Tracy City in Grundy County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
The Civilian Conservation Corps and Grundy State Forest
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 22, 2025
1. The Civilian Conservation Corps and Grundy State Forest Marker
Men of the CCC know that feeling well. The Civilian Conservation Corps was launched April 5, 1933, as a move to alleviate distress caused by unemploymnet though the establishment of a chain of camps where young men would work on forest and park conservation projects and soil erosion on farms under the management of army personnel. They were paid $30 per month, of which $25 was sent home. They also received housing, food, medical, and dental care as well as educational benefits.
The young men of the CCC who served in this area and 76 other CCC camps throughout Tennessee are part of the "CCC" legacy in Tennessee. We hope these historical monuments will promote among Tennesseans and the nation an understanding and appreciation for the work the CCC did and the philosophy of conserving our natural and cultural resources.
In our nine year existence, we labored to beautify your land and we pass it into your hands. The preservation of this country will remain strong
this page online
to the honor and memory of
the three million members who served in the
Civilian Conservation Corps
1933-1942
Tennessee National Association of
Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni
(NACCCA)
See backside
Company 1475 Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) state camp P62 moved from Palmer, Tennessee, to Grundy State Forest, a 211 acre tract on the Big Fiery Gizzard Creek in 1933.
The land was purchased from the Tennessee Land Company for $440.00 by the Grundy County Forestry Association with funds raised by public subscription from Grundy County citizens and camp personnel.
Project superintendents:
June 1932-September 1932
Herman E. Baggenstoss - Tracy City, Tennessee
September 1932 - August 1936
William V. Lightfoot - Dickson, Tennessee
September 1936 - 1942
The CCC projects were under the supervision of the Tennessee Division of
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 22, 2025
2. The Civilian Conservation Corps and Grundy State Forest Marker
Work included a network of fire observatino towers, a telephone system, a system of truck trails, the dams at Grundy Lake, fighting forest fires in five counties, rescue work, and tree planting on erosion projects.
The early work of the CCC Company 1475 led to the creation of the South Cumberland Recreation Area in 1972 which include this tract of land, the Grundy Forest, Grundy lakes, Forester Falls, Sewanee Natural Bridge, Franklin-Marion Forest, Buggy Top Cave, The Great Stone Door, Savage Guld Natural Area, Greeter Falls, and a trail system of 100 miles of hiking trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Charity & Public Work. In addition, it is included in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 5, 1933.
Location. 35° 15.114′ N, 85° 44.846′ W. Marker is in Tracy City, Tennessee, in Grundy County. It is on Fiery Gizzard Road, in the median. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 131 Fiery Gizzard Rd, Tracy City TN 37387, United States of America.
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 22, 2025
3. The Civilian Conservation Corps and Grundy State Forest Marker
Regionally, this marker is in Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau and in the Highland Rim. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Schoolhouse Branch Moonshine Still (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Laundry and Leaders (approx. Ό mile away); Herman Baggenstoss and the CCC (approx. Ό mile away); Company Bath House and Latrine (approx. 0.3 miles away); Life in Company 1475 (approx. 0.3 miles away); What Became of this Camp? (approx. 0.3 miles away); Keeping it Cool (approx. 0.3 miles away); Barracks Area (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tracy City.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2025, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 114 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 30, 2025, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
