Dad’s Story, part 10, Photos from CCC Days

The following is a selection from Dad’s 1934 photo album. Many of those include people, these not so much, documenting more the places. Hearing CCC mentioned often while I was growing up, I get the idea these were formative years for him.

Dad with his camera, a fixture he adopted early and continued most of his life.

Camp 1801, where Dad served most of the time. Looks pretty bleak and cold. At least the tilt of the camera adds interest.

Mess hall. A study in single point perspective. The “streamers” may be for a holiday. Or is it fly paper?

A midday meal out on the work site, and early experiments with color tinting.

Park service trucks in a cleared field next to a new bridge on the River Platte.

All those national parks we enjoy? This is how they were built. Look closely to see the workers behind the truck.

Focus a little soft here, but all the beds are made and all belongings in order (the few that there were).

The latrine. These guys didn’t build anything that wasn’t substantial.

CCC Co. 844, Guernsey Lake. Another camp served in Wyoming. Note on back says “New Quarters.”

Noted on back: “Eagle Peak, CCC Co. 3850, where I was stationed three weeks, surveying roads.”

A sleeping clerk. Doesn’t look like Dad, though could be a shared desk, with his photos up, his typewriter, his camera. (Click photo to enlarge.)

I only include this horse as it seems indeed the same photo pinned on the typist’s wall (above). All from the same photo album.

Air transport between CCC camps was probably rare, but there’s some reason this photo’s included in the album.

This must be Camp 884, “old quarters.” Those tents likely very cold in winter and hot in summer. Note the volleyball game taking place.

I just had to include this photo. If you didn’t know it was a volley ball game you’d not know what to think. As it is, it’s pretty strange, and not exactly sports attire.

Finally, one more. Sweetheart Betty, with lots of care to color retouching. But my question: Whose are those faces looking on from behind?

_______

Next: The couple is separated for two years. Mom’s story, part 1.