On July 4, 5, 6 the Tygart Valley Homestead community south of Elkins, WV will be celebrating a reunion/homecoming of this homestead residential community's past and present residents who lived and grew up during the Great Depression in this Arthurdale-like original community of neatly maintained homes. The event is open to the public.
Major activities will take place at the Homestead School where CCC board members Charlie Piercy, Pat Piercy and Shirley Bingman will display a large collection of CCC memorabilia on loan from our CCC camp museum.
Back in the 1930's, many CCC enrollees across the country were vital in support of homestead communities, including this one. They built access roads, worked on brick-laying, roofing, plumbing and other facilities in these Arthurdale-like homes. These CCC Boys who helped the Tygarts Valley group, operated out of Camp Tygart at Dailey, WV. For those who will be in the area, please stop by; view the memorabilia and say hello to these dedicated CCC Museum Association board members and all the the other persons on hand for the homecoming programs.
Thanks to the dedicated hard work of the daughter of Mrs. John (Tammy) Burge, Girl Scout Counselor in the Parkersburg, WV area and a Life Member of our Association, there is now a separate badge opportunity that honors the original Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
Kaylin Burge, a nine year old Girl Scout with her mother as advisor, conceived the idea for the badge activity. She then developed and wrote the project guidelines in Spring, 2008 and sent the guidelines and CCC subject matter materials to the Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council which then approved it for use as a troop-only trial project. It is hoped that this important badge project will grow in popularity, evolve and spread the message about the CCC legacy. We hope this initial first step will become a state-wide, and hopefully, national Girl Scout CCC badge activity. Kaylin did this as a project to earn her Bronze Award.
This first group of Girl Scouts to ever earn the CCC badge will culminate their activities with a trip to the WV CCC camp museum in July 2008.
Kaylin also designed the badge. Her grandfather, Woodrow Mace, told stories of building a dam, bridges, trails and other projects with the CCC's prior to entering the Navy and serving in WWII. Neither the depression nor the CCCs were being taught in school so Kaylin, only 7 at the time, wanted to create a Girl Scout badge so other girls could learn about the CCC's and all their work.
Click here for associated news article.
The reunion will be held this year at the forest on September 14, 2008. Ms. Rita Dale is the contact person. Her phone number is (304) 755-4650. Please call her in the evening or on weekends. The reunion is always held on the second Sunday in September.
The next Camp Anthony Wayne and Camp Twelve Pole reunion will take place on August 23, 2008. The reunion is open to all interested. For further information, please contact Bonnie Watts at bonniewatts@cabwaylingo.com.
This event is set for October 18 at the Quiet Dell Methodist Church across from the Museum. There will be a great meal as usual and good old country music. The cost is still $10.00. Please bring one or two items for our auction which will benefit the Museum.
Please send your registration by October 10 to Dr. Bob Anderson at address at bottom of this page. Also Dr. Anderson can be reached via email at wvacccma@hotmail.com.
Conservation Awareness
CCC Camp Museum Needs More Funding
Membership in CCC Life Changing
Remember the CCC
Frederick History Hero
Making Men out of Boys
PBS CCC Special
State Set to Mark CCC Anniversary
Donations for CCC Museum
Funds Donated
CCC Day Proclaimed
CCC Museum Expands
Remembering the CCC
Then and Now
Raymond Daugherty
For information, please contact Rita Dale at 304-755-4650 or write her at 3 Riverside Glen, Winfield, WV 25213.
Contact Bob Anderson for information about these events, membership and other aspects of the CCC Museum Association.
Or, send an email:
wvacccma@hotmail.com