Boulder Park Built by the CCC

Boulder Park Built by the CCC at the Chester Blandford State Forest July 18th at 10:00 am Hike Rating:  Easy going with ups and downs and tree roots, stone steps and bridges.  Just over two miles of trails (some are ADA accessible) that loop and crisscross among CCC built history including historic structures. Directions:  From the center of Huntington on Route 20 by Stanton Hall drive West two miles to see Boulder Park on your left.  From the center of Chester, Carm’s Restaurant drive East two miles on Route 20 past Sanderson Brook Falls to see Boulder Park on your right.  Join DCR Interpretive Coordinator Alec Gillman at one of the hidden Hilltown History gems. In 1933 President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a federal program to provide employment opportunities for young men during the Depression. The program’s focus was to improve the country’s forests and recreational resources. The CCC was active in Massachusetts from 1933 to 1941. At the peak of CCC operations the state had a total of 51 camps enrolling 10,000-men. One of the most lasting contributions of the CCC was the construction of park recreational facilities. Built of rough-hewn, on-site materials, the lodges, cabins, shelters, picnic pavilions, bath houses and other structures were designed to reflect the color and texture of their surroundings. Hiking trails, stone steps, log guardrails and stone retaining walls along roads were artfully designed to enhance the visitor’s experience of the park. In June 1933, the 113th Company of the CCC, began work in the Southern Hilltowns region of Massachusetts, resulting in a number of facilities in and around Chester, including Boulder Park. As you walk along the paths, envision the back-breaking labor done by these young men, who chose this work as a means to provide for themselves and their families during a time of economic hardship.  The work of the CCC has left a lasting legacy of parks and other recreational resources for all to appreciate. The men who undertook these projects can be remembered with great pride. Established in 1933 by FDR, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a New Deal program combating Depression-era unemployment by hiring young men to improve national forests and recreational resources. In Massachusetts, 51 camps and 10,000 men constructed lasting park facilities, including structures in Chester and Boulder Park from 1933–1941.  Key Aspects of the CCC in Massachusetts (1933–1942): Purpose: To provide jobs for young men while conserving natural resources. Operations: At its peak, Massachusetts hosted 51 active camps with roughly 10,000 workers. Legacy Projects: The CCC constructed durable recreational infrastructure, including lodges, picnic pavilions, bathhouses, and hiking trails using local materials, such as stone and log, to blend with the natural environment. Local Impact: In June 1933, the 113th Company began work in the Southern Hilltowns, establishing...