Pride in
the Past
Contributed
by Jeffery L. Schatzer
- a national
award-winning children’s author and the son of a CCC boy.
“My
father was a private man and never talked much about his past,” Schatzer said.
“I knew he was in the Civilian Conservation Corps and that he served in the
Army during WWII, but I didn’t know any of the details. After he passed away,
I was going through some papers he left behind and found his discharge from the
Civilian Conservation Corps. That’s when my quest to learn about the CCC
began.”
The
discharge indicated that his father, Byron L. Schatzer, had served at Camp
Cusino in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and was discharged in July of 1935.
Schatzer started reading every book and historical article he could find about
the C’s and Cusino. The facts started falling into place like puzzle pieces.
“Camp
Cusino, located near Shingleton in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, was unique
in the CCC because it focused much of its work on animal studies. They literally
trapped and transported moose and other large animals on Isle Royale in Lake
Superior. The critters were then taken by boat to the camp for the studies.
Enrollees were responsible for building pens and caring for the animals,”
Schatzer noted. “One year, a
winter storm dumped a huge amount of snow in the area. The boys had to dig
through the deep snow in order to provide browse for the animals.”
Stories
about Camp Cusino and the CCC sparked a growing interest in the history of the
Great Depression. In 2006, Schatzer approached his publisher with the idea of
writing a chapter book for children on the CCC.
“The
idea was simple,” Schatzer commented. “I wanted to write a book that would
give both young and old a sense of pride in the CCC. My hope was to create a
work that would tell a small slice of the story, a snapshot of an early phase of
the CCC in Michigan. I also wanted it to be easy to read. My plan, if the book
is successful, is to create a series of books that follow the main character
through four enrollment periods followed by a stint as a LEM. Overall, I’d
like to see five or six books come out in this series. That would allow readers
to get a broader picture of the work projects done by the CCC, a perspective
that can’t really be captured in a single book.
“More
importantly, I wanted the book to be suitable for use in schools so that young
people could discover this amazing era of history for themselves. I wanted the
book to have a positive theme and to deliver positive messages about the
enrollees who formed this wonderful organization,” Schatzer said. “I did as
much reading as I could. Then I set out to find some CCC boys in order to learn
from them”
One day
Schatzer was running errands when he saw a camper with a bumper sticker that
read: I AM A CCC BOY. Though he was low on gas, he chased the van through the
streets of Midland, Michigan.
“I
caught up with the van when it stopped at a red light on a busy intersection,”
Schatzer laughed. “Then I jumped out of my car and ran up to the van to
introduce myself before the light changed. That’s when I first met John
Gilmour.”
Over the
next several years, the author met with John Gilmour, his brother-in-law, Al
Hubbard, and other alumni. He joined Chapter 129 of the CCC Legacy, visited the
Michigan CCC Museum and several CCC sites around Michigan. In his journeys to
learn about the CCC, he attended a Michigan reunion and visited the NACCCA
Headquarters in St. Louis.
“During
my travels, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many wonderful people,”
Schatzer noted. “The CCC boys I’ve spent time with have shared their stories
and memories. Everyone I’ve met and everyone I’ve talked to has been an
inspiration to me. It’s been fascinating and fun.
“I’ve
taken many of the stories that have been told to me and blended them into a work
of historical fiction. So, the book contains actual experiences and real
elements of history alongside a fictional story about some Polish kids from
Grand Rapids, Michigan.”
After
years of research and a year in the writing process, Schatzer’s book finally
saw the light of day. “Fires in the Wilderness: A Story of the Civilian
Conservation Corps Boys” was released by Mitten Press in October of 2008.
“One of
the goals of the CCC Legacy is to spread the word about the CCC and encourage
people to join, contribute to, and be active in keeping the story of the CCC
alive,” Schatzer concluded. “I truly hope this book helps keep the Spirit of
the CCC alive. God willing, I will be given the opportunity to write more books
on the CCC. It has been a wonderful experience.
So,
how’s the book going?
“So
far, so good,” said Schatzer. “I’ll find out more in March when the
publisher reports results to me. I’ve had young people tell me that they love
the story and have learned a great deal from it. More seasoned readers have also
offered their praise for the book. Armchair Interviews (www.armchairinterviews.com)
gave the book a very positive review as did Grand Rapids Press, Midland Daily
News, and other publications.
Schatzer’s
website is www.BigBellyBooks.com.
“Fires in the Wilderness: A Story of the Civilian Conservation Corps Boys”
can be ordered from Amazon.com: BarnesandNoble.com; Borders.com and through most
booksellers around the U.S.
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