CCC: SIX MONTHS IN GARDEN VALLEY (excerpt)
CCC: SIX MONTHS IN GARDEN VALLEY (excerpt)
edited by Elmo Richardson
Idaho Yesterdays Summer, 1967Excerpt of diary by Donald Tanasoca, West New York, New Jersey.
... By 8:30 that morning we cross the state lines and slipt into Idaho. For the first time during the journey there appeared before us the true west. Hills and plateaus flanked our route on both sides. Once we cawt a glimpse of the deer herd. The deer ran meekly to cover in sagebrush as the iron horse passed.... Sheep became more numerous as the train penetrated Idaho. They dotted the slopes like many grey and white rocks.... Out of nowhere popped a fairy town, one of the most charming places of the entire journey... Lava Hot Springs... Nestled ever so comfortably among the surrounding mountains... Summer seemed to be the season there.... As we left it we realized it was part of our world... All day we traveled thru picturesk Southern Idaho. We were excited knowing that our journey was almost at an end.
At four next morning we were awakened by the porter. We had reached our destination. Banks, Idaho!... I could hardly wait for the dawn in order to see what kind of country we were in... As soon as possible I climbt off the train... I noticed that it was unusually cold... I could see the outline of the mountains on all sides. In the darkness I heard the roar of a river below... We were in timber country. There was no mistake about that... Looking behind me I saw that Banks was only a railroad stop with the post office behind the station and four other houses in sightt. Here was isolation.... The baggage truck departed first and we got into three trucks with seats built around the edge. We huddled together in the open vehicles for it was cold... The scattered farms were very picturesk in the early morning. We entered a place with about 10 buildings and passed thru it before getting a good look. I learnt that it was the town of Crouch, and the nearest one to our camp.... Suddenly we beheld the camp... One of the boys on the troop train who had been to camp befor had said the first sight of the CCC camp was the most discouraging of all things.... It was astonishing to see as we alighted... The group of boys standing about with only shirt and pants on, gazing curiously at us. They manifested no sign of being cold while we were dressed heavily and still felt it. I wondered if I would ever be able to do the same. One thing I was certain about was a tremendous appetite... I never enjoyed food more than on that morning. After breakfast we were told to find bunks in any of the three first barracks... We had the remainder of the morning free; and my friend I wandered about camp gazing at what would be our home for six months. Contrary to first impression we found that the camp had a beautiful site... Beautiful mountains adorned with majestic pines rose at the other side of a clear and cold flowing stream just below the edge of the camp. This stream I soon heard was the Payette River, and the forest we were in bore the same name.
... The next day to my delight I discovered the camp library. I had been looking forward to the library, and knew that it would be one of my greatest consolations while in camp... Thru the bulletin board I discovered that my friend and I were on the list to do table waiting. They didn't waste any time in camp I could see... Those first few days wern't too encouraging. So many unpleasant things that happened. This was probably the main cause of homesickness which I noticed so plainly in many boys. They lay silently in their bunks with blank countenances... We were glad to learn that starting the first of the week we would be assigned to work crews. Most of us were eager to begin... The old-timers laughed and predicted that we would soon regret ever beginning work... We had to listen to several lectures on camp regulations, safety and a proper use of tools. Most of these speeches were designed to discourage anyone with ideas of deserting, and a show the feasibility of serving the full-time which led to an honorable discharge.... One morning we were given actual demonstrations on the use and proper way to carry the ax and saw. We were all given a chance to chop and saw. I failed miserably when it came my chance.... The annoying part was not failing befor the rest of the boys but being unable to do it properly for I had used in ax many times befor. I consoled my pride by chopping after by myself in doing it with the greatest at ease... We tried to escape from camp is often as we could. We even across the river again. From this indiscretion I bruised my toe and cawt a bad cold. The cold prevented by leaving camp on Saturday night in the others went to Crouch on the weekly recreation trip.... We weren't the only ones remaining in camp tho; many were broke and had to stay as they couldn't afford the admission to the movie in town...
