Tracy City in Grundy County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Herman Baggenstoss and the CCC

Civilian Conservation Corps Company 1475, Camp S-67, Tracy City

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 22, 2025

1. Herman Baggenstoss and the CCC Marker

Inscription.

Herman Baggenstoss and the CCC. Civilian Conservation Corps Company 1475, Camp S-67, Tracy City. A vision for good , As Company 1475's Camp Superintendent, Tracy City native Herman E. Baggenstoss had a vision for what the company could do. Even in its early days, while the company was located in Palmer, Herman knew there were bigger projects the company could tackle in the southern end of the county., He mounted a fund-raising campaign among Tracy City businesses to purchase 211 acres near the head of the Fiery Gizzard watershed, and donated it to the State of Tennessee for use as a State Forest. By doing so, he created an opportunity to relocate Company 1475 to this site in June of 1935. From here, the CCC Boys could work on the ambitious project to transform the Lone Rock Coke Ovens, a coal processing facility, into what is now known as the Grundy Lakes area of South Cumberland State Park., Once the "Tracy Lakes" project, as it was then known, was completed, the company was relocated to a new site at the north end of Franklin State Forest, where it continued to do important work in the Sewanee area., Although the company was only located here for three years, Herman knew that purchasing this land and donating it to the State of Tennessee was a way to protect it from logging and future development. For decades after the CCC program ended, Herman, and others, continued to advocate for creation of a state park. Their efforts paid off in 1978, when South Cumberland State Park was created. This tract, along with Grundy Lakes - and Savage Gulf, in northern Grundy County - became the nucleus of the new park., Photo caption (bottom left): Herman Baggerators (above and right, standing) was a timeless advocate for conservation. Although he led the fund-raising effort to purchase this land for the CCC Camp, Herman's first desire was always to preserve this unique natural area forever. His wish became reality in 1978 when Grundy Forest became one of the first parcels of what is now Tennessee's largest state park , Photo caption (right, top, top): Part of the original survey of this property from the 1930s, clearly showing the location of Camp S-67. , Photo caption (right, top, middle): Ledger showing the donors, and their contributions, to the purchase of this property. Notice that the purchase is a result of interested business men in this section who have made it possible to create a nucleus for a state forest..." , Photo caption (top, right, bottom): The check used to purchase this 211-acre tract, signed by Herman Baggenstoss. , Photo caption (right, bottom, top): Herman in his Tracy City-office, ca. 1970. , Photo caption (right, bottom, middle): In the 1980s, Herman also organized a reunion for the CCC Boys of Company 1475. , Photo caption (right, bottom, bottom): Memorial to Herman in the Fiery Gizzard gorge

A vision for good
As Company 1475's Camp Superintendent, Tracy City native Herman E. Baggenstoss had a vision for what the company could do. Even in its early days, while the company was located in Palmer, Herman knew there were bigger projects the company could tackle in the southern end of the county.

He mounted a fund-raising campaign among Tracy City businesses to purchase 211 acres near the head of the Fiery Gizzard watershed, and donated it to the State of Tennessee for use as a State Forest. By doing so, he created an opportunity to relocate Company 1475 to this site in June of 1935. From here, the CCC Boys could work on the ambitious project to transform the Lone Rock Coke Ovens, a coal processing facility, into what is now known as the Grundy Lakes area of South Cumberland State Park.

Once the "Tracy Lakes" project, as it was then known, was completed, the company was relocated to a new site at the north end of Franklin State Forest, where it continued to do important work in the Sewanee area.

Although the company was only located here for three years, Herman knew that purchasing this land and donating it to

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the State of Tennessee was a way to protect it from logging and future development. For decades after the CCC program ended, Herman, and others, continued to advocate for creation of a state park. Their efforts paid off in 1978, when South Cumberland State Park was created. This tract, along with Grundy Lakes - and Savage Gulf, in northern Grundy County - became the nucleus of the new park.

Photo caption (bottom left): Herman Baggerators (above and right, standing) was a timeless advocate for conservation. Although he led the fund-raising effort to purchase this land for the CCC Camp, Herman's first desire was always to preserve this unique natural area forever. His wish became reality in 1978 when Grundy Forest became one of the first parcels of what is now Tennessee's largest state park

Photo caption (right, top, top): Part of the original survey of this property from the 1930s, clearly showing the location of Camp S-67.
Photo caption (right, top, middle): Ledger showing the donors, and their contributions, to the purchase of this property. Notice that the purchase is a result of interested business men in this section who

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 22, 2025

2. Herman Baggenstoss and the CCC Marker

have made it possible to create a nucleus for a state forest..."
Photo caption (top, right, bottom): The check used to purchase this 211-acre tract, signed by Herman Baggenstoss.
Photo caption (right, bottom, top): Herman in his Tracy City-office, ca. 1970.
Photo caption (right, bottom, middle): In the 1980s, Herman also organized a reunion for the CCC Boys of Company 1475.
Photo caption (right, bottom, bottom): Memorial to Herman in the Fiery Gizzard gorge

Erected by South Cumberland State Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Charity & Public Work.

Location. 35° 15.09′ N, 85° 45.133′ W. Marker is in Tracy City, Tennessee, in Grundy County. It is on Fiery Gizzard Road. Marker is located on the Grundy Day Loop Trail and can be accessed from the northern trailhead of the Fiery Gizzard Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 131 Fiery Gizzard Rd, Tracy City TN 37387, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau

and in the Highland Rim.

It is also in

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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: Keeping it Cool (within shouting distance of this marker); Life in Company 1475 (within shouting distance of this marker); Laundry and Leaders (within shouting distance of this marker); Grease and Discipline (within shouting distance of this marker); Camp Mess Hall, Kitchen and Well (within shouting distance of this marker); What Became of this Camp? (within shouting distance of this marker); Fire Towers and Fire Prevention (within shouting distance of this marker); Company Bath House and Latrine (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tracy City.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2025, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 124 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 30, 2025, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.