Castile in Wyoming County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
CCC Camp 76, SP 37 at Work
Photographed By Bruce Kelly, August 4, 2021
1. CCC Camp 76, SP 37 at Work Marker
This sign is part of the Letchworth State Park CCC Legacy Pathway honoring the Civilian Conservation Corps (1933-1942), a federal works project designed to relieve unemployment and conserve natural resources during the Great Depression.
Over a two-year period, the men of St. Helena Camp 76, SP (State Park) 37 cut 15 miles of new trails with log and timber bridges, built the Gardeau Overlook and created the St. Helena Picnic area which included a shelter, stone tables, chestnut picnic tables, fireplaces and a large parking lot. Other projects included laying water and sewer lines, building stone walls, and constructing several miles of park roads including culverts and headwalls.
CCC work crews varied in size but were always led by a civilian foreman or assistant foreman. These Local Experienced Men (or L.E.M.s) were skilled in carpentry, forestry, masonry, or other tasks that were critical to the CCC projects. As they carried out the various projects, they also taught valuable skills and work habits to the CCC boys in their crews.
Erected 2021 by The CCC Legacy Pathway at Letchworth State Park was supported with funding from NYS Park and Trail Partnership Program (NYSPTPP) and the NYS Environmental Protection Fund. NYSPTPP is administered by Parks and Trails - New York,
this page online
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) series list.
Location. 42° 37.03′ N, 77° 59.801′ W. Marker is in Castile, New York, in Wyoming County. Marker can be reached from Upper St. Helena Road north of Park road, on the right when traveling north. Located in Letchworth State Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Castile NY 14427, 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. Site of St Helena Camp 76, SP 37 (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gardeau Tract (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Helena (approx. 0.2 miles away); Wolf Creek (approx. 0.7 miles away); Site of Camp 23, Sp 5 - Letchworth State Park's first camp (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Civilian Conservation Corps (approx. 1.2 miles away); Welcome to Big Bend Camp 23, SP 5 (approx. 1.2 miles away); Gardeau Overlook (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Castile.
Also see . . .
1. Letchworth State Park. New York State Parks, Recreation and
Photographed By Bruce Kelly, August 4, 2021
2. CCC Camp 76, SP 37 at Work Marker
Relocated picnic shelter is behind the marker
2. Letchworth State Park (Wikipedia). Wikipedia entry (Submitted on August 17, 2021, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
3. CCC Work Projects in Letchworth State Park at St Helena Camp SP-37 (in operation for 24 months). Park History website entry (Submitted on November 16, 2021, by Bruce Kelly of Perry, New York.)
Photographed By Bruce Kelly, August 4, 2021
3. Marker detail
CCC enrollees work on the St. Helena Shelter. Each CCC crew had a foreman overseeing the work. Completed in 1935, the shelter was relocated in 2018 due to bank erosion.
Photographed By Bruce Kelly, August 4, 2021
4. Marker detail
St. Helena's stone quarry crew prepares stones for various Park projects. This was one of two such quarries in the Park.
Photographed By Bruce Kelly, August 4, 2021
5. Marker detail
This group of men were civilian employees who worked at the St. Helena Camp. They included a project superintendent, education advisor, engineer, and L.E.M.S.
Photographed By Bruce Kelly, August 4, 2021
6. Marker detail
One of the Park's CCC road crews pose in this undated photograph. Although the camps had some power equipment, wheelbarrows and shovels were the main roadbuilding tools.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 11, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2021, by Bruce Kelly of Perry, New York. This page has been viewed 160 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 14, 2021, by Bruce Kelly of Perry, New York. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