In the barracks when we returned the boys were entertaining with feats of strength, acrobatics and so on... There were four barracks in our camp, each sheltering approximately 50 boys. Fifty boys were a lot of company, and I knew that I would never know but a small part of them closely enough to call friends... The race prejudice that existed was disgraceful and hateful to anybody firmly believing in a democratic state or tolerant Christian teachings. The Jewish boys (three of them) were hitlerized. All of them tried to mind their own affairs and were friendly, but just because they were from a certain race they had to suffer the cruelty meted out to them by a few bigoted morons. They finally escaped this persecution by moving to another barrack... My friend who'd been rather anti-semantic all along changed his mind when he saw all these injustices take place...
The first day of work was a new experience. At 8 o'clock that morning the work whistle blue, and we all lined up in front of our barracks in our new blue denim work clothes waiting to go to work. The top kick, as the sergeant is called, selected different groups of men and sent them down to the forestry station where the were garages and trucks were. I was one of 25 others and piled into an open truck awaiting us. It was very cold that morning... I thawt we would never reach our work grounds. Finally after riding about 25 miles we stopt, and got off stiff and cold. The spot we reached was off the main highway along the bottom of a mountain. Tools were distributed, the few that there were, and we learnt that our job was to clear away brush and trees to make a road which would lead to a park when completed. The labor was very tedious. Those who had axes and tools went to work with beginner's zest. My friend and I were among the tooless ones and had work with our hands piling up cut brush for burning. To those of us who had expected an ax or saw it was very disappointing... We returned to camp at 4 o'clock, very hungry after seven hours of outdoor work. That evening for dinner we had venison. It was my first taste of deer meet. The deer have been killed a few days back by somebody from camp. If I hadn't known that it was venison I would have thought that I had just eaten tough roast beef.... That was the beginning of my CCC life. The following days were practically the same routine. We made advancement in our road building work, and the job became more interesting as we saw what we were accomplishing... I was becoming harder, more rugged. I could actually feel my muscles expanding. I attribute this to working on the saw. Billy and I were partners and made a good combination. I liked to watch the saw eat thru the log, for slowly then more rapidly as a certain type rhythm was acquired. The cut in the logs spit dust as the saw hummed thru with a sonorous sound. That was the beauty of sawing.
All in all this life seemed to agree with me. It was lonely, yet peaceful and soothing. It was a good change from the noisy city life. I realize that not everyone felt the same. My friend was one. He couldn't reconcile himself to this quiet existence. He missed the New York atmosphere tremendously. I missed it also, but liked the change too... There were many others who regretted their CCC enlistment. They were used to city life and all the conveniences found there... I noticed that the majority of old-timers in our camp counted the remaining days of their enlistment religiously every day. Their first words each morning would announce how many days more to go... Our job paid thirty dollars a month. Out of this we received eight for ourselves; 22 dollars went home for parents, guardians or other allotees. However, a few of the enrollees had their money put on deposit for themselves, and received this money at the end of their enrollment...
One Saturday night Billy and I decided to see Crouch. We were anxious to see the little town and also enjoy a movie. It was a very chilly ride, having to sit in an open truck... Billy and I went into the general store first -- the only store in town. The word general was inadequate in describing the store. There was everything to be bawt here. It was a grocery, butcher shop, Five and Ten, dry goods, hardware, drugstore, stationery, saloon, sporting, hardware, drugstore, stationery, saloon, sporting, shoe store all combined. Including the numerous slot machines it was also gambling house. From this emporium we crossed the tour road to the saloon across awaiting drank a few beers. Here too the slot machines were in every available space. The theater or movie house was a barn like building used as a gym when pictures were shown. We sat on benches while the film was focused on the improvised screen at the rear of the gym. We enjoyed the picture thoroly. It was more fun than sitting in Radio City. Bob Burns was the star of the film and by the enthusiasm of the crowd he seemed to be a favorite of this western crowd who were seated with the CCC boys...
