The CCC in Area
?Louis and Ruth Roedell have gifted to the Historical Society an outstanding collection of artifacts, manuscripts and photographs collected by Louis when he was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps at Mount Horeb.
Louis came to the camp, located south of Mt. Horeb, in 1936. Here he performed varied duties and positions, most prominently in the camp’s mess hall. During time off from the camp, trips to nearby Mount Horeb would bring him in contact with his future bride, Ruth.
Louie and Ruth have enjoyed many wonderful years on their rural Mt. Horeb farm, which has descended in Ruth’s family. On this farm Louis carefully preserved the evidence of his days serving time at the Depression era CCC camp. In October of this year he pulled from their farmhouse attic and shed a treasure trove of camp memorabilia including three trunks, one with compartments and hangers for “official” camp clothing. Several pieces of clothing, including his complete baker’s uniform, a sweater, underwear, pants, scarf, hat and ties were carefully preserved in one of the trunks. There was a rug and bracelet made by Louis in the camp’s craft shop, patches, kitchen ordering documents and menus, a broadside advertising a camp dance, camp newspapers, and dozens of photos documenting camp life.
While Louis and Ruth were searching out the CCC artifacts, items from Ruth’s family ties to the Mount Horeb Hardware business, operated in the early 20th century, began to emerge. Gifted from this business are a photo of the exterior of the building, two early bow-front class counter display cases, a circa 1900 hardware ordering catalogue, and a large key-wind time clock from the late 19th, early 20th century once use to track the hours of employees of the store.
We are extremely grateful to the Roedells for thinking of the Historical Society and offering their gift.
CCC Artifacts Sought
The Mount Horeb Area Museum is seeking the donation of artifacts, manuscripts and photos pertaining to the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) that had camps located at Mt. Horeb.
The CCC was introduced under the Roosevelt administration to put to work mostly unmarried men between the ages of 17 and 21 years of age during the Great Depression. The United States Army was responsible for these men, except for the hours from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., during which time they were turned over to the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) technical staff, comprised of engineers, foresters, and agronomists, who set up and supervised work projects for the young men. Many of these projects in southwestern Dane County consisted of the construction of erosion preventing dams.
The camp at Mt. Horeb was one of the only camps to be located in Dane County. The year 2009 marks the 75th anniversary of the camp. To celebrate this milestone, the Mt. Horeb Area Historical Society is planning an exhibit and a companion book, and has applied to the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission seeking a grant to make this possible. If the grant comes through, the exhibit and book would premiere in late spring in the Centennial Gallery and Museum Store of the Mt. Horeb Area Museum.
In preparation, and for the betterment of the Museum’s holdings, the Historical Society in putting forth a plea for artifacts relating to the CCC of southwestern Dane County. Sought are photos of activities and individuals of the camp, newspaper clippings, and other paper manuscripts. Artifacts, such as shovels, picks, clothing, mess kits, bedrolls, patches, personal effects, a bed, chairs, a table, kitchen equipment, items made by camp members, and even building components from the Mt. Horeb camp are desired.
If you have such items, or know of someone who does, contact Laurie Boyden on Mondays at 608-437-6486, or 437-8901.