High Bridge in Hunterdon County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
High Bridge Company 1268 / Civilian Conservation Corps
Voorhees State Park
On October 31, 1933, CCC Company 1268, S.P.-5, arrived at High Bridge, N.J., four years after former Governor Foster M. Voorhees donated his 325 acre farm, known as Hills Acres, to the State of New Jersey to become a park. Called Voorhees State Park, CCC enrollees developed, under the watchful eye of Alan Blackburn (Project Superintendent), and James Ashey (Park Superintendent), two separate parcels of land called Hoppock Grove and Hills Acres, as well as Hacklebarney State Park in Long Valley. Enrollees engaged in erosion control, roadside clearing and reforestation. Thjey constructed park roads, trails, bridges, shelters, picnic tables and water fountains.
High Bridge Company 1268 closed its doors on June 30, 1941 after nearly eight years of faithful service to the community.
[Supplemental Marker]:
"I propose to create a Civilian Conservation Corps to be used in simple work ... more important, however, than material gain will be the moral and spiritual value of such work."
March 9, 1933
Civilian Conservation Corps
Beginning in late 1929 the Great Depression struck the economy of the United States. To assist in stimulating the economy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, once elected as president, established a national job training program for American youth. The CCC became the largest peacetime mobilization in American history. CCC enrollees had to be unmarried, male citizens aged 17 to 24 years. Enlistment was for six months with the possibilty of serving up to two years. Enrollees were paid 30 dollars a month. CCC recruits were allowed to keep five dollars; the remainder was sent to the enrollees' families.
Erected by Voorhees State Park and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Horticulture & Forestry • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and the Former U.S. Presidents: #32 Franklin D. Roosevelt series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is March 9, 1933.
Location. 40° 41.211′ N, 74° 53.455′ W. Marker is in High Bridge, New Jersey, in Hunterdon County. Marker is on Voorhees Park Main Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: High Bridge NJ 08829, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Welcome to the Twp. of Lebanon (approx. 0.4 miles away); Voorhees State Park (approx. half a mile away); High Bridge and Longwood Valley Branch (approx. ¾ mile away); Hamlet of Readingsburg (approx. 0.8 miles away); Taylor Steelworkers Historic Greenway (approx. 0.8 miles away); Solitude Falls (approx. 0.8 miles away); Old Iron Mines (approx. 1.1 miles away); Lake Solitude and Taylor Falls (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in High Bridge.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2009, by Alan Edelson of Union Twsp., New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,434 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 11, 2009, by Alan Edelson of Union Twsp., New Jersey. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.