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First Senior Foreman.
Now just a word about our first C.C.C. Senior Foreman, or "Top Kick" as
he is often referred to. The Senior Foreman was Clifford B.
Oberly. Prior to his entrance in the Civilian Conservation Corps he
served as an athletic director at the Greenburg Y. He was an amateur
boxer and wrestler. During his period of service at this Camp, no one
ever defeated him in boxing or ever threw him in a wrestling match. He
weighed about 235 lbs., and it was no trouble at all for him to pick an
ordinary man one foot off the floor with one hand. In spite of his
ability to put any- one in place by physical force, if necessary, he
was well liked by the men over whom he worked.
General Remarks.
From this time on, very few items of any interest occurred, but I will
state the various events of interest, in this final summary of the
period, May 30, 1934 to the present time.
The first project
completed by the members was the Joerg run road, a fire trail, about
two miles long.
On July 10, 1934 the
original members of this Company were given compulsory discharge,
having served the maximum amount of time permitted then. It was with
much regret that we, the original members of this Company left, after
watching this Camp grow up out of what was just an old railroad bed,
covered with brush.
With the departure of
the original members of this Company, the key positions were filled
with members of the first and second replacements. I returned about the
middle of August 1934, and found the camp greatly improved over the
place I had left about a month before.
The first death in the
Company occurred on Nov. 24, 1934, when William H. 10inger passed away,
and the only other death occurred on January 4, 1935, when Donald Hart
died.
On January 6, 1935,
our first fire occurred, when the mess stewards quarters caught fire,
but due to the quick action of the members of the Company, the damage
was held to a minimum.
On February 6, 1935,
our bathhouse caught fire, about 12:30 a.m. The damage in this fire was
a little more than the one in the steward's quarters, but due to the
well organized fire-fighting details of the Camp, the fire was
extinguished in less than twenty minutes. The damage done required a complete new section of the building to be re-
placed. During the fire, before it could be extricated, the safety
valve on the chlorine tank let go, and the escaping fumes stopped the
members in their efforts to extinguish the fire. The Senior Foreman,
Lee R. Verry, received a bad dose of the fumes, and was quickly treated
by our Doctor. Under the direction of the Officers, the members of the
Forest Service and the members of the Company, the fire was soon
extinguished. As a result of the fire, it was necessary for the members
of the Company, the fire was soon extinguished. As a result of the
fire, it was necessary for the members to wash in the creek, and often
the ice had to be broken first. On the evening of March 6, 1935, the
members decided that they should go to bed with their clothes on, due
to the two previous unlucky 6ths, and then they would be ready for
quick action, but nothing happened.
From this time on
things have been running about the same, without any particular
outstanding occurrences to mention, so I will close this article,
hoping that all of you derive as much as I did from my period of
service at Camp S-87, Ole Bull Castle Site.
OLE BULL CAMP
When we entered this camp, we
thought it bad,
We never realized the advantages we had.
Some things here I'll admit aren't so hot,
But we should be thankful for what we've got.
The sports 'tis true, there's not very much,
But we have fishing, swimming, baseball and such.
In the evening there's a Rec Hall, a Library too,
To provide entertainment and education for you.
Don't hold it against he who gives extra duty,
Do it like a man, he must do his duty.
Show your friends you can take it on the chin,
Show that you are proud of the camp you are in.
Each Foreman has a separate crew,
Each one has a special job to do.
Mr. Mackey has the Stock Surveying crew,
Mr. McFadden has the engineering to do,
Mr. Laporta builds dams to reserve the fish,
Mr. Taylor builds roads to go where you wish.
Mr. Moran has the sign making to do,
Mr. Graham built the beach with the help of his crew,
In the winter we work on Fire Hazard Reduction,
In the summer we work on road and bridge construction.
Now you are in this camp for a period of time,
See if you can't get along without getting a fine.
When your expiration of enrollment is due,
An honorable discharge will be given to you.
It's bound to help you in later life,
To help get a job without any strife.
Marvin Wilson
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