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| The monument at the entrance to the camp Author's Photo |
Tucked away off the beaten path lies a reminder of one of the best ideas that this nation has ever had, the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC). Born in 1933 from President FDR’s New Deal, the CCC employed thousands jobless young men during the Great Depression. In Pennsylvania alone, 151 camps were constructed, second in number behind only California. From these camps, the CCC worked on conservation and public works projects. Building roads, constructing dams, fighting forest fires, and planting trees were all examples of their work. Even today, their handiwork is still very much evident throughout the state. Part of this fascinating story can be explored just off the main road (actually the only road) between Monument and Orviston in Centre County.
In June of 1933, two-hundred young men between the ages of 18 and 25 were formed into Company 1356. After a few weeks of "orientation" to camp life courtesy of the U.S. Army, the men were shipped off to their campsite on state forest land along Salt Lick Run in Centre County. Once the canvas army tents were erected, Camp S-121 officially opened. Later on, more permanent wooden structures were built by the men. When compete, the camp was comprised of twelve main buildings that included, a dining hall, administrative buildings, sleeping quarters, and workshops.
Like other CCC camps, S-121 had several names bestowed upon it by the company. Names were often based on nearby geographic features or locations. One such name was the Monument Camp, which was appropriate as that was the nearest community and railroad station. Another was Salt Lick Camp, derived from the mountain stream that flowed next to the encampment. Another rather interesting name also existed, that being the Eagleton Camp.
Eagleton had been a coal mining village in the Tangastcootac region during the later half of the 19th Century. By the 1870’s, the community had been abandoned and very little would have remained by the 1930's. Additionally, the location of Eagleton is about 7 miles away as the crow flies and even further by road. How this camp earned this particular name has yet to be ascertained. DCNR's database is the only resource that mentions it. All other sources, including newspapers of the period, refer to it mainly as the Monument Camp.
Projects undertaken by the company involved, planting trees, clearing debris, improving streams, and building an eight-mile fire road from Orviston to Kato. On May 22, 1935, the camp’s 25 man forest fire crews mobilized to fight a blaze that was threatening a highway department dynamite shed along the Lock Haven - Renovo Road (now Route 120). However by the time the crew reached the scene, the fire was under control.
The camp closed at the end of October 1935 and the company was moved to Camp SCS-4 in Waynesborro, Franklin County. Why the camp was closed has not been ascertained in any documents, but most likely the camp had completed the work projects assigned to it and was no longer needed. The year 1935 had been the peak for the CCC. Over 500,000 men were employed at 2,600 camps across the country.
Projects undertaken by the company involved, planting trees, clearing debris, improving streams, and building an eight-mile fire road from Orviston to Kato. On May 22, 1935, the camp’s 25 man forest fire crews mobilized to fight a blaze that was threatening a highway department dynamite shed along the Lock Haven - Renovo Road (now Route 120). However by the time the crew reached the scene, the fire was under control.
The camp closed at the end of October 1935 and the company was moved to Camp SCS-4 in Waynesborro, Franklin County. Why the camp was closed has not been ascertained in any documents, but most likely the camp had completed the work projects assigned to it and was no longer needed. The year 1935 had been the peak for the CCC. Over 500,000 men were employed at 2,600 camps across the country.
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| An aerial view of the campsite in 1938. From the shadow, it appears one building remains standing. Photo retrieved from: Penn Pilot |
Since the camp was dismantled after its closure, few remnants have been left behind. The most prominent are several foundations, a deep open pit that might have been a well, and a segment of the front gate wall.
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| One of the remaining front gate pillars Author's Photo |
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| The pit/well Author's Photo |
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| One of the foundations. Some of the bricks are marked ORVIS indicating they came from the nearby brick works in Orviston Author's Photo |
Though the tenure of the Monument Camp was short, it's nonetheless an integral part of the CCC heritage of this region. While the camp itself has faded, the achievements of its men have not. Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts still enjoy the efforts of these young men as they drive the Kato-Orviston Road, the gravel fire road carved out by the camp some 80 years before. In 2013, a stone marker and plaque were placed at the former entrance to the camp. It's placement was the culmination of five years of planning from individuals of the local community and abroad.
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| A close up of the plaque Author's Photo |
If you plan on visiting the camp, please respect the site and use caution while exploring. Parking is available on a pull-off along the road, but will require you to cross the road to reach the camp. Keep your eyes out for the open pit as it is not marked.
If anyone has additional information about this camp, please let me know!
Information Retrieved From:
Rosenblum, C. (25, June 2013). Memorial to honor CCC camp. Centre Daily Times
Retrieved From :https\://www.centredaily.com/news/local/community/bald-eagle/article42821565.html
Retrieved From :https\://www.centredaily.com/news/local/community/bald-eagle/article42821565.html
Speakman, J. (2006). At work in Penn’s woods: The Civilian Conservation Corps in Pennsylvania. Penn State Press.
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