CCC Camp Delta - Then and Now

A while back I posted a brief survey of CCC Camp Delta.  The remains of the camp are near the tiny hamlet of the same name.  Given the nature of the Internet it was just a matter of time before somebody contacted me saying his father had been one of the "CCC boys" there.  And better still, there were photos.

This prompted a second look at the site hoping that John Schuelke's photos can help bring it back to life.  All black and white photos are John's courtesy of his son Bob.  Let's start with the obvious, the front gate posts.

1938:  John Schuelke strikes a pose.

 And 2021:

There are always little details that you only notice on careful study.  See how the "castle" top of the pillar has been filled in?  Also, that little "birdhouse" niche on the front of the pillar has lost its roof.  I think this was a vent, suggesting that the pillar is or was hollow.  The two sets of larger round holes would have allowed poles for signs to be mounted on both front and side.

The next image is from a vantage point I can't reach without a boat, but helpfully shows the general layout of Camp Delta:

Boat landing on the right.  Main buildings of the camp in a line overlooking the lake.  Water tower straight back from that.  Here's the rather unimpressive remains of the long row of buildings seen above:

Not much really.  Just a long rectangular area of slight depression where leaves have accumulated.  These barracks like buildings did not have much for foundations or cellars I guess.  Next is a walk straight back to find the water tower.  Logically it is at the highest point of elevation.  Here's one of the "Boys" pretending to leap from it in 1938.  In reality he must have only been only a few feet off the ground.

And today?  Well I think this pattern of four cement blocks supported the feet of the tower.

There are a number of photos in the Schuelke collection showing the Forest Service garage.  Forestry work was a big part of what was done out of Delta, and I suspect Mr. Schuelke might have had a specific assignment in this area.  It appears to be on the back side of the hill.

Given the various adverse weather conditions they'd encounter it would only make sense to have a solid cement footing under this parking area.  In fact I think you can see the edge of it in front of the line of trucks.  The man in the photo by the way is John Skylondz.  And, in 2021...

There are two unusual features near this slab.  My first take on them was that they were privy or cesspool pits.  But something was just a little bit wrong with this.  I've seen other "facilities" at CCC camps and they were always something much less formidable.  Simple sunken pits or oil drums buried in the ground.  This is some serious cement.

I think the answer can actually be seen in the picture with the trucks.  Here, I'll cut out the relevant section:

It appears to be in the correct spot....so I think the cement slab was to support this gas pump!  With magnification it has a No Smoking sign on it.

That's about all I could manage with respect to linking the historic photos with their current locations.  But there's more to see.  Next time we'll spend a little time with the men of CCC Camp Delta at work and play.