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Discovery Mid-America April 2010

1930s ‘stimulus package’ built Florida park

The Great Depression of the 1930s resulted in the nation’s first “stimulus package” — the Civilian Conservation Corps, often called the CCC. This army of unemployed men hired by the federal government built roads, bridges and public structures throughout the U.S., and played a big role in the development of America’s state and national parks.

One of the nine trails in Highlands Hammock State Park (photo by Ken Weyand)

The CCC not only provided income for thousands of young men and directed funds to their families, it resulted in the construction of conservation projects throughout the country. At its peak in 1935, more than a half-million men were working nationwide in 2,900 camps.

At Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring, FL, the CCC established a camp when land for the park was first acquired. The men constructed roads, water control structures and two buildings. One of their buildings is now used as a concession center, selling food, beverages, snacks and camping supplies. The former dormitory is currently a museum that shows visitors the contributions made by the CCC in Florida.

Since my wife and I “discovered” Highlands Hammock four years ago, we’ve visited it three times. We’ve hiked all nine trails at least once, and some of them several times.

One of the first four state parks in Florida, Highlands Hammock is located on about 9,100 acres of what conservationists describe as “cypress swamp, pine flatwoods, sand pine scrub, scrubby flatwoods, bayheads and marsh.”

The trails wind through each of these ecological areas, and a tram tour visits each area as well. A total of 159 campsites lay amid large oak trees, beneath branches festooned with bromeliads and Spanish moss. Horse and bicycle trails, playgrounds and picnic areas add to the amenities.

The 1,000-year-old oak, a favorite for park visitors (photo by Ken Weyand)

Visitors can see a giant oak tree estimated to be more than a thousand years old, walk on boardwalks that meander through cypress swamps and hardwood forest, and hike other trails that bring them close to every plant community. Native animals and birds are frequently seen, including ibis, anhinga, herons, egrets, otters, raccoons, opossums, turtles, and alligators. Florida panthers and black bears occasionally have been sighted passing through the area.

At the CCC museum, Richard Heaton, one of the museum volunteers, spoke of the park’s beginnings.

“Donald Roebling, the son of John Roebling from New Jersey who built the Brooklyn Bridge, was part of a group of men who were speculating on land in Highlands County in the 1920s. The group had bought 6,100 acres, intending to make a profit by turning it into productive farmland.

“Donald’s mother, Margaret, was an amateur botanist,” Heaton continued. “She insisted on keeping the property as it was, and wrote a check for $25,000 to buy the acreage. Later, she wrote another $25,000 check, with the provision that local citizens raise another $5,000, which they did.”

Another volunteer, Ian McDougall, added that by 1929, the banks were starting to demand full payment for the property, so the speculators were glad to unload their investment, making a “modest profit” and thereby preserving the land.

Mrs. Roebling died in 1930. “As a tribute to his wife,” McDougall said, “John Roebling donated more than $140,000 to develop the park.”

1930 photo shows CCC enrollees building “recreation building” that later became the park’s Hammock Inn restaurant. (photo courtesy Highlands Hammock State Park)

The CCC provided the muscle

The Civilian Conservation Corps, established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt for unemployed young men, operated between 1933 and 1942. The men lived in military-style camps and received $30 a month plus room and board, of that, $25 was sent home to their families.

Throughout the country, the CCC planted trees, fought fires, built public parks, restored historic structures and worked on levees to control erosion. The work of the CCC is evident in many current national park and state park facilities throughout the country.

In Florida, nearly 19 million trees were planted, 3,620 miles of trails and roads and 2,736 bridges were built over a period of nine years. More than 49,000 Florida men were put to work, earning their families more than $11 million. And the “stimulus plan,” supported by both political parties, developed eight state parks in Florida, of which Highlands Hammock was one of the first.

The museum was funded by the state. CCC alums furnished displays and archival materials, including photographs of the Corps at work. In the background, Roosevelt’s fireside chats and big band music can be heard. There’s a video of original CCC footage made in the 1930s, and a national map showing the extensive network of CCC camps.

By June 30, 1942, funding for the CCC was suspended, and the camps were closed. The country was at war, and many of the enrollees used their skills and training to excel as fighting men.

Highlands Hammock State Park is located west of Sebring at 5931 Hammock Rd. Admission to the museum is free to Highlands Hammock State Park visitors. Park admission is $6 per car. For more information call 863-386-6094 or visit www.FloridaStateParks.org.

Ken Weyand can be contacted at kweyand1@kc.rr.com

> Traveling with Ken Archive — past columns

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