Genesee Falls in Wyoming County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Lower Falls Camp SP-49
Letchworth State Park
Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, July 24, 2014
1. Lower Falls Camp SP-49 Marker
Inscription.
Lower Falls Camp SP-49. Letchworth State Park. On this field stood the 24 buildings of Camp SP-49, one of four Civilian Conservation Corps camps in Letchworth State Park. In operation from July 1935 until October 1941, Camp SP-49 included a tree nursery of over 30,000 plants for use in landscaping the park. From 1944 until 1946, the camp housed German prisoners of war. After the war, the camp was razed for the construction of the Lower Falls Pool, which opened in 1950.
Many of the men who served in camp SP-49 went off to fight in World War II. The barracks, which they had built and lived in, were pressed into service as shelters for prisoners of war.
During World War II, the Camp SP-49 barracks were used to house German prisoners of war. This tie pin from a German military uniform was one of many items found after the barracks were taken down at the war's end.
On this field stood the 24 buildings of Camp SP-49, one of four Civilian Conservation Corps camps in Letchworth State Park. In operation from July 1935 until October 1941, Camp SP-49 included a tree nursery of over 30,000 plants for use in landscaping the park. From 1944 until 1946, the camp housed German prisoners of war. After the war, the camp was razed for the construction of the Lower Falls Pool, which opened in 1950.
Many of the men who served in camp SP-49 went off to fight in World War II. The barracks, which they had built and lived in, were pressed into service as shelters for prisoners of war.
During World War II, the Camp SP-49 barracks were used to house German prisoners of war. This tie pin from a German military uniform was one of many items found after the barracks were taken down at the war's end.
Location. 42° 35.475′ N, 78° 0.644′ W. Marker is in Genesee Falls, New York, in Wyoming County. Marker is on Cabin Areas A and B Road, 1.2 miles
Click or scan to see this page online
east of the north-south main Park Road, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located within Letchworh State Park. Marker is on the road to cabin areas A and B and the CCC statue. It is not a through road. The road to the marker is off the main north-south park road between the Visitor Center and the Castile Entrance to the park. Pass cabin area B and the closed swimming pool. It is before cabin area A. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Castile NY 14427, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Many of the men who served in Camp SP-49 went off to fight in World War II. The barracks, which they had built and lived in, were pressed into service as shelters for prisoners of war.
Photographed By Bruce Kelly, August 31, 2021
3. Lower Falls Camp SP-49 Marker
Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, July 24, 2014
4. Lower Falls Camp SP-49 Marker
Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, July 24, 2014
5. Lower Falls Camp SP-49 Marker
From the main park road, the CCC statue/Cabin Areas A&B road comes from the background into this view. The closed pool and a playground are beyond the marker on the right in this view. The cars parked at the left are in front of the CCC statue.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 4, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 473 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on August 3, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. 2, 3. submitted on September 1, 2021, by Bruce Kelly of Perry, New York. 4, 5. submitted on August 3, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
