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CCC Legacy Journal:  September-October 2009,  Vol. 33 Issue 5

Advocate Walter Sekula Leads Tree Planting Effort  

Walter Sekula of Norwich, CT. has volunteered hours of faithful service to assure that the CCC is not forgotten.  He has logged many miles, attended events across the nation and served as an ambassador for the CCC wherever he has traveled. 

His dream of planting a CCC commemorative tree at the F.D.R Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, NY has become a reality.   In a ceremony on June 13, 2009, at 2:00, pm an eight-foot white oak sapling was planted.  The white oak was chosen to represent the State of Connecticut’s “Historical Charter Oak”.

A plaque, presented by Walter Sekula, will be placed by the tree.  It reads: 

Dedicated to

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Father of the CCC,

75th Anniversary of the

“Civilian Conservation Corps”

1933-1942

The photo above:  Cynthia M. Koch, Director F.D.R. Presidential Library and Museum (L) and Clifford J. Faube, Public Affairs Specialist (R), present Walter Sekula, Sr. (middle) with an official t-shirt of the Presidential Library and Museum.   

CCC Legacy Journal:  Vol. 33 Issue 4 - July August 2009

CCC Was the Place to Be - Natchaug State Forest, Connecticut

Each day that I drive by a bridge being constructed over the railroad tracks on the west end of Great Falls, MT, I think of the bridge that was built over the Natchaug River in the Natchaug State Forest in Connecticut.  That’s seventy years ago now.  The construction was done by the men of the CCC company that lived in a camp in that forest.  Under supervision of engineers employed by the state the project was completed.  When I see all the heavy equipment in use on the Great Falls project I am reminded of the one tractor with a grader and a bulldozer in use on the CCC project.  In addition the engineers supervised the making and use of a gin pole and several A frames for use in the assembly of the bridge.  Well, we must have done something right for the bridge is still in use each summer by visitors to that state park.  Whenever we visit Connecticut I try to drive through the park and take a look at the bridge.  There is a picnic area on the east end of the bridge that gets a lot of use.

 Another project was the draining of a swamp and directing the water flow towards the river.  One of our men had knowledge of the use of dynamite and he blasted a ditch that did the trick.  All the rest of the crew had to do was clean up the ditch to ensure uninterrupted water flow.  We did place a culvert under the road where the park road crossed the drainage ditch. 

 Other things we did were clearing the woods of scrap wood to prevent forest fires, fight forest fires, cut trees down for the use of firewood in the camp buildings when necessary.  The biggest forest job was to salvage the trees downed by the ‘38 hurricane and there were plenty of them.  The sawmill at camp make lumber from all those trees for use by the state.  The road in the park were maintained and improved by the CCC also.  For those who are not aware of camp life; it began with a wake up call at 6:00, breakfast at 7:00, inspection at 8:00.  After inspection the camp commander who was U.S. Military turned us over to the State for work supervision.   We came back to camp for lunch unless we were too far away; then lunch would be brought out to us.  We worked until supper time then road in the trucks back to camp.  After supper we did various things: classes, camp newsletter, card games, dice, plenty of reading and occasionally we would have a speaker about religion or other subjects.  In the summer we had boxing and baseball.  We traveled to other camps for those sports or were hosts to guest athletes. 

 I never regretted being in the organization for a year and firmly believe we should have a similar program today. 

 Bill Beckett

3024 Delmar Drive

Great Falls, MT  59404