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Museums & Exhibits

Pokagon State Park, IN, Hosts Reunion

Civilian Conservation Corps Company 556, located at Pokagon State Park in Angola, IN held its 56th consecutive Annual Reunion on Sunday July 26th, 2009. If not the oldest, at least one of the oldest in the country.

The event included sharing memorabilia, slide presentation and a walk through the area where the CCC Camp once stood.  CCC attendees were given 75th anniversary commemorative coins as a token of appreciation for their service. 

When planning the first reunion in 1953 one of the group spoke with a friend, a weather forecaster, and asked when the best time to hold a reunion rain free might be. The answer was, "the last Sunday in July". Believe it or not, the reunion has only had rain on four of the 56 years! 

The Company arrived at Pokagon in 1934 and stayed for the duration of the program. Practically everything in the park, except the Lodge, was constructed by this Company, including the first three toboggan runs, magnificent stone buildings, beach, campgrounds, etc. If ever you are in the NE corner of Indiana be sure to visit Pokagon and witness the "Park that CO 556 Built" ... you'll not be disappointed.

Thanks to Fred Wooley, Pokagon State Park Interpreter for his continued dedication to maintaining  this annual reunion event  and sharing the story of the CCC with Park visitors. 

Fred Wooley, Park Interpreter, shows the flagpole location of the original camp.  Its discovery allowed the entire camp site to be laid out, brush cleared and individual building sites to be mowed.  A “footprint” for visitors to walk through and visualize the camp as it was. 

 Fred Wooley showing visitors “feather wedges” that were used to split stones in building construction.  

The 75th Anniversary Invitation Displayed CCC Era Artwork

The artwork first appeared on a Pokagon Chieftain, Company 556’s regular newsletter in the 1930’s.  The artist was Walter Crowl, A CCC enrollee and member of Company 556.  During his years of CCC service, he produce many works of art that helped the Chieftain stay in the “4-start rating group” constantly.  This artwork returned as a cover to the annual newsletter in 1983 (the 50th anniversary of the CCC and the 30th anniversary of the Company 556 Reunion) and has remained in use for this newsletter ever since.  The tradition continues.  

(Text taken from the  invitation and written by Park Interpreter, Fred Wooley.)    

 Indiana Creates Youth Conservation Corps

From of the stimulus package funding received by the State of Indiana, the Young Hoosiers Conservation Corps was formed by Governor Mitch Daniels.  The aim is to improve the state park system and provide work for 16 to 24 year-olds who live at the poverty level.     Two-thousand workers will be hired and they will earn about $320 a week during the 16 week program.  The estimated cost of the program is $24 million and is managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the state’s Development of Workforce Development. 

 Considered to be the savior for some parks, the corpsmembers will make much needed repairs, clean and create trails, clean brush and restore facilities many of which were originally built by the CCC.