Camp Watoga,  Company 1525, S-52 & SP-5

Camp Watoga was occupied by CCC Company 1525 and located on what is now the maintenance building site of Watoga State Park. Company 1525 was operational from June,1933 to mid July of 1942, making it one of the longest periods of service by any CCC Camp in the state.

The mission of the Company, also designated as S-52 and then SP-5, was to assist in development of Watoga State Park. This the CCC company did with construction of buildings, trails and swimming pool. Also constructed was a dam to form an 11 acre lake. Many of the pieces of hardware for hinges , locks, etc; were made in the CCC blacksmith shop on site.

A small CCC museum at this popular park features tools and other memorabilia, along with a CCC statue and some original refurbished buildings that were used by the CCC.

Some images courtesy of Mitchell Opas Family Photo Collection.


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Overhead view of Camp Watoga Barracks in later photo. Note river in background.

Overhead view of Camp Watoga Barracks in later photo. Note river in background.





Inside look at one of the barracks.  Note the recessed ceilings which suggest a still later time of this photo.  Most barracks were constructed initially with open, exposed rafters. Later, after initial construction, housing refinements were gradually added to barracks in all or most camps around the state during nonscheduled work times - weekends or periods of inclement weather.

Inside look at one of the barracks at Camp Watoga.  Note the recessed ceilings which suggest a still later time of this photo.  Most barracks were constructed initially with open, exposed rafters. Later, after initial construction, housing refinements were gradually added to barracks in all or most camps around the state during nonscheduled work times - weekends or periods of inclement weather.


At Camp Watoga airport.  Camp Watoga was one of the few CCC camps accessible by air traffic in 1933.  This early airport photo of administrators visited Company 1525 to help create and approve the initial plan of work and evaluate the site locatin of Company 1525 on the Watoga campgrounds. The CCC Camp was less than 3 months old at the time, and no doubt the CCC enrollees were shelterd by tents, not barracks. Note the person with goggles (2nd from left).


At Camp Watoga airport.  Camp Watoga was one of the few CCC camps accessible by air traffic in 1933.  This early airport photo of administrators visited Company 1525 to help create and approve the initial plan of work and evaluate the site locatin of Company 1525 on the Watoga campgrounds. The CCC Camp was less than 3 months old at the time, and no doubt the CCC enrollees were shelterd by tents, not barracks.


Mitchell Opas in uniform.




Checking in.





Loading up.




Camp cook.


Forest Festival, Elkins West Virginia.





Peeling potatoes.





Taking a break.





Look "perty"



Constructing a road.





Original barracks today.
Original barracks today.




The old Watoga CCC gas pump station.
The old Watoga CCC gas pump station.




Education Certificate for Mitchell Opas.





Camp Watoga Newsletter (cover only)