Near Castlewood in Hamlin County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Civilian Conservation Corps Camp

Camp DSE-224 Poinsett located on the east bank of Dry Lake

— Companies: 2751- August 4, 1934 to October 20, 1934 —

Civilian Conservation Corps Camp Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Connor Olson, July 19, 2022

1. Civilian Conservation Corps Camp Marker

Inscription. The Civilian Conservation Corps was a federal relief program during 1933-1942 that gave jobless men work renovating abused lands. The Army built 48 200-man camps in South Dakota and provided food, clothing, medical care, pay and programs of education, recreation and religion for 23,709 war veterans and enrollees (single men aged 17-25 who sent $25 of their $50 wage to their families). Camps and work projecis were supervised by another 2834 men. The Office of Indian Affairs sponsored the CCC-ID for South Dakota Tribes, housing 8405 men in youth boarding camps, home camps, and family camps.

Camp DSE-224 was one of thirteen camps established in South Dakota during 1934 to help combat the effects of the deep drought, severe dust storms, and depression. Company 2751, a newly organized company, arrived by train at Lake Norden at 5 am August 4. By night it had moved bags and baggage for 236 men and three army reserve officers to the camp site and erected the mess tent - the first unit of the tent camp. Soon the men started to develop the Hamlin County chain of lakes. They raised some shorelines to maintain a uniform level of water in all six lakes. They dug a channel that connected Dry Lake with Lake Poinsett while a sidecamp near Lake Mary did the same for it and Lake Norden. The company left by train

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from Estelline at 9:30 am October 20.

Erected 1992 by CCC Alumni, The South Dakota State Historical Society, and The South Dakota Departnent of Transportation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is August 4, 1934.

Location. 44° 36.167′ N, 97° 3.301′ W. Marker is near Castlewood, South Dakota, in Hamlin County. It is on 192nd Street (State Highway 28) near North Lake Drive, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Castlewood SD 57223, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East River.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hamlin Co. (a few steps from this marker); Historic Area (approx. 5 miles away); Laketon Post Office / Oakwood Post Office (approx. 6.6 miles away); Reflections Memorial Park (approx. 7.6 miles away); South Dakota Central Railroad (approx. 7.7 miles away); Estelline Bandstand and Gazebo Park (approx. 7.8 miles away); Larry D. Steffensen (approx. 7.8 miles away); Armed Services Memorial (approx. 7.9 miles away).

Photographed by Connor Olson, July 19, 2022

2. Civilian Conservation Corps Camp Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2022, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 238 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 20, 2022, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.