The Civilian Conservation Corp
At DeSoto State Park
On March 4, 1929, when Republican Herbert Hoover was inaugurated President of the United States, the jazz age economic boom of the 1920's was in full force. The age was one of the automobile, of radio, of prohibition and speakeasies, and of flappers who danced the Charleston, cut their hair, shortened their skirts, and smoked cigarettes in public.
Fueled by new industries and new products, the American economy roared along with little hint that success and prosperity were not permanent. Only the South and the debt-blanketed farm belt which suffered from the fall of farm prices after World War I, marred the ambience of well-being, and only a few voices dared to warn of disaster as the spiraling "Bull Market" marched upward. The crash came suddenly when the English, trying to lure European capital back to Great Britain, raised their interest rates. As foreign investors dumped their shaky American securities in the New York market, panic ensued and an orgy of stock selling followed.
The stock market collapse ushered in the Great Depression. In rapid succession, banks failed, taking with them the savings of millions; factories shut down, farm and home mortgages were foreclosed, real estate prices collapsed, and unemployment skyrocketed. Welfare funds were strained as bread lines and soup kitchens appeared all across America. President Hoover, confident in the ability of the free market capitalistic system to recover, failed to appreciate the dire conditions of the economy or the suffering of the people.
Although in Alabama the prosperity of the jazz age was uneven, and never was as abundant as in areas outside the South, the state did prosper before 1929 stock market crash. In 1927 Alabama elected Bibb Graves governor, and he developed a liberal program. The Alabama legislature, under Grave's executive leadership, abolished the convict lease system, raised teacher's salaries, built roads, constructed school houses and lengthen the school year. Graves spending spree was ended by the depression, and he left his successor, Governor Benjamin M. Miller who become governor in 1931, with a debt of $15,000,000.
| In 1928 the Democratic candidates caused a heavy Republican vote in Alabama. Four years later Franklin Delano Roosevelt had a landslide victory. Alabamians hoped Roosevelt's promised New Deal would change the economic despair. The New Deal was designed to bring relief to millions of unemployed Americans and allow industry to recover and force the reform of business. | |
In the first week of office Roosevelt pressed for a bill incorporating his reforestation program. Later he presented a bill which included a program for relief of the unemployed by creating the Civilian Conservation Corps. On March 28 the Senate passed the CCC bill by a voice vote. On the House floor black Congressman Oscar De Priest of Illinois amended the bill to prohibit discrimination "on account of race, color, or creed, " and by a voice vote, the House passed the bill. The Senate accepted the House amendment and after Roosevelt signed the act on March 31, the Civilian Conservation Corps was born.
| While Washington was pressing ahead to iron out the administrative details of the program, state welfare and relief agencies began to organize. Selection agents were hired to recruit young men who met the federal guidelines. Men who were interested in joining the program were required to fill out an application form and were interviewed. Those eligible had to be between the ages of 18 and 25 (although later the age was dropped to 17 and raised to 28); they were to be physically fit, unemployed, unmarried, have family dependents, and be willing to send an allotment home to their parents. They would be paid thirty dollars a month. Twenty-five dollars of this was sent to their families leaving them with five dollars a month. |
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In Fort Payne, Alabama, there was a considerable effort on the part of local government and business officials to obtain a CCC camp in Dekalb County. Then in 1935 on the top of Lookout Mountain, just below River Park is located State Park No 5. The development of this park is a particular project of the CCC. The CCC taught valuable skills to the young men of Alabama and provided America with trained, skilled labor when they left the CCC. |
State Park No. 5 was known to locals as DeSoto State Park. In 1935 the park was 950 acres of which some land was donated by citizens of Mentone and Fort Payne. DeSoto Park was once surrounded by what was known as the Valley Head Airport. Airplanes were available during the dedication of the park. Also in this area a golf course was scratched into the rocky ground. Although the golf course was finished there is no evidence that it was ever opened. You can still make out the remains of tee number one through the trees in what is now the Primitive Camping area.
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Several cabins were built of 6x10 hewn timbers. The ceiling joists and rafters were also hewn . After the cabins were completed they were outfitted with a living room, kitchen and dining room combined, one bedroom and bathroom equipped with hot water. The cabins had electric lights and running water. The cabins constructed, were to be rented by guests for $2.25 a night or $15.00 a week . The cabins are still a big attraction of the park today and are still rented. |
| DeSoto State Park was dedicated on May 24 1939 and at the time was the largest state park. The hard work and effort of the CCC is still visible throughout the park today. Many of the original structures are still standing and in use in the Park. Located off the White Trail is the rock quarry where many long hours were spent by the CCC removing the large stones for construction of a variety of facilities and structures. An old star drill,remains wedged in a rock after all these years. |  |
One of the more interesting projects is an old unfinished bridge. The magnificent bridge was to span Straight Creek and be a part of the original DeSoto Parkway. It is guessed it was never finished because of the out break of World War II. The members of the CCC dropped what they were doing and left to defend our great country. The beautiful rock work, in the middle of the deep forest, acts as a monolithic memorial to all their hard work.
| A Group Lodge was also planned and built on the park. Many local people speak of Saturday afternoons spent at the Lodge dancing to music from an old jukebox. In the 1970's additions were added to the Lodge and a motel was constructed next to it. Inside the main Lobby you can still see the front center stone with the word "lodge" carved into it. The back part of the Lodge was turned into a fine restaurant. |  |
In July of 1993, during the annual CCC reunion, a memorial was dedicated to the members of the CCC. It is located near the parking lot at the DeSoto State Park Lodge. Though DeSoto State Park is no longer the largest state park in Alabama, it is the most pristine and scenic park anywhere thanks in great part to the men of the Civilian Conservation Corp.
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