The 90th Anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps: Its History & Work In CT

On July 12, 2023 at 2pm, Fairfield Public Library will host author and historian Marty Podskoch who will give a Power Point presentation on the 90th Anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps Camps and its work in CT.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began on March 31, 1933 under President Roosevelt’s “New Deal” to relieve the poverty and unemployment of the Depression. CCC camps were set up in a few Rhode Island towns, state parks, & forests. Workers built trails, roads, campsites, & dams, stocked fish, built & maintained fire tower observer’s cabins & telephone lines, fought fires, & planted millions of trees.The CCC disbanded in 1942 due to the need for men in WW II.

In Connecticut there were 21 CCC camps. In the first year 13 camps were set up in these Connecticut towns & state parks & forests: West Cornwall, Housatonic Meadows; Niantic, Military Reservation; Hampton, Natchaug; Haddam, Cockaponset; Union, Nipmuck; New Fairfield, Squantz Pond; Cobalt, Meshomasic; Voluntown, Pachaug; Thomaston, Black Rock; East Hartland, Tunxis; West Goshen, Mohawk; Clinton, Cockaponset; and Burrville, Paugnut. The Army Government Dock in New London was the supply depot for all the CT camps.

In the following years these eight camps were added: Winsted, American Legion State Forest; East Hampton, Salmon River; Danbury, Wooster Mountain; Stafford Springs, Shenipsit; Portland, Meshomasic; Windsor/Poquonock, Experiment Station Land; Kent, Macedonia Brook and Madison, Cockaponset.

Marty Podskoch is a retired teacher and the author of 11 books: Adirondack Civilian Conservation Corps Camps: Their History, Memories and Legacy of the CCC; Fire Towers of the Catskills: Their History and Lore, Adirondack Fire Towers: Their History and Lore, the Southern Districts; Adirondack Fire Towers: Their History and Lore, the Northern Districts, Adirondack Stories: Historical Sketches; & 101 More Adirondack Stories: Historical Sketches. He also writes a weekly column called “Adirondack Stories,” in five Adirondack newspapers.  He has written three travel books: The Adirondack 102 Club: Your Passport & Guide to Exploring the North Country, The Connecticut 169 Club and the Rhode Island 39 Club.

Marty and his wife Lynn now live on Lake Pocotopaug in East Hampton, Conn. Podskoch is keenly interested in meeting individuals who may have CCC stories and photos to contribute to his next book. Those that have information should contact him at 860-267-2442 or podskoch@comcast.net