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CCC Work in Massachusetts State Parks

Sweat and Stone

“I have been used to the out-of-doors all my life, but I shall never forget the feeling of complete isolation that came to me the first night I slept in a C.C.C. camp. There were no lights and one must sit on his bunk, and be ready to go to sleep when darkness came. Meals were out in the open, even in pouring rain. Wetness and dryness depended wholly on the weather. There were no chairs to sit on, and so, unless you could go to your bunk, you must stand, the ground not being attractive for sitting. . . . Never could anybody be so close to nature.

With hard work, and plenty of it, an apparently miraculous change has taken place in the part of the pine woods here where we live. First we had to clear away the brush and stubble in order to walk around a bit, then roads were built to permit access for trucks, later a telephone line was constructed, then later—much later—barracks instead of tents, a dining hall, and then finally—the crowning achievement—five miles of power line for electric lights. From something that was really nothing but land in the raw we have built a reasonably civilized community and each day and each week as it goes by we enlarge the periphery of our civilizing process; making it possible for more and more use to be made of this area of God’s earth.”

Harold S. Fraine, Supervisor

CCC Company 102

Myles Standish State Forest

Excerpted from “Youth Rebuilds: Stories from the C.C.C.”
American Forests Magazine, edited by Ovid Butler.

Highlights of CCC Work Done

Mohawk Trail State Forest

The administration building and four log cabins built by the CCC at Mohawk Trail were featured in Albert Good’s 1938 book, Park and Recreation Structures, as outstanding examples

of CCC rustic design and are still used today.

Blue Hills Reservation

Eliot Observation Tower is one of two rustic stone towers and picnic pavilions constructed by the CCC in the Blue Hills. The tower is an excellent example of CCC stonework.

Mount Greylock State Reservation

The Mount Greylock Summit, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, contains an exceptional collection of CCC resources. Most notable is Bascom Lodge, as well as the associated outbuildings, roads, trails and a particularly well designed parking area.

Freetown-Fall River State Forest

The well preserved CCC roads and water holes illustrate the importance of the CCC in creating park infrastructure. The stone arch bridge shown here is an outstanding example of CCC craftsmanship.

Pittsfield State Forest

The renovation of this administration building is a victory in the effort to preserve the rustic CCC structures. It is now being used as an interpretive center. The Berry Pond Circuit Road is a well preserved example of CCC parkway construction.

Douglas State Forest

CCC features at Douglas include a picnic pavilion, administration building, stone culverts and well maintained water holes.

Brimfield State Forest

This rustic shelter is the only one of its type still remaining. Dingley Dell dam was another important CCC project at this forest, where there are many CCC camp buildings still remaining.

Harold Parker State Forest

The CCC built many ponds for recreation, wildlife management and fire control such as this one near the Lorraine Park Campground.

Forests and Parks Shaped by the CCC

BOSTON AREA

Breakheart Reservation

Blue Hills Reservation

Boston Harbor Islands SP

SOUTHEASTERN

F. Gilbert Hills SF

Franklin SF

Freetown-Fall River SF

Manuel Correllus SF