Thomas S Cook

Civilian Conservation Corps in Letchworth State Park Thomas S Cook

Letchworth State Park, located in the Genesee Valley of western New York State, is renowned for its natural beauty, scenic roads, trails, and recreational facilities. Created from the private estate of William Pryor Letchworth in 1907, the park quickly grew in size and popularity. A series of ambitious expansion and development plans were under way when the Great Depression struck, threatening the park's future. That future was restored when President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps brought hundreds of young men to the four CCC camps established in the park. From 1933 to 1941, they worked on cabins, roads, and other projects, while strengthening their bodies, minds, and futures. Their legacy is still enjoyed by thousands of park visitors today. The Civilian Conservation Corps in Letchworth State Park explores the stories of these camps, as well as the CCC "boys" and their legacy, through vintage photographs, camp and area newspapers, official reports, and the memories of CCC veterans.