Great Pond Camp, Company 158 - Civilian Conservation Corp

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Great Pond Camp, Company 158 - Civilian Conservation Corp

One of the thousands of camps set up by President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corp program during the great depression. The Great Pond Camp in Southwest Harbor operated from 1933-1941. The men who worked at the camp were integral to the early development of the trail system in Acadia National Park.

“The Southwest Harbor camp was opened about May, 1933 with enrollees erecting and living in tents while construction of the roll roofing covered barracks continued. An aerial photo dated September 5, 1933 shows four barracks buildings and four service buildings in place. Officers quarters, dispensary and living quarters for the commanding officer were added later. The last two were of log construction.

The camp was located at the height of ground on the west side of the road leading from Southwest Harbor village to the south end of Great Pond [Long Pond]. This was near Acadia National Park lands where most of the work-projects took place. This park being one of the National Park System came under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Consequently the Department of the Interior controlled the employees and type of work projects carried out on the ground.

This was a typical 200 man camp. All enrollees were Maine residents. Familial relationships were scarce but for most living conditions were a great improvement over depression years living conditions at home. Living conditions, discipline and in-camp activities were the concern of the U.S. Army…” – Fred E. Holt, former forest commissioner - “In the Public Interest: The Civilian Conservation Corps in Maine (1933-1942) - A Pictorial History” by Jon A. Schlenker, Norman A. Wetherington and Austin H. Wilkins, published by the University of Maine at Augusta Press, 1988, p. 67-70

67 Long Pond Road

Southwest Harbor

ME

USA