Genesee Falls in Wyoming County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Lower Falls Camp SP-49

Letchworth State Park

By Anton Schwarzmueller, July 24, 2014

1. Lower Falls Camp SP-49 Marker

Inscription. 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.

Erected by Letchworth State Park.

Marker series. This marker is included in the Civilian Conservation Corps marker series.

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 east of the north-south main Park Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is

By Anton Schwarzmueller, July 24, 2014

2. Lower Falls Camp SP-49 Marker

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. Marker is in this post office area: Castile NY 14427, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. CCC Statue (within shouting distance of this marker); William Pryor Letchworth 1823 - 1910 (approx. 1.2 miles away); Civil War Parade Ground (approx. 1.2 miles away); Camp Portage (approx. 1.2 miles away); First New York Dragoons / 136th New York Infantry (approx. 1.2 miles away); Genesee Valley Canal (approx. 1.3 miles away); Wolf Creek (approx. 1½ miles away); This Ancient Seneca Council House (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Genesee Falls.

Also see . . .
1. Letchworth State Park - New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. (Submitted on August 3, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)
2. Exploring Letchworth State Park History. (Submitted on August 3, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)

Categories. • Charity & Public Work • War, World II •

By Anton Schwarzmueller, July 24, 2014

3. 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 June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on August 3, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 241 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 3, 2014, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.