South Dakota
Dedicates Statue and CCC Museum
CCC
Legacy Journal - Vol. 33 Issue 4: July August 2009
 Under
the bright blue skies and a balmy spring South Dakota breeze nearly 250 CCC
enthusiasts gathered on May 16 in Hill City to dedicate the 51st CCC Workers
Statue and the new CCC Museum at the Hill City Visitors Center. 
Organized
by CCC Legacy members, Jay Hendrickson, local president, and Peggy Sanders, this
well attended event was enjoyable by all. Emceed
by Jay Hendrickson, guest speakers included Walter Atwood and
Joan Sharpe, CCC Legacy; Robert Thompson, Black Hills National Forest;
Jay Vogt South Dakota State Historic Preservation Office; and Brett McMacken,
Administration, City of Hill City.
 One
of the main speakers was Andrew Weathermon.
At 11 years old he has attained a vast knowledge of the CCC and
frequently serves as a youth speaker and ambassador for the CCC among youth
groups. Because of his frequent
presentations, CCC Legacy President, Joan Sharpe awarded him with a certificate
naming him as 2009 Youth Ambassador.
For
several years Chapter #177 has diligently nurtured the idea of a CCC center and
statue in the Black Hills area. By
developing a partnership with the City of Hill City and starting a non-profit,
CCC Museum of South Dakota, they have built an  infrastructure
that will carry CCC heritage in South Dakota into the future.
Funding
for the CCC workers statue was provided by CCC Legacy member Melvin Hermanson of
Rapid City,
SD.
There
were 30 CCC enrollees in attendance.
Facility:
 Black
Hills Chapter # 177 was invited to house a CCC museum in a 728-
sq. ft. room inside this former US Forest Service building. The Hill
City, South Dakota Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Committee
and the city worked on a project of turning the recently vacated
office space and picnic area into the
Hill
City
Visitors
Center
and Chamber of Commerce.
The property includes
several acres which are already landscaped and the picnic tables offer
a welcoming appearance.
Hill City
,
SD
was the home post office for several CCC camps.
The museum is located on the split level
and stairs are
required for access to both levels and an elevator will be installed
as part of the building remodeling.
 Just
north of the main building and across the creek, two cabins,
purportedly CCC built, sit empty. They may be incorporated into the
scheme of things.
For more information about the CCC in South
Dakota:
- Learn more about the CCC in South Dakota.
Go to : www.civilianconservationcorps.blogspot.com
South Dakota author,
Peggy Sanders, has become a driving force in bringing awareness to
the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the Black Hills
area. Biographical, research information, and contact
information is available by
viewing her blogspot. Peggy is also anxious to talk to folks
who can contribute additional information to the history of
the CCC in South Dakota.
 South
Dakota Garden Clubs Participate in 75th Anniversary Tree Planting
Project
Friendship Garden Club of
Andover, SD is the first garden club to meet the
challenge.
As we head into the 75th Anniversary of the New
Deal, garden clubs within South Dakota have stepped forward to
participate in the anniversary. Garden Clubs have a long
history of beautification and conservation. Tree planting
has long been an active part of their mission.
South Dakota has a rich CCC history. Although
the greater portion of the CCC work was done in the Black Hills area,
all across the state there are remnants of New Deal activity. On
the Great Plains of eastern South Dakota CCC work has a larger
presence in wildlife refuges such as Sand Lake, Waubay, and Lake
Andes. The tree shelterbelt system, which stretched from North
Dakota to Texas, included millions of trees raised by the CCC
and planted by different public works organizations.
Shelterbelts are still visible and play an active part in soil erosion
and moisture retention.
The New Deal touched all citizens and its history is
still present in all of our communities. Become involved: plant
a tree.
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