Ninety years ago, this summer the first of hundreds of young men began arriving in Letchworth State Park as part of the newly created Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC, as it is often called, was a response to the lack of employment opportunities in the Great Depression. Over the next four years, the men of the CCC built walls, roads, bridges, picnic areas, cabins, shelters and more throughout Letchworth,
Each year the Friends of Letchworth, with the support of Park management and staff, celebrate the CCC’s accomplishment with a day of remembrance and appreciation. This year’s CCC Legacy Day is scheduled for Saturday, August 5. Activities will start at 10:00 a.m. in the Lower Falls area, beside the CCC statue, with a flag-raising by an honor guard from the Niagara Falls Air Base. This will be followed by a remembrance ceremony and a guided tour of the Lower Falls CCC Camp #49.
At 11:00 a.m. a program with presenters and exhibits will begin in the Humphrey Nature Center. Tom Cook, author of The CCC in Letchworth State Park, will speak on the CCC in Letchworth 90 years ago, followed by Doug Kelly, Letchworth Park Manager, describing the value of the CCC contributions to the Letchworth Park of today.
CCC displays and exhibits will be available until 2 p.m. in the Humphrey Nature Center. Guided tours of three more CCC camp areas will be held in the afternoon starting with Gibsonville Camp #40 at 12:30 p.m., Big Bend Camp #23 at 2:00 p.m. and at 3:00 p.m. St Helena Camp #76. For those who prefer self-guided tours through the park, a map and brochure highlighting CCC sites will be available.
Please save the date and join us in honoring the men of the CCC and their accomplishments while participating in an interesting and enjoyable experience. Hope to see you there!