STRONGS CCC CAMP Traditional Cache
yooper47: Great place to visit, will now have new people taking care of this cache. Will have a new name and new location due to the fact that someone takes this cache.
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(regular)
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Take the time to look around the cache area. Old sidewalks, footings and cement pads can be found within 300 feet. Should be an easy drive and find.
Civilian Conservation Camp
Camp Strongs 668
Camp Strongs, located on Forest Road 3142, just south of Strongs, Michigan. Established in May 3rd of 1933, one day after the camp in Raco, Michigan was opened. The camps slogan was “We can do it.” By November of 1933 barracks to house the men had been erected and they were able to eat their Thanksgiving dinner indoors. This camp was organized with 206 men largely from Detroit. The ten group leaders were to receive $45 per month, 16 lieutenants $36 per month and the balance of the men $30. Twenty-five dollars was sent home and the camp worker could keep $5 to spend on cigarettes, candy, magazines and even a glass of beer.
The Strongs camp had everything from a fireplace in the dinning hall to ping pong tables in the recreation room. The men also built a 200 square foot rink at the camp for ice skating and hockey. A camp newspaper was published, “The Northlander” and published three times per month. The boys did all their own cooking and baking except for bread which was provided by Fort Brady for all the camps.
A telephone line was built to connect with the Demond Hill Fire Station and then to the Raco Ranger Station. The men also collected over 600 bushels of pine tree cones from 1933 to 1935 to be sent to government nurseries. Stream improvements were made on the East Branch of the Tahquamenon River and the camp ground at Three Lakes was developed and improved. Plantations were also started. One example is 1 ½ miles east of the Strongs intersection on the south side of M-28 where a red pine plantation was started. This plantation has been thinned three times already. Also at Soldier Lake Campground, east of Strongs, you will see a log shelter that was constructed by CCC enrollees.
The Stongs CCC Camp was discontinued in May of 1941 and the Indian CCC camp moved to the Strongs facility. The Indian CCC camp was originally about 8 miles north of Eckerman and was the only Native American CCC camp in Michigan.
In 1945 the buildings of this camp were placed for sale. One of those buildings was purchased by the Eckerman church and became the first church to be located there.
Other CCC camps in the local district were located at Newberry, Pine River, Dunbar and Brevort. In 1933 there were 1500 CCC Camps throughout the nation.
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