Legacy

    To say that the importance of the Civilian Conservation Corps’ impact would be an understatement. They are responsible for the planting of at least 3 billion trees across the whole United States.[1] The program was also responsible for the development of the Virginia State Park system and national forest.[2] The Corps also spent 109 million in the state of Virginia alone, which was the fifth-largest expenditure in the country.[3] 15.2 million trees planted in reforestation and erosion control, 986 constructed, fire hazards reduced over 152,000 acres, and 1.3 million fish stocked.[4] Because the Virginia State Park system was pretty much created by the Civilian Conservation Corps, one must wonder how much of an impact it had on the environment.[5] The Corps was important in the creation of the first six state parks in Virginia, including Douthat in Allegheny and Bath Counties, and Hungry Mother in Smyth County.[6] Deer were so endangered that one Civilian Conservation Corps member remarked, "Deer was very scarce and the bear was very scarce. I saw, never saw a live deer in the Park 'til after I left to come back in here."[7]Many of the trails in Shenandoah National Park owe much to the Corps, for example, "Helping build the trail from Marys Rock to or Panorama to Marys Rock.[8] One of the most important trails in the whole of North America, the Appalachian Trail, was mostly built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. [9]

Often, when we talk of environmental history, we are quick to dismiss the Civilian Conservation Corps without understanding many of its legacies. After the dissolution of the Corps, many states and regions would later revive their versions of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Even when you go to many of the great national parks, you might be without realizing walking on a trail that was built by these great men.

1.Neil M. Maher, Nature's New Deal: the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Roots of the American Environmental Movement (New York, Oxford University Press, 2008), pg. 3

2. Ronald L. Heinemann, Civilian Conservation Corps (Virginia Humanities, August 8, 2014), https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/The_Civilian_Conservation_Corps#start_entry)

3. Ibid

4. Ibid

5. Ibid

6. Ibid

7. Joy K. Stiles and Ken Steeber, Interview with Cecil Glenwood Haney (Luray, VA: Shenandoah National Park Archives, 1997), https://www.nps.gov/shen/learn/historyculture/upload/ccc_oral_history_cecil_haney.pdf)

8. Ken Steeber, Oral History Interview with James Weakley (Mary and James Gardner), trans. Gloria Updyke (Luray, VA: Shenandoah National Park Archives, 1997), https://www.nps.gov/shen/learn/historyculture/upload/ccc_oral_history_james_weakley.pdf)