To add to the enduring accomplishments of the CCC you cited in your letter, the program left future generations beautiful infrastructure elements in state and national parks, such as pavilions, bridges, and lodges.
These buildings and other structures including such as lookouts along the Blue Ridge Parkway were built from local stone and…
To add to the enduring accomplishments of the CCC you cited in your letter, the program left future generations beautiful infrastructure elements in state and national parks, such as pavilions, bridges, and lodges.
These buildings and other structures including such as lookouts along the Blue Ridge Parkway were built from local stone and timber and designed to invite Americans to experience the relaxation and exhilaration of spending time outdoors. They still do, quite powerfully.
Thank you for reminding me of the program and its contribution to my quality of life.
My husband and I drove the Skyline Drive yesterday and will travel the Blue Ridge Parkway today. In 105 miles, we saw only a handful of other cars, which allowed us to focus on the views and the beautifully constructed—and enduring—lookouts. We talked about the CCC and WPA, and about Pres. Biden’s plans for infrastructure and how they will strengthen our nation in so many ways. It’s good to be feeling hopeful again, and looking forward to better times—for all of us this time!
I have vivid memories of taking that drive over 20 years ago. Not just the gorgeous views, but admiration for the enduring stacked stone work at the pullouts, especially when compared to more recent stone work additions that were thrown together with lots of concrete filler holding it together.
My maternal grandfather was employed by the CCC in California and did some of the work in the parks in and around Yosemite and the John Muir area on the coast. The place where we would picnic when I was growing up in Southern Oregon had a park that was created by the CCC, and had amazing stone fireplaces for cooking. My Mom was proud of the work her Dad had done.
During the Depression, my grandfather, who was disabled due to a club foot, worked in the shipyards along the Delaware River. Because of his kindness, fairness, genuine humility and respect for each person he met, he was a white man who managed the segregated African American part of the shipyard. I guess due to segregation, a black manager wasn't allowed and no
other white man was willing to work there. I still have a hardhat from his work that has the word 'Captain' scratched in by hand by his crew. He respected the hard work his crews did and they respected him in turn. He never had any problems working in that capacity. He was able to provide for his family. Before that government job, they were hungry much of the time. Turnips and fried bologna were a staple. He was, of course, a wonderful grandfather. One rarely meets a human being who respects and validates people for who they are, ...nothing else is required.
BR, it'd be great to have met your granddad. He sounds like our Grinny (grandmother who smiled a lot!). She marched on Washington with Rev Dr King, and always said that she shared his dream. Still, we got her to stop driving in the nick of time.
TPJ...What an inspiration! An activist 'Grinny'! Truly wonderful to have a person like that in your life. Wish I had known her. She must have been fascinating to talk with.
Grinny was committed but genteel. Her daughter & my mom? Now there was a FEROCIOUS liberal Democrat!
Living in 1930s-40s NYC, Grinny attended numerous parties with scruffy, impassioned leftist fellow-travelers. She wasn't interested in ideology, and speculated that they came partly for free food & drinks. A bit of a snob, she also thought that they should bathe more often.
Dave, I too have enjoyed these structures immensely. I had not given much thought to them, often driving by blithely. But they have indeed give my soul much respite when I have allowed myself the luxury to enjoy 😉 them. Thank you for your sharing.
As I recall from my uncles who participated in this work, it provided workers meaningful and important work at a desperate time. I don't know if there's any historical perspective available on the mental health issues of that time. My uncles were able to maintain a sense of pride in their work ethic and to have hope. That too was a legacy for my own family.
The FDR admin's use of psychology was rather amateurish, but New Deal planners gave serious thought to how the CCC and other programs would boost self-respect among its workers. It was successful in that regard, though they tended to use "morality" and "mentality" interchangeably.
Thank you. Your reply made me think of the countless times Biden tells the story of his father's loss of a job and how important it was for him to find work. I had not made that connection to the CCC before now.
Thank you too, Ellen. The refs above mostly address policy, rather than the effects on individuals' mental health. Much of psychology is a major gap in my knowledge.
