Civilian Conservation Corps and Shenandoah National Park

The Harry Byrd Nature Center has a new and very interactive and informative display of the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps and Shenandoah National Park. All the photos here I snapped from the exhibit. The fourth photo down shows the opening day celebration at the park. Look at all those old black cars. Wouldn't you just love to hop into one and go for a ride around the park today. What a thrill that would be!
Three presidents have their names typed down in history for the development of Shenandoah National Park.

President Calvin Coolidge came to Pollock's Retreat for Washington's power elite to escape the rigors of life in Washington and so he found the means to acquire the land since the U.S. was in prosperous times.

President Herbert Hoover was the unfortunate Republican in office when the Great Depression hit so the land could not be developed.

(Does this sound like today?)

President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the Democratic president who decided to create the Civilian Conservation Corps to develop the park while putting the American work force back to work. At the time one out of four American men had no job and was standing in a soup line.

(Does this sound like a possible tomorrow?)

I think the next American president, either Republican or Democrat or Paris Hilton, will have to plan on a "New Deal" for America. Uhhhhhh...don't vote for Paris. I don't want a bimbo near our White House!
See this. Well, click on it to see it better! This couple owned over 970 acres of land with the homestead buildings that was acquired at fair market value. After you looked at this you opened the picture book and saw the government appraisal for their assets. How much did they get for their assets? A little over $2000 dollars for 970 acres and their home and several farm buildings. That came to less than $2.00 per acre. My jaw dropped when I read this.
Can you tell that I love reliving history thru exhibits such as this. If you don't remember the history lessons of the past, you may just truly relive them.

One more comment. The Civilian Conservation Corps spread to projects in all of the lower 48 states. The CCC reflected the 1930's in that only men could join this volunteer "tree army" and both blacks and Native Americans were relegated to separate work camp sites. Segregation was the name of the game for women, blacks and Native Americans back then. The CCC is celebrating its 75'th anniversary this year and the park has been bringing some of the old timers who worked in this first CCC project back to see Shenandoah Park today. You can get a commemorative CCC pin at the park gift shop.

News Flash For The Local Birds!

Listen up red-shouldered hawk! Love is blind but the neighbors aren't so when you sit on our roof waiting for a little chipmunk named Sunny and his love mate, Sarah, don't think that the neighbors aren't watching you. You got caught. Dickie got you big time. And bloggers you can see this marauding hawk too by going to Dickie's blog. Just go down the left side of my blog and click on Dragon Quilter.

Second News Flash!

Aunt Gigi plans to give us a live report on her hot date with Little Jack in Old Town Alexandria.

And Jack Aidan's Mommy will give us her version of the story plus tell us what Jack Aidan just said yesterday for his very first word. It wasn't Caw which is Cape Cod mispeak for Car. And it wan't Damm which is what Daddy wanted to say since the Boston Patriots loss yesterday.

And Grandma will post that Dinah Shore movie this P.M. after she catches her breath. Too much happening around here for one old woman.