program added emphasis to teach "the boys" skills and trades. At the Grand Canyon some men learned typing and truck driving, plumbing, masonry, drafting, welding and blacksmithing skills. In addition, the CCC educational advisor taught classes in mathematics, reading, history, grammar, photography, and "Laying Out and Planning a Job" after the days work.
Grand Canyon National Park's forst CCC contingent arrived on May 29, 1933, crews worked on the South Rim, North Rim, and in the inner canyon until 1942.
These are stairs that were built by the CCC. A lot rand Canyon.
Because communication between the North and South Rims was frequently difficult and unreliable, the CCC began construction of a telephone line across the canyon in November 1934. A group started from each side of the canyon, stringing telephone line on metal poles down steep cliffs and over narrow gullies. Completed in September 1935, the line was 25 miles long and small portions are still used today.
CCC crews completely rebuilt the rock wall along the rim from Verkamps Curios to Lookout Studio n 1934-1935, replacing a deteriorated, poorly constructed dry-laid wall and a section of wooden fence. Although the crews built the walls for safety, they present a very pleasing appearance. Did a CCC boy carve the stone heart and place it in the wal as a symbom to his beloved? Or is this just an interesting natural rock? No one knows.
These rock pillars and walls were built by the CCC in 1934 as a visual barrier between the public area and the residential area up Navajo Street.
Two bridges were built across this normally dry drainage leading to the railroad tracks. The remaining bridge dates to 1937. The CCC exhibited a model of cooperation, with several federal agencies working together for a common goal.
We ended our walk by the train depot.
The train still runs today bringing visitors from William, AZ to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
We ended our day by heading out to Hopi Point for an awesome sunset.
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