Preserving The Past for Future Generations
The camp in Duhring, Pennsylvania, is believed to be among the first built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Partnership looks at ways to preserve CCC camp that is on privately owned land.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built many of our nation's recreation sites, including several on the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) in Pennsylvania. Some of the CCC boys that worked at Twin Lakes and Loleta Recreation Areas operated out of CCC Camp ANF-1 in Duhring, just a few miles north of the village of Marienville.
For a few weeks this summer, a team of landscape architects and historic preservationists from the University of Colorado, led by Associate Professor Ann Komara, worked to inventory and record the site (which is located on private property within the ANF) and explore issues for future management of this unique and valuable resource. Not only is CCC Camp ANF-1 the second (or maybe the first, depending who you talk to) of the CCC's twenty-six hundred camps, it may also be the most complete remaining camp, with over half of the CCC buildings still standing.
While many of the CCC's recreation facilities still exist in public lands throughout the country, the practical structures still actually in use are much more rare: the CCC typically removed their own camp buildings when the camps closed. There may only be about a half dozen former CCC camps in the nation that currently have camp buildings.
To assist with efforts of the landscape architecture studio, Marienville Ranger District archaeologist Amanda Glaz provided the group with a PowerPoint overview of the camp's history, and shared historic images of the camp. The MRD Heritage Resources crew visited the site to learn about new finds (including a fire hose marked "CCC"), and help the Colorado students establish survey datums.
Bradford District archaeologist Jack McLaughlin also provided context for the CCC on the ANF, and both districts provided field equipment for use during the course. Dr. Michael Schultz entertained the Colorado crew with many stories and background information about Duhring and other ANF CCC camps. Professor Isabelle Champlin (University of Pittsburgh at Bradford) brought her archaeological fieldschool students to spend a day conducting field work, exposing several areas of intact brick walkways.
Professor Komara and colleagues graciously provided site tours to associates of the ANF, Pennsylvania Lumber Heritage Region, Pennsylvania Wilds, Clarion River Municipal Partnership, Millstone Township, and a group of several high school students participating in the Archaeological Fieldschool and Study Program conducted by Clarion University of PA, on the ANF (a project supported by Elk County Commissioners, Forest County Conservation District, and Stackpole-Hall Foundation).
Several area residents also reached out to share information and tour the site, indicating the great local interest and excitement regarding the Duhring camp. Furthering these connections, John Imhof, MRD Archaeologist, reciprocated with a guided interpretive tour of the Arroyo tannery ghost town site. Millstone Township Supervisor Eric Patton also provided an overview of the area's logging history.
The property owners generously provided access to the camp, as well as their own family history and knowledge of the Duhring area. Professor Komara and colleagues developed a draft brochure explaining the site's history and significance.
In a short period of time, numerous people were privileged to have experienced a little bit of the landscape and history of the first CCC camp in Pennsylvania. The interest shown by everyone involved is a hopeful indication of the positive impact that this will continue to have into the future.