Page 28 - Town of Newcomb Newsletter - July August 2021

The CCC performed projects in ten approved general
classifications. Some of these included structural improvements

to bridges, fire towers, truck trails, airfields, and minor roads.
Volunteers also worked on flood control, tree planting, fire-
fighting, emergency work and surveys. In 1942, funding for the
CCC was discontinued by Congress diverting resources to the
war effort.

Newcomb had two of these CCC camps, both in the area
of Rich Lake. In 1933 the first camp (P-69) was established. It

was considered a full-sized camp with approximately 200 peo-
ple. They were housed in tents on wood platforms. This camp
was closed in late fall of that same year as there wasn’t ade-
quate housing for the winter months. During the time it was
operational they built roads through terrain that was difficult
to navigate, put in a small dam, and constructed telephone

lines.

By 1935, once again a CCC camp was beginning to be
built in Newcomb at the Huntington Forest location. Using local
labor for its construction, carpenters, electricians, and plumb-
ers contributed to the building of CCC camp S-129 and a total of
178 men arrived but before long 35 were sent home after par-
ticipating in a strike because they did not like the food being

served. After the 35 were sent packing the rest of the group de-
cided to deal with the leader and the food.

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