To add to the enduring accomplishments of the CCC you cited in your letter, the program left future generations beautiful infrastructure elements in state and national parks, such as pavilions, bridges, and lodges.
These buildings and other structures including such as lookouts along the Blue Ridge Parkway were built from local stone and timber and designed to invite Americans to experience the relaxation and exhilaration of spending time outdoors. They still do, quite powerfully.
Thank you for reminding me of the program and its contribution to my quality of life.
My husband and I drove the Skyline Drive yesterday and will travel the Blue Ridge Parkway today. In 105 miles, we saw only a handful of other cars, which allowed us to focus on the views and the beautifully constructed—and enduring—lookouts. We talked about the CCC and WPA, and about Pres. Biden’s plans for infrastructure and how they will strengthen our nation in so many ways. It’s good to be feeling hopeful again, and looking forward to better times—for all of us this time!
I have vivid memories of taking that drive over 20 years ago. Not just the gorgeous views, but admiration for the enduring stacked stone work at the pullouts, especially when compared to more recent stone work additions that were thrown together with lots of concrete filler holding it together.
My maternal grandfather was employed by the CCC in California and did some of the work in the parks in and around Yosemite and the John Muir area on the coast. The place where we would picnic when I was growing up in Southern Oregon had a park that was created by the CCC, and had amazing stone fireplaces for cooking. My Mom was proud of the work her Dad had done.
During the Depression, my grandfather, who was disabled due to a club foot, worked in the shipyards along the Delaware River. Because of his kindness, fairness, genuine humility and respect for each person he met, he was a white man who managed the segregated African American part of the shipyard. I guess due to segregation, a black manager wasn't allowed and no
other white man was willing to work there. I still have a hardhat from his work that has the word 'Captain' scratched in by hand by his crew. He respected the hard work his crews did and they respected him in turn. He never had any problems working in that capacity. He was able to provide for his family. Before that government job, they were hungry much of the time. Turnips and fried bologna were a staple. He was, of course, a wonderful grandfather. One rarely meets a human being who respects and validates people for who they are, ...nothing else is required.
BR, it'd be great to have met your granddad. He sounds like our Grinny (grandmother who smiled a lot!). She marched on Washington with Rev Dr King, and always said that she shared his dream. Still, we got her to stop driving in the nick of time.
TPJ...What an inspiration! An activist 'Grinny'! Truly wonderful to have a person like that in your life. Wish I had known her. She must have been fascinating to talk with.
Grinny was committed but genteel. Her daughter & my mom? Now there was a FEROCIOUS liberal Democrat!
Living in 1930s-40s NYC, Grinny attended numerous parties with scruffy, impassioned leftist fellow-travelers. She wasn't interested in ideology, and speculated that they came partly for free food & drinks. A bit of a snob, she also thought that they should bathe more often.
A moving tribute to your grandfather and vivid description of the circumstances. Thank you.
Dave, I too have enjoyed these structures immensely. I had not given much thought to them, often driving by blithely. But they have indeed give my soul much respite when I have allowed myself the luxury to enjoy 😉 them. Thank you for your sharing.
As I recall from my uncles who participated in this work, it provided workers meaningful and important work at a desperate time. I don't know if there's any historical perspective available on the mental health issues of that time. My uncles were able to maintain a sense of pride in their work ethic and to have hope. That too was a legacy for my own family.
The FDR admin's use of psychology was rather amateurish, but New Deal planners gave serious thought to how the CCC and other programs would boost self-respect among its workers. It was successful in that regard, though they tended to use "morality" and "mentality" interchangeably.
I Bernstein, A Caring Society
J Hirsch, Portrait of America
J Mangione, The Dream and the Deal
N Taylor, America-Made
Thank you. Your reply made me think of the countless times Biden tells the story of his father's loss of a job and how important it was for him to find work. I had not made that connection to the CCC before now.
Thank you too, Ellen. The refs above mostly address policy, rather than the effects on individuals' mental health. Much of psychology is a major gap in my knowledge.