One morning I went to work with swollen glands and a sore throat. I had gone to the camp medico but was told to go to work and the infection would pass away naturally. I'll remember that day because it was one of the most miserable I ever experienced... In the evening I had chills and fever and went to the infirmary again. This time he obeyed and believed thermometer, and I was put to bed directly... In my judgment the doctor was still a guessing interne. The lacked confidence and experience, and the boys in the camp knew it very well... I tried to eat but the food wasn't fit for a patient. It made me s. I tried to nap but the continual stream of visitors made the infirmary seem like a thorofare. The doctor had gone out of camp for the day and had given his instructions to the incompetent, indifferent and even insolent assistant. He did nothing to make us comfortable and only acted when he was threatened. The sooner I got out, I realized, the better... Returning to work I saw the progress made during my absence. The work fields were considerably advanced down the road toward the forest boundary line. I went to work with new zeal. The rest I had while in the infirmary had done me good. I appreciated the woods and all evidences of nature more sincerely too. It was good feeling well again...
The old-timers, whose time was up, were leaving the 22nd of the month. Their last evening in camp was an exciting one. This time the situation was reversed. Now was the rooky's chance for revenge. In our barrack we took the precaution of upsetting our own beds befor the action began... the beds of those absent or all over the barrack, some on the floor, others pending from the rafters... It was a hectic night... The next morning everybody arose tired and looking the worse for the previous night's pandemonium... After a lot of hand shaking and farewells, they carried their trunks to the baggage trucks and left for the train and home. About forty had left. Their leaving was an enviable site and a welcome one also. It meant our time was all the nearer when we would catch that eastbound train for home... The rookies had been expected in camp on January 18th but didn't arrive till almost a week later. We had been looking forward to their arrival ever since the old-timers had departed... We were tired of looking at each other's faces. We wanted new faces, new personalities and news firsthand from the east. Perhaps too, we wanted to take advantage of the green horns by playing tricks and acting ourselves sofisticated, if there is any sofistication possible in such a life is this... The welcome given was enthusiastic, sarcastic and derisive. I can see been climbing from the back of the trucks, their blue mackinaws buttoned tightly, collars high. They seemed to be a bewildered and rather disappointed herd of boys. I realized then how we looked on arrival... The work whistle sounded as we found where they had come from: sons of New York and New Jersey...
Pay day, our last in camp, involved something more than money this time. We had to declare while being paid whether we were signing over or going home. My mind had been made up when I first join ed the c's. Six months and no more! The majority with whom I had come were of the same opinion... The whether had a lot to do with my disposition. February had been an ordeal, days of cold and dejection for the whole camp. Idaho lost all of its attraction for me then...
... Come the dawn, March 22nd, the day we had waited almost six months for. Everybody showed the sleeplessness of the night befor... I said my quick farewells to my friends who went to work at the regular time. I realized how they felt at our departure. I had seen it happen myself. They wouldn't miss us so much, but they envied our going home... The ride to the trains was a dusty one. We passed familiar scenes all along and realized that we might never see them again. It was really beautiful country, and the clear day made it all the more memorable. We gave a cheer as we passed the small town for the last time... We had often song songs about [the eastbound train] and there it was at last: "CC boy your time is nearing to catch that eastbound train for home..." There was something almost incredible about riding eastward. Like a dream... And the feeling I know was contagious thruout the troop train... Just then at dusk we passed a CCC camp. How isolated was. There was not a tree in sight and the only vegetation was sagebrush. Compared to it our camp was a paradise. As we passed the camp the boys must have been aware of the troop train for they cheered us as we went by...
Now that I am home again and look back at the six months, there are certain things which come to mind making it clear for me to understand the meaning of the Civilian Conservation Corps. I don't think I could have spent six months of my life more profitably anywhere. It's an indelible experience in a young man's life. The fysical benefits alone were worth my enrollment. I emerged stronger, hardier and proud of a better body. I would never discourage anyone wishing to join the c's. It's no place for anyone without the determination to take it and benefit by it. It makes a man out of anybody with guts. The outdoor life is healthy and inspiring. The city boy learns that the world is larger than just the city. This contact with nature and association with other boys broadens the mind and gives a deeper insight into life. CC life teaches a person to be independent and shows the value of money. It gives boys time to think and plan a career in their minds. The C's had its faults too, but its virtues far outweigh them. I sincerely believe that the C's has done more to rehabilitate and restore confidence in American youth than any other organization ever existing. It is the young man's best friend when his out of a job and low in spirit... America should thank President Roosevelt for the Civilian Conservation Corps.