Did you know that Newburyport had a beneficial association with the Civilian Conservation Corps during The Great Depression? People were out of work, some families were suffering greatly, and many had reached a point of losing hope. Then, along came the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC was a blessing to many families of Newburyport.
Let me tell you how Newburyport fared with the CCC during The Great Depression. At least, 30 percent of the country, Newburyport included, had no work at all. Cold, hunger, depression were commonplace; people were losing their final hope. I am a witness to that.
President Franklin S. Roosevelt created a program to help this desperate situation in America. The program was called "The Civilian Conservation Corps" or "The CCC."
It was 1934. I was only 14 years old and clearly remember standing before the break of dawn with men lined up looking for work at the lower level of the Newburyport City Hall by the side door on Green Street. We were all waiting for that door to open, so we could sign up for acceptance into the CCC. They took me because of family need. We were told to jump up into a big dump truck. The adventure had begun!
From there, the truck loaded with men was driven to the Newburyport depot, where we boarded a Boston and Maine train. That train then took us to places unknown, making it's first stop inside an Army building in Boston. It amazed me that a building was large enough for a train to go into it. The building contained a huge Army mess hall. There, we received a plate of beans and bread.
After a few hours, we boarded a train. Everyone was silent and confused. We knew not where we were headed.
The train stopped. We discovered we were at Fort Devens in Ayer. We were herded into a building where we were issued uniforms of World War I soldiers — khaki, scratchy woolens and the so-called "Mae West" jacket. Next, we lined up for a tailor to adjust our "new" uniforms. All complained that the shoes were too large. The tailor charged less than a dollar for all "suit" alterations, i.e., 15 cents for a hem, 10 cents for each cuff, 5 cents for a button. Later, our clothes were returned. The clothing adjustments would be payable at the end of the month when deducted from our pay.
After the tailoring session, we were moved in a group over to the World War I army barracks. There, they gave us a cot, a blanket, a canteen and a work uniform. That first night, we received orientation by a barracks leader and an army sergeant. We went through orientation.
On day two, breakfast was a tasty chipped beef on toast. After that breakfast, we were told we were there to work, clear land, build roadways, dig ditches, plant trees and build a small chapel in the pines of the Monadnock Mountain range. We did so. We cleared the land, planted thousands of trees, built gravel roadways for the benefit of farmers and created scenic views. We opened up the spectacular views of Mt. Monadnock and completed construction of a chapel in the pines as it stands today. After World War II, our chapel in the pines was enlarged and became known as The Cathedral in the Pines, where people visit, conduct marriages ceremonies and renew wedding vows. It is located in the Annette State Park, in New Hampshire.
Daily, the CCC boys of Camp 1178 worked long and hard in the Monadnock mountains, outside a small town called East Jaffrey, N.H. I lived and worked there for several months and turned 15 while in the CCC.
At the end of the first work month, the bugle sounded, and we heard, "Line up! Paymaster is here!" How happy I was! At last, my first CCC paycheck! I expected to receive $30.
However, they told me that $25 had already been sent home to my mother and sisters. I agreed to that but expected to still receive my five dollars.
Startled, I was informed I also owed the Canteen $4.85, and he pushed one nickel and one dime toward me. I hesitated and wanted an explanation, but quickly changed my mind when the sergeant came along and told me, "move on." From then on, it was 15 cents a month, and I was glad to get it.
Many Newburyport families were very grateful for the opportunity to serve in the Civilian Conservation Corps, which ultimately prepared me for service in World War II and a very new and different life.
Did you know there were many famous men who served in the CCC? Walter Matthau, Ed McMahon, Frank Sinatra and, of course, yours truly, were all CCC boys.
I endured being a CCC boy and am proud of the CCC and their many accomplishments. I am what I am, and that's all that I am.
God bless America and the CCC!
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John Lagoulis is a graduate of NHS Class of 1938, who lives in Salisbury. He served in the CCC in 1934 and is a combat veteran of World War II. John is a nonagenarian (90 years old) and enjoys sharing his various recollections of life in Newburyport during the early 20th century